Boston has the nation’s first ‘City Hall on Wheels’
Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced the debut of the nation’s first City Hall on wheels. Inspired by the now ubiquitous food truck, the brightly-designed “City Hall To Go” truck will travel throughout Boston’s neighborhoods, offering a select menu of city services to Boston residents.
The truck made its way to the Boston Common, the South End, Roxbury and Ashmont T Station, where people were able to pay or dispute parking tickets, request birth, death or marriage certificates, and pay property and excise taxes, among other services.
“City Hall To Go” builds on our mission to shake up the status quo in municipal services,” Mayor Menino said. “This pilot offers one more way for Boston residents to get personal, timely service from the City, and makes it even easier by cutting out the trip to City Hall.”
The truck will join Menino’s Enchanted Trolley Tour this weekend, with 16 stops across all of Boston’s neighborhoods.
Starting this spring, the city plans for the truck to become a regular feature in Boston’s neighborhoods, including at special events, block parties and street festivals, as well as offer seasonal services as resident needs shift throughout the year.
The program will evolve based on feedback from residents, according to a Menino spokesperson.
The “City Hall To Go” staff will connect with residents and gather input on the types of services Bostonians want the truck to offer. Ideas for the “City Hall To Go” truck can be shared through a brief online survey or in person at any of the truck’s scheduled stops.
The design of the “City Hall To Go” truck was inspired by Boston’s diverse neighborhoods. The map encircling the truck takes a viewer from west to east, along actual city streets, while the skyline celebrates Boston’s thriving urban center. The truck originally served as a Boston Police Department SWAT vehicle.
Residents can sign up for Twitter alerts via @CityHallToGo or visit the truck’s Web page for updates: www.cityofboston.gov/cityhalltogo.
