Boston City Council to Host Hearing On Delays, Lost Funding for Transportation Projects

Councilors seek answers on why the Wu administration has blocked long-planned transportation projects across the city.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:06pm

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A cinematic painting of the Boston City Hall building in warm, golden light, with a lone figure standing on the steps, conveying a sense of political tension and uncertainty over the city's transportation future.The Boston City Council hearing aims to shed light on the Wu administration's transportation policies and their impact on long-planned projects and federal funding.Boston Today

The Boston City Council's Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation will hold a public hearing on April 22 to discuss the Wu administration's transportation policies, focusing on the delays and the loss of federal funding that the city has suffered through since last year's secretive '30-day review' of transportation policies and projects.

Why it matters

The delays and loss of federal funding for transportation projects in Boston could jeopardize an estimated $200 million in public investment for the city at a time when it can least afford to lose that investment. The hearing aims to shed light on the administration's new transportation priorities and policies.

The details

Last month, a Boston Globe report outlined how Mayor Michelle Wu had personally intervened to block long-planned street safety and transit improvement projects across Boston. In response, Council President Liz Breadon and Planning, Development, and Transportation committee Chair Sharon Durkan filed orders for public hearings to examine the administration's actions. The hearing will also cover the city's implementation of the mayor's 'safety surge initiative' to install speed humps on residential streets, which has slowed significantly since 2024.

  • The public hearing will be held on April 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
  • Last month, the Boston Globe reported on the Wu administration's intervention to block long-planned transportation projects.
  • In 2024, the city installed nearly 600 speed humps as part of the 'safety surge initiative', but the pace has slowed significantly since then.

The players

Boston City Council

The legislative body of the City of Boston that will be hosting the public hearing.

Liz Breadon

Boston City Council President and representative for District 9 (Allston-Brighton).

Sharon Durkan

Boston City Councilor for District 8 (Fenway-Back Bay) and Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation.

Michelle Wu

Mayor of Boston who has personally intervened to block long-planned transportation projects across the city.

MBTA

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the public transit system serving the Boston metropolitan area.

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What they’re saying

“Continued delays to the advancement of these transportation projects could jeopardize an estimated $200 million in public investment for the City of Boston at a time the City can least afford to lose investment.”

— Liz Breadon, Boston City Council President

“a substantive and constructive discussion on transportation philosophy, governance of street infrastructure, project status, and mechanisms for community engagement.”

— Sharon Durkan, Boston City Councilor

What’s next

The Boston City Council's Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation will hold a public hearing on April 22, 2026 to discuss the Wu administration's transportation policies and the delays and loss of federal funding for transportation projects in the city.

The takeaway

This hearing highlights the growing tensions between the Boston City Council and the Wu administration over transportation priorities and policies. It raises questions about the mayor's decision-making process, the impact on federal funding and public investment, and the need for more transparency and community engagement around transportation projects in the city.