Bill
S 2439
A special commission will study and draft a master plan for development, recreation, safety, and aesthetics of the VFW Parkway from Dedham to West Roxbury.
Status
- Filed in the Massachusetts Senate (Senate Docket No. 511) on 01/13/2025; presented by Senator Michael F. Rush.
- Current procedural note in the provided metadata: REFERRED TO PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTS (some legislative-action entries also show referrals/hearings before Transportation and Finance committees).
- Report due: on or before June 30, 2026.
Note on metadata
- Some provided metadata (alternate title about minority- and women‑owned business participation, a list of U.S. Senators as cosponsors, and mixed referral notes) appears inconsistent with the bill text. The text of S.2439, as filed, is a Massachusetts resolve to create a special commission to study the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Parkway — the summary below describes the text of that resolve.
Purpose and intent
- Establish a time‑limited special commission (the “VFW Master Plan Commission”) to investigate and prepare a draft master plan for the development, maintenance, and improvement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Highway (VFW Parkway) running from the intersection with Washington Street and Providence Highway in Dedham through West Roxbury (ending at Centre Street).
Key provisions
- Creates the VFW Master Plan Commission with specified membership and chairs:
- Chairs: the senator for the Norfolk & Suffolk district and the representatives from the 10th Suffolk and 11th Norfolk districts (the latter two are named as co-chairs).
- Other members include: the U.S. Representative for the 8th Congressional District; Boston City Councilor (District 6); Chair of Dedham Board of Selectmen; Dedham Director of Public Works; Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department (or designee); Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation (or designee); Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (or designee); three West Roxbury residents appointed by the Boston mayor; two Dedham residents appointed by the Dedham Board of Selectmen; one member of the West Roxbury Business Association; and two business owners located on the VFW Parkway.
- Scope of study: the commission must evaluate and report on:
1. Pedestrian, public transit, and automobile networks on the Parkway, including traffic patterns, signage, and signals.
2. Existing federal, state, and local funding sources (grants, loans) for improvements.
3. Publicly and privately owned land that could be used for active and passive recreation.
4. Potential beautification and aesthetic improvements to the Parkway.
- Compensation and expenses: commission members receive no compensation and are not reimbursed for travel or other expenses.
- Reporting: the commission must file its findings, recommendations, and draft master plan with the Boston City Council clerk and with the clerks of the Massachusetts House and Senate (to be forwarded to their respective Ways and Means committees) by June 30, 2026.
Who is affected
- Residents and businesses in Dedham and the West Roxbury section of Boston, particularly those along the VFW Parkway.
- Municipal officials and departments (Dedham Board of Selectmen, Dedham DPW, Boston Transportation Department).
- State agencies (Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Department of Conservation and Recreation).
- Potential funders and community organizations interested in transit, recreation, and streetscape improvements.
Potential impacts
- A coordinated master plan could lead to recommended capital projects (safety, pedestrian/transit improvements), identification of funding strategies, site use proposals for recreation, and aesthetic/landscaping projects.
- Any actual construction, maintenance, or land-use changes would require follow‑up actions (appropriations, permitting, intergovernmental agreements) beyond the commission’s report.
Related/Background
- The filing notes similar matter filed in the previous session (Senate No. 2289 of 2023–2024). The deadline for the report is June 30, 2026.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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