Boston Mayor Michelle Wu stated she plans to nominate a member to town’s new seat on the MBTA Board of Directors earlier than its subsequent assembly in September.
The mayor represented town for the primary time at a Thursday board assembly, after being granted the authority to nominate a brand new Boston-specific consultant by way of this yr’s state funds.
“You all have no idea how excited I am to be here,” Wu, a self-described T rider, instructed the board. “This is just such a gratifying and fulfilling moment, I believe, for the entire city of Boston.”
Wu and different metropolis officers had lengthy advocated for the seat as a method to have a direct position within the governance of their public transportation system. There was momentum for the change final yr, however the Boston seat was scrapped throughout last-minute funds negotiations.
This yr’s state funds expands the MBTA Board of Directors from seven to 9 members. As mayor, Wu appoints a member to the Boston seat. The governor’s workplace is conducting a seek for the opposite new seat, from the 175 surrounding municipalities served by the company, T board Chair Thomas Glynn stated.
Glynn described the board’s growth, evident for the primary time by way of Wu’s participation on Thursday, as a “historic occasion.”
Wu stated she was protecting the seat heat whereas town conducts a search course of for its new consultant. She plans to have somebody in place by the board’s Sept. 28 assembly.
In a civic engagement course of launched final week, the mayor stated she was in search of candidates who’re residents of Boston, public transit riders, linked to communities of transit riders, and dedicated to high-quality, dependable and inexpensive public transportation.
Residents have till Sept. 5 to submit concepts to assist inform town’s search, or point out their curiosity within the place.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”