Newton’s Public Facilities Committee approved the appropriation and spending of $1 million for the Vehicle Replacement Program as well as an additional $200,000 for 2025 traffic calming projects on Wednesday.
The Vehicle Replacement Program currently has $850,000 in its operating budget, while its Capital Investment Plan is $2.5 million total for 2024, according to Jim McGonagle, commissioner of public works for the City of Newton.
“The problem is … we’ve been seeing some price increases even after we order the vehicles, [since] the dealers, unfortunately, are holding us to that,” McGonagle said.
McGonagle said that he anticipates that the remainder of the money for the CIP will come from certified free cash.
Public Facilities Committee Clerk Katie Holden commended McGonagle and his team for the appearance of their vehicles at Newton’s fifth annual Pumpkin Smash at City Hall on Saturday.
“I must say, all the trucks that were here for the Pumpkin Smash, they looked amazing,” Holden said. “They’re well taken care of—they look brand new.”
The committee voted to approve the $1 million grant.
Additionally, McGonagle requested $200,000 on top of the existing $350,000 allocated for Newton traffic calming.
“We would appropriate these funds for four projects, as we have 11 other traffic calming projects that are ongoing in design and are being constructed and bid,” McGonagle said.
The four projects would be targeting Commonwealth Ave. between Temple St. and Chestnut St., Elliot St. between Linden St. and Circuit Ave., Florence St. between Boylston St. and Louise Rd, and Langley Rd. at Jackson St.
“Crashes are a big part of how we score these locations, as well traffic volumes … things of that nature,” McGonagle said. “Currently, there’s about 220 [projects] on our traffic calming list.”
These four projects would revolve around intersection improvements, sidewalk bump-outs, accessible medians, improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and the raising of a midblock crossing.
“I just want to be clear: we’re appropriating $200,000 strictly for design work … we won’t be able to construct all four of these with $200,000,” McGonagle said. “These [projects] are very costly. We bring these to [the Public Facilities Committee] on a regular basis. A raised intersection project is about $375,000 to construct.”
Ward 7 Councilor-at-Large Marc Laredo raised some concerns about the aesthetics of traffic calming projects in Newton.
“The engineers are insisting that concrete bollards be put at all four corners, which really do not fit in at all with the neighborhood, the surroundings, or anything,” Laredo said. “So the Ward 7 councilors and neighbors have concerns about that.”
McGonagle assured Laredo that he and his team were looking for more “decorative” options for bollards.
Ward 1 Councilor-at-Large Alison Leary said she appreciates the bollards’ effects.
“It’s nice for people to drive on the roads instead of on the sidewalk,” Leary said.
The motion to approve the $200,000 grant passed unanimously.
The projects will begin construction in spring and summer after the design for them is completed in the winter, according to McGonagle.
