Boston Council Hearing Examines Private Street Repair Burden Falling on Residents

BOSTON — August 8, 2024 — Boston City Council explores relief options for residents stuck maintaining private streets. The Committee on Planning and Development held a hearing Thursday on Docket 0763, sponsored by Councillors Enrique J. Pepén and Brian Worrell, examining the city's hundreds of privately owned streets whose maintenance costs fall entirely on abutting property owners. Chief of Streets Yasha Franklin-Hodge and Public Improvement Commission Chief Engineer Todd Liming told councillors that no dedicated city fund exists to help residents with betterment costs, which averaged between $2,000 and $4,000 per parcel at Harvard Commons but can run far higher on streets requiring full infrastructure reconstruction. John Sullivan of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission said the agency offers a lateral repair subsidy of up to $8,000 per connection and a 50-50 betterment cost-split program for private sewers with 20-year repayment. Council President Ruthzee Louijeune called the core challenge "a collective action problem" and pressed administrators on consumer education for home buyers on private ways; Franklin-Hodge said the city should explore a dedicated technical assistance position to help residents navigate the process.