Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has appointed a new “Chief of Streets” to the cabinet. As a member of the Mayor’s cabinet, Chris Osgood will work with the City’s Public Works and Transportation Departments to lead efforts to improve Boston’s basic city services and to create a more sustainable, equitable and efficient transportation network.
Osgood currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics – the City’s civic innovation team. He will assume his new position on August 24.
Osgood will also support the development and implementation of Go Boston 2030, the City’s comprehensive mobility plan. As part of this, he will lead the implementation of the Complete Streets policy and seek new ways to make Boston better for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and mass transit riders alike.
In 2010, Osgood co-founded the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics with current Co-Chair Nigel Jacob. Over the last five years, that Office has launched a series of products in collaboration with other City departments including Citizens Connect, DiscoverBPS and ParkBoston. This new role will allow him to continue developing new policy initiatives in the city.
“Boston is experiencing unprecedented growth, and with that growth comes the opportunity and the need to modernize our transportation network and make our basic city services the best in the world,” said Mayor Walsh. “I am excited for Chris to bring his knowledge of the city and his experience leading innovation in Boston to this challenge.”