The plan would bring bus lanes to the center of the road, requiring commuters to cross two lanes of traffic on the major thoroughfare to get to their stops.
A massive project by the city of Boston and the MBTA could bring major changes to Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan, but many who live in the area are not happy about the proposal.
The city believes the best path to improving transportation in the neighborhood lies with bringing bus lanes to the center of the road — but many in Mattapan say that decision completely ignores what they want to see.
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WATCH HEREProtesters took to Blue Hill Avenue Thursday, warning drivers about the city's plan.
"That's not going to work," said one protester, a Boston resident of 50 years named Louis. "It doesn't work physically, and it won't work economically for the community that's around here."
"We have no choices here. One option, and that was it. That's why we're fighting so hard," said Boston City Councilor Miniard Culpepper, who attended the protest. "We want to see other options."
Residents are concerned about the safety issues that come with commuters having to cross two lanes of traffic when they get on or off the bus.
"We want what makes sense for us, and it doesn't make any sense to have two lanes to get to the bus stop," Culpepper said.
A block away from the protest, hundreds filled the Morning Star Baptist Church as the city hosted a listening session regarding the proposed plans.
"I believe my job is to fight for our residents to have the best possible infrastructure," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said.
"Continue to share your feedback directly to us, to the city, so we can make sure that this project really does incorporate your voices," said Phillip Eng, general manager of the MBTA and interim secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Community members who attended the meeting spoke out against the proposal. Wu said plans are still in progress and could be changed, but many in the audience expressed a belief that the decision had already been made.
"This is the first of four community sessions over the next couple of weeks," Wu said.
"People are upset because they haven't been given a choice, and this is our community," said Culpepper.
Louis, the protester, said after the meeting that he believes there is still plenty of work to be done.
"This is not well-planned or well-thought out," he said. "As it is now, the plan, as proposed and designed, is dangerous."
