Transit Bill Earmarks $1M+ for Medford Parking Enforcement

About $3 million has been earmarked for several projects in Medford, including a parking control system, in a transportation bill signed by Gov. Deval Patrick last week.

The earmarks, put in by local legislators, don't guarantee the money is spent on the specific projects.

"The legislature can put anything it wants into the bond bill, the hope is the governor will allocate it," State Rep. Paul Donato said Tuesday. “The governor is the only one who can spend the money.”

Donato said he added earmarks for several transportation projects in Medford, including at least $1 million for a parking control system in the "downtown Medford area."

Patrick called the $1.5 billion transportation bond bill he signed last Thursday what the state needs to strengthen its economy and "quality of life for the long term.”

“Our transportation infrastructure had suffered from years of neglect, so this administration started rebuilding roads, rails and bridges in every corner of our state and creating thousands of jobs," Patrick said after he enacted the bill, which enjoyed the strong support of the Legislature, passing the House by a vote of 150-2 on July 31, the last day of the session.

Parking enforcement has been a controversial subject in Medford. Some city councilors have been reluctant to consider a proposed $7.5 million parking garage in Medford Square until parking enforcement is addressed. Currently, the city's police department enforces parking regulations, but they don't have officers specifically assigned to parking enforcement.

Donato said he also requested $1 million for improvements to Clippership Drive that would include a boat dock.

"It would give the opportunity for someday in the future, the possibility of a water taxi," Donato said. "I know it sounds pie in the sky, but basically that’s what the Mayor’s hope is."

Among the items earmarked for Medford:

• $500,000 expended for design and improvements at the intersections of Boston avenue with route 16 in the city of Somerville, Boston avenue and Winthrop street in the city of Medford, and pedestrian safety improvements on Winthrop street between Boston avenue and route 16 in the city of Medford 

• Not less than $1,000,000 expended for a parking control system in the downtown area of the city of Medford

• $1,000,000 expended for the Medford Square roadway project in the city of Medford
• $250,000 expended for the design and construction of traffic signals at the intersections of Harvard street with Main street and Willis avenue in the city of Medford