The City Council postponed voting on the two-way Broadway proposal Monday after hearing substantial public opposition. Instead, members voted to convene a Committee on Conference to examine the proposal further.
The Traffic Commission had approved the two-way plan in August by a 5-1 margin, along with several other uncontroversial modifications affecting Fay Square, Chelsea Square, Bellingham Square and City Hall Avenue.
Council President Damali Vidot requested the committee formation, which the Council supported. According to Vidot, the committee must meet and the full Council must vote by Oct. 6. Without Council approval by that deadline, the Traffic Commission’s decision automatically becomes law.
The decision ultimately rests with the 11 Council members, many of whom have not yet publicly stated their positions on the matter.
Vidot herself has been a vocal skeptic of two-way Broadway, particularly criticizing the planning process that has unfolded over the past two years.
Councillor Leo Robinson has taken the opposite stance, expressing support for the proposal this week.
“I’m a two-way Broadway guy,” he said.
Support also comes from Councillor Joe Perlatonda, who contends that the one-way configuration creates hazards by requiring parked cars to sit outside the protected bike lane. This placement, he argues, endangers drivers exiting vehicles who face oncoming traffic and bicyclists.
Councillor Bob Bishop, however, remains unconvinced, stating he does not support the two-way Broadway concept.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino and Chief Brian Kyes have emerged as the plan’s strongest proponents, advocating for the change for months despite lacking voting power.
Resident Sharleen McLain represented the opposition, characterizing the plan as flawed and imposed without genuine public input.
“From the very first it was clear the City Manager and the planners have been pretty bent on getting two-way Broadway,” she said. “They’ve been pretty manipulative in moving forward on this two-way plan. None of these meetings have allowed for meaningful input. It wasn’t until the July Traffic Commission meeting that members of the public were able to speak directly to the plans.”
Barbara Richard added, “I think two-way Broadway is spot-on dead wrong. Businesses will go under. I also think it hasn’t been a good enough outreach to the community.”
Ambrosino urged the Council to view the proposal comprehensively, noting that the package includes many universally supported non-controversial improvements beyond the two-way Broadway element.
“Much of what is before you is non-controversial,” he said. “Whether it’s Fay Square, Bellingham Square or City Hall Avenue, these provisions have no opposition to the changes.”
The Council convenes again Monday, Sept. 24, with the Conference Committee likely to meet the following week.