‘SpotHoles:’ Boston wants public’s help identifying pesky potholes
March in is a time of reawakening for Boston’s streets.
Joggers emerge to get in shape for summer, cyclists pull their bikes out of storage, and zealous St. Paddy’s Parade goers take to the streets of Southie, so city officials thought it a good time to launch a new two-week campaign to make the roadways safer and smoother.
Boston residents are being asked to “SpotHoles” by reporting pot holes. Social media users can use the hashtag #spotholes when tweeting @NotifyBoston.
The new social media push comes as the Boston Public Works Department kicks off its annual push to fill the potholes created by the cold, snowy winter. Public Works crews will be on the streets daily, finding and filling the craters.
“Boston’s residents deserve a smooth ride,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino directs said in a statement. “Our city works best when everyone works together. With residents help we can identify and repair potholes more quickly than if Public Works did it alone. We encourage residents to report potholes using our Citizens Connect app, calling the Mayor’s Hotline, or even tweeting @NotifyBoston with the hashtag #spotholes.”
The Public Works Department fills over 19,000 potholes annually, but city officials said they are convinced there are more potholes out there that need filling.
The public can monitor the City’s progress on the Boston@Work Tumblr. The site will feature a tally of potholes filled during the two week campaign, a map of all open and closed pothole cases, and pothole themed images and art.
In addition to Twitter, residents can also report potholes by: calling the mayor’s 24-hour hotline at 617-635-4500 with the address of the pothole; submitting a photo with the Citizens Connect app which automatically locates the pothole; and filing a request on the city’s website.
Commissioner of Public Works Joanne Massaro said filling potholes is the department’s “most important task each spring.”
“Our inspectors and patch crews work extraordinarily hard to repair our roads. Citizen reports aid our efforts tremendously, allowing us to fill potholes more quickly.”
Follow Morgan Rousseau on Twitter: @MetroMorgan
Follow Metro Boston on Twitter: @MetroBOS
