The City is responsible for maintaining a large inventory of capital assets, including roads, bridges, schools, parks, libraries, public safety equipment, city buildings and more. The City’s capital investments enhance our neighborhoods, improve mobility, support the academic agenda of our schools and reinforce public safety with quality emergency response tools.
With Imagine Boston 2030 and other City Planning efforts guiding many of the investments in this plan, projects in the FY19-23 Capital Plan are categorized within the Imagine Boston 2030 initiatives below.
These capital investments are planned and funded through the City’s capital budget, which is separate and distinct from the annual operating budget. The capital plan is primarily funded by borrowing through the issuance of bonds within the City’s fiscally responsible debt affordability limits.
Imagine Boston 2030
Mayor Walsh’s $2.4 billion Imagine Boston FY19-23 capital plan will make critical investments in the City’s infrastructure in every Boston neighborhood, guided by Imagine Boston 2030 and the schools, streets, arts, climate and resilience plans under its umbrella.
More than 14,000 residents have shaped Imagine Boston 2030 by articulating the challenges Boston faces, setting goals for the city in 2030, and generating ideas about policies and investments to help achieve these goals.
Ambitious initiatives
An ambitious set of initiatives form the foundation of the Imagine Boston 2030 plan. Taken together, these initiatives will support Boston's dynamic economy and improve quality of life for residents by:
Encouraging affordability;
Increasing access to opportunity;
Promoting a healthy environment; and
Guiding investment in the public realm
Imagine Boston Capital Plan
Last Year, Mayor Walsh launched the Imagine Boston Capital Plan to move
Boston residents’ priorities from idea to action, and invest in creating the
city Bostonians imagine for the future. This year, under the Imagine Boston 2030 umbrella,
the City is investing deeply in the core goals of BuildBPS, Go Boston 2030,
Boston Creates, and Climate Ready Boston. An estimated 85% of the investment
in the FY19-23 Capital Plan is aligned with the City’s planning efforts:
Moving into the 21st century
Mayor Walsh committed $1 billion over ten years to bring Boston's school buildings into the 21st century, and this Capital Plan launches that investment with funding for:
21st century classrooms;
MSBA Accelerated Repair Program partnerships;
Completion of projects in the pipeline;
School kitchen renovations that support the delivery of fresh, nutritious food; and
Reserves for future projects identified by BuildBPS community
engagement.
Core initiatives
Boston, in collaboration with State and Federal sources, will invest $967 million over the next five years in implementing the core initiatives outlined in Go Boston 2030:
Streets that are safer for all users of our roads and sidewalks,
particularly pedestrians and cyclists;
Travel that is more reliable and predictable; and
Quality transportation choices that improve access to interconnect our
neighborhoods for all modes of travel.
Open Space goals
Through the use of Winthrop Square proceeds, City capital dollars, and leveraging external funds, Mayor Walsh plans to carry out early actions to implement Imagine Boston 2030’s Open Space goals, including investing in Franklin Park as a keystone park for the city, completing the Emerald Necklace, and restoring Boston Common to its full vibrancy.
Preparing for climate change
Boston will prepare for climate change by investing City capital dollars and external funding to develop more detailed climate plans for Boston neighborhoods, especially those most at risk for coastal flooding, as recommended in Climate Ready Boston.
Percent for Art Program
The Percent for Art Program demonstrates the City’s leadership and commitment to sustainable funding for the arts by setting aside one percent of the City’s annual capital borrowing for the commissioning of public art.
The City estimates FY19 capital expenditures from all sources will total $337.9 million from all sources. All projects in the capital plan are categorized as Upkeep, Upgrade, New/Major Renovation, Planning, or Matching Funds. The City tracks the overall distribution of these categories to maintain a balance between the upkeep of existing assets and the expansion or introduction of new ones.
Upkeep
Upkeep represents projects that maintain the City’s assets, a fundamental priority of the Capital Plan. In FY19, 22% of projected spending supports Upkeep projects. These include:
Roof and masonry repairs;
Replacement of play equipment in parks;
HVAC and boiler replacement; and
Critical repair funds for departments to address relatively small but vital repair projects not covered by routine maintenance.
A substantial portion of the Upkeep category supports on-going bridge, street, sidewalk, and street lighting repairs that ensure the City’s roads and sidewalks are safe and in good condition.
Upgrade
Upgrade represents projects that improve existing assets by adding new capacity or innovations. This year’s upgrade allocations account for 38% of projected spending, and includes projects such as Connect Historic Boston – the redesign of several Downtown streets with support from a Federal grant – and new equipment for the police radio system.
New/Major Renovations
New/Major Renovations represents 34% of the FY19 allocations. New facilities and rehabilitation projects for schools, libraries, parks and community centers enable the City’s facilities to adapt to fit the needs of today’s programs, improve the ‘green’ performance of facilities, and extend the useful life of older assets. Highlights in this category include a new fire house at Engine 42 in Roxbury and BCYF Curley Community Center in South Boston.
Planning or Matching Funds
About 1% of the FY19 budget is assigned to matching fund requirements and to planning projects. Comprehensive planning projects, which analyze a group of buildings or program needs, provide the groundwork for targeted investments in the categories of Upgrade and New/Major Renovations.
Other projects
The Matching fund category includes projects where the City covers the cost of design and engineering services. These expenditures are able to leverage state and federal construction funds on projects such as the new North Washington Street Bridge and the South Bay Harbor Trail.
FY19-FY23 Project Highlights
Education
Boston Arts Academy
My Way Cafe Kitchen Program
BuildBPS: 21st Century Schools Fund
Transportation
Boylston Street Sidewalks
Vision Zero
Road and Sidewalk Reconstruction
Long Island Bridge
Technology
Digital Engagement Upgrades
Open Space
Franklin Park Planning
Boston Common Planning
Jamaica Pond Pathways & Perimeter
Martin's Park
Energy and Environment
Climate Ready Bostont
Renew Boston Trust
Health
BCYF Vine Street Pool
BCYF Curley Community Center
BCYF Gallivan Community Center
Housing
Whittier Street Roadways
Madison Park Village
Arts and Culture
Percent for Arts
Adams Street Branch Library
Roslindale Branch Library
Economy
Harrison Avenue / Washington Street
Dudley Street
Public Safety
New East Boston Police Station
New Engine 17 and 42 Fire Stations
Government Effectiveness
City Hall and Plaza Master Plan
Youth Fund
More resources
Learn more about the City's capital projects by viewing:
