The following is excerpted from a letter also advocating pedestrian safety measures along Jamaica Pond sent to state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez on Sept. 14.
As I prepared to vote for you this morning, I was reading an article in the Boston Globe saying that the recent gas explosion near San Francisco is causing concern among experts about other old, leaking gas pipes. This article highlights a problem I have previously tried to bring to your attention—the problem of chronic gas leaks on and around the Arborway. Right now, there is the smell of gas on the Arborway along the sidewalk and roadway all the way from in front of 1 Arborway to the intersection of Arborway and Cataumet Streets. This is a longstanding problem. Numerous attempts to get National Grid to correct the leaks have failed. They simply can’t be bothered about gas leaks, no matter where they are located, unless their leak-sensing equipment indicates a risk of immediate explosion. This is not an adequate response. However, the Department of Conservation and Recreation does not appear to be inclined to hold the utility company to a higher standard.
Thank you for your efforts on our behalf. I know we can continue to count on you to work diligently to bring the power of the legislature to bear on these vital public safety issues.
Kevin Handly
Jamaica Plain