Boston city hall has been unusually reluctant to align with MassDOT and MBTA's proposed crowd management plans.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority say they are prepared to exercise eminent domain over the city of Boston to ensure the safety of anticipated crowds around the South Station during this summer's FIFA World Cup games, reports Christian MilNeil for Streetsblog Mass.
According to MilNeil, "A May 15 letter from MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng to to Nick Gove, Mayor Wu’s interim Chief of Streets, indicates that City Hall’s transportation department is resisting the MBTA’s planning efforts to manage crowds during World Cup events."
MBTA expects up to 20,000 people to use its special event trains to get to and from the events, and the agency says more pedestrianized areas are required to manage crowds and keep people safe.
MilNeil notes that many other World Cup host cities have already announced plans to pedestrianize key streets around FIFA game and event venues.
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