Hearing Next Week On Haz-Mat Transportation Proposal

Editor's note: The original version of this story said the public hearing would be held at Waltham City Hall, which is incorrect.

Concerned about Boston's proposal to transport hazardous materials through Weston? Next week is your chance to speak up about it.

On Tuesday, Aug. 30, the state Department of Transportation will a hearing on the proposal from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Arthur J. Clark Government Center at 119 School St., Waltham.

The Proposal

• Boston is proposing require trucks carrying hazardous materials to avoid using city streets when the shipment does not originate or stop in Boston, according to the DOT’s hearing notice.
• Instead, the proposal would require such shipments use Routes 93 and 95 to travel through Boston. This would send those shipments through several communities, including Weston, that border 93 and 95.
• A study commissioned by the city of Boston determined that haz-mat trucks traveling through the city pose an unacceptable risk, according to a July 25 press release from Boston Mayor Tom Menino.
• “These vehicles simply do not belong on busy roadways in densely populated areas,” Menino said. “The city of Boston has worked hard over the past year to implement changes to the routing of hazardous cargo through the North End and Charlestown residential neighborhoods, as well as through the Financial District."