The return of hazmat trucks to the North End on July 1st was reported by WBZ-TV last night. Click here to view the video clip. State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz is interviewed in the piece, noting the safety concerns. “You see a truck go by, sometimes they’re blowing through red lights because they can’t stop in Read More…
State and City transportation officials announced a “compromise agreement” today with the hazardous cargo trucking companies and the Federal administrator that will once again open North End/Waterfront streets to daytime travel by hazardous material (hazmat) trucks. This agreement ends the city’s defacto daytime ban of hazmat trucks, instead blocking off just the rush hours (7-9 Read More…
A study released this week by the City of Boston shows the risk of a hazardous cargo truck accident within Boston’s city streets is 819%, or more than 8x higher, than using an “alternative route” of highways (I-93/I-95/Route 128) around the city. Shown below is the summary slide from the study, dated June 22, 2010. Read More…
The following news update comes from the “No HC” (No Hazardous Cargo) taskforce, an informal group of neighbors including representatives from NEWNC, NEWRA & the NE Chamber of Commerce. Neighbors, Another busy week with more important developments. As always, we encourage you to express your concerns to local politicians and officials in Washington, DC, including Read More…
The following email was sent by the “No HC” taskforce to residents of the North End/Waterfront community. Dear concerned residents, It’s been a busy week and I thought I’d take this time to quickly update you on some of the things going on: 1) Boston Herald article (June 11, 2010): A powerful article on US DOT’s ties to Read More…
District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation asking Secretary LaHood and Administrator Ferro to extend the daytime ban of hazardous material trucks in the City of Boston. “Residents and business owners in Boston’s North End neighborhood, which I represent, are understandably concerned about giving free rein to Read More…
How could an obscure agency in Washington D.C. be so unreasonable and hardheaded to risk the public safety of Boston citizens just to save the trucking companies a little money? The answer lies with the person that made that decision, Anne Ferro, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Her background reveals strong ties Read More…
With an estimated 180 attendees, the intensity of community outrage was voiced at this week’s public meeting on hazardous material (haz-mat) trucks going through the North End/Waterfront neighborhood. “I can’t remember ever seeing such a large neighborhood turnout,” said State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, referring to the standing-room only crowd gathered at the Fairmont Battery Wharf Read More…
Meredith P. sends in this photo of Boston Police pulling over a haz-mat truck on Commercial Street/Atlantic Ave. on May 26th. Residents report several incidents of haz-mat trucks not abiding by the reinstated daytime ban and re-routing off Commercial Street (at least until July 1st). There is a public meeting on Wednesday, June 2nd, 6:30 Read More…
PETRUCELLI, MICHLEWITZ, LAMATTINA INVITE THE PUBLIC TO A MEETING ON HAZMAT TRANSPORTATION Federally mandated changes to regulations that govern the transport of hazardous materials through the City of Boston have raised a number of concerns among local residents and businesses. The North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council’s Public Safety Committee will host a meeting on Read More…
When the haz-mat trucks were re-routed to Commercial St. last week, a North End resident pushed the walk button on the corner of Foster and Commercial Street only to find a J.P. Noonan gas tanker truck barrel right through the red light. He captured the video clip below. You can also hear the audible chirp Read More…
One week after hazardous material (haz-mat) trucks showed up on the North End’s Commercial St., a City ban goes back in effect on Monday, May 24th for at least the next 45 days. Last week, the City of Boston received a 45-day extension of its daytime ban from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Read More…