The Office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh released a statement on Thanksgiving Eve yesterday, laying out plans in response to the housing crisis that arose when hundreds of homeless men and women were forced to evacuate Boston's Long Island homeless shelter after the bridge to get to the shelter was deemed unsafe. 

Press Release below: 

On October 8, Mayor Martin J. Walsh – under the advisement of various City departments, agencies and leaders, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) – made the decision to close the Long Island Bridge and evacuate the programs located on Long Island. 

“This was a difficult, but necessary, decision that was made in the interest of public safety. This bridge has been a source of grave concern for many years, and I was not willing to risk the possibility of disaster for one more night, with the data presented to us about the serious condition of the bridge,” said Mayor Walsh. “In the weeks following the bridge closure, a light post fell down and crashed onto the bridge, directly where vehicles traveled to and from the Island. My team made a series of tough judgment calls in the interest of public safety, and we are confident that we made the right decision.” 

There was not one incident, injury, or any bridge collapse that led to this decision. The decision to close the Bridge was made in an abundance of caution, following long-running concerns about the structural integrity of the Bridge. 

Following the decision to close the Bridge, the City activated its Continuity of Operations Plan to ensure that all needs of the clients who utilize the programs at Long Island are met while the Bridge is closed. Since the bridge closure, the City and partners have maintained an equal, or greater, number of beds for our homeless and recovery guests.

The following is a comprehensive update on the status of the Long Island Bridge, programs, and operations.

Community Outreach

On Wednesday, November 12, the City of Boston co-hosted a community meeting at the Blackstone Community Center. Over a period of four hours, representatives from the Mayor’s Office, the Health & Human Services cabinet, the Public Works Department, the Boston Public Health Commission, and City Council engaged in discussion with advocates, displaced clients, and concerned community members. 

On Wednesday, November 19, representatives from the Mayor’s Office, the Health & Human Services cabinet, and the Boston Public Health Commission met with elected officials from the Boston delegation to discuss the bridge closure, current status, and upcoming plans.

The City will be holding two community meetings:

Mayor Walsh has met directly with members of the BPHC service provider network, and with residents in the Roxbury and South End neighborhoods. Constituents are always welcome to reach out to the City through the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline, 617-635-4500, or by emailing mayor@boston.gov

Client Belongings

Any emergency shelter guest seeking to retrieve their locker items should call 617-823-7676 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Callers should be prepared to provide a name, locker number, and a contact number. 

City staff have traveled to Long Island and retrieved all client items, returning them to the Mattapan campus, where they will be stored.  When a guest requests their belongings, those possessions will be brought to Woods Mullen Shelter at a pre-determined time when guests can pick them up. If guests are unable to pick up items during those times, alternative options will be made available by contacting 617-823-7676. 

Current Programs 

On a typical night, Long island is home to approximately 450 shelter guests as well as approximately 250-300 individuals who receive services through the Boston Public Health Commission and other nonprofit organizations that operate programs on Long Island. Approximately 150 people work on Long Island during a typical day.

BPHC operates four programs on Long Island:

Our homeless population is currently being served at a number of City-run and independent community programs, providing over 500 beds across Boston. In addition, the BPHC provider network is working to expand capacity based on needs for the cold weather. They include:

A number of privately-run programs also call Long Island home. They include: 

The City is committed to working with each program to find temporary services for their clientele.

Temporary Facilities

The City has explored a number of options for a temporary, long-term facility to replace the Long Island homeless shelter during the time period needed for bridge repairs. Each facility had to meet certain criteria to be considered a possible location, with attention paid to size, access to water and electricity, timeframe for availability, ownership status, and current zoning status. In the interest of stability and consistency, the location also must be available until the close of bridge construction, which is estimated to take approximately 36 months.

Two facilities are currently under restoration to replace some of the recovery programs. They include:

The City is in the final stages of confirming a location for homeless clients, and a location for the recovery programs. 

In addition, shelter and program guests have indicated that the locker system on Long Island was a valued resource. Our Homeless Services staff, in partnership with Property Management, is examining the feasibility of reinstating this service once a new facility is established.

Bridge Replacement

The Long Island Bridge was opened in 1951, and has been in a state of limited operational use for over a decade. In August 2014, the City of Boston issued a Request for Proposals for a design of a new bridge. The design is expected to cost $9 million; funding has been allocated, with half provided by the City of Boston and half from MassDOT. The design process can take an estimated 12 months. 

Construction on a replacement bridge is likely to cost approximately $80+ million, and – if expedited given emergency circumstances – can be completed in an estimated 24 to 36 months. 

In examining long-term plans for the programs on Long Island, the City carefully evaluated two ferry options to replace a bridge. These options would require significant infrastructure investments, equipment and vehicle purchases, and maintenance and operational costs. 

The City continues to explore all options.