SENATE DOCKET, NO. 523        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2289

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael F. Rush

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve relative to a VFW Parkway master plan special commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 523        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2289

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2134 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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Resolve relative to a VFW Parkway master plan special commission.

Resolved, there shall be a special commission known as the VFW Master Plan Commission for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to the development, maintenance and improvement of the Veterans of Foreign War Highway in the town of Dedham and the West Roxbury section of the City of Boston, beginning at the intersection with Washington Street and Providence Highway in the Town of Dedham and traveling through the West Roxbury section of the City of Boston to its eastern end at Centre street in the West Roxbury section of the City of Boston. The commission shall consist of the senator for Norfolk & Suffolk District; the representative from the 10th Suffolk District; the representative from the 11th Norfolk District, who shall serve as the chairs of the commission; the representative in congress from the 8th congressional district, the district 6 Boston city councilor; the chairman of the board of selectmen for the town of Dedham, the director of public works in the town of Dedham; the commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department, or a designee, the Secretary of Transportation, or a designee, the commissioner of the department of conservation and recreation or a designee, 3 persons to be appointed by mayor of the city of Boston who shall be residents of the West Roxbury section of the City of Boston, 2 persons from the town of Dedham to be appointed by the Dedham Board of Selectmen, a member of the West Roxbury Business Association, and 2 business owners who businesses are located on the VFW Parkway.

The investigation and study shall include: (1) an evaluation of the pedestrian, public transit, and automobile network including traffic patterns, signage, and signaling; (2) an analysis of existing federal, state and local funding sources, including grants and loans; (3) an evaluation of both private and publicly owned land that may be used for active and passive recreational use; (4) potential beautification and aesthetic improvements to the parkway. 

No member of the commission shall receive any compensation for services, nor shall a member be reimbursed for any travel expenses or actual expenses incurred in carrying out duties as a member of the commission.

The commission shall report the results of its investigation and study, together with its recommendations and drafts of a master plan for development, maintenance, and improvements to the VFW Parkway, by filing with the clerk of the Boston city council on or before June 30, 2024 and with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, who shall forward the same to their respective committees on ways and means.