Boston Council Probes Light Pole Safety After Moakley Bridge Pedestrian Injury

BOSTON — April 4, 2023 — Boston City Council examines light pole and bridge safety following 2022 Moakley Bridge pedestrian injury. The Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology, chaired by District 8 Councilor Kenzie Bach and called by Council President Edward M. Flynn and at-large Councilor Michael Flaherty, heard from Chief of Streets Yasha Franklin Hodge that the city manages more than 70,000 streetlights and 40 city-owned bridges valued collectively at roughly $6.2 billion, with a goal of achieving a state of good repair across all bridges by 2030. Streetlight Superintendent Michael Donaghy told councilors that 25 poles were removed from three South Boston waterfront bridges after the September 2022 incident, with permanent replacements on the Moakley Bridge funded and expected this spring. Public commenter Bonnie Donahue said she suffered nearly $36,000 in injuries after falling on corrugated concrete installed during a $14 million city-funded Summer Street renovation, and said the city denied her claim with a boilerplate letter; Flynn said he had already requested the city correct what he called "an extremely dangerous" design flaw. Franklin Hodge also confirmed a new permanent Transportation Commissioner — a Charlestown resident whose name was not announced — was set to begin the following Monday.