PB Cycle 4

The $867,000 in FY19 capital funds for the seven winning projects from the fourth PB cycle became available on July 1, 2018. The graphic below displays the status of each project. The Budget Office will continue to update this information as more work is completed.

• Flashing Crosswalks for Safer Streets: The City has installed nine new rectangular rapid flashing beacons at: Mass Ave / Norfolk St, Mass Ave / Day St, Mass Ave / Pearl St, Brattle St / Brattle St, Western Ave / Hews St, Mass Ave / Magoun St, Mass Ave / Goldstar Road, Mass Ave / Allen St, Mass Ave / Church St
• Water fountains funded through PB have been installed in: 
  • Charles Park (1), Corcoran (Raymond) (1), Donnelly Field (1), Front (1), Green Rose (1), Hastings (1), High School Extensions (Old Longfellow School) (1), Hoyt (1), Joan Lorentz Library (1), Lafayette (1), Lee and West (1), Lopez St. Park (1), Market Street Park (1), McElroy (1), MLK School (1), Pine St. Park (1), Riverside Press (1), Russell (1), Squirrel Brand (1), Waverly Path (1), Yerxa Underpass (1). Total = 21 

Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process through which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. The City hopes that PB will help directly involve residents in the budgeting and City-building process, foster civic engagement and community spirit, and help ensure that the City’s Capital Plan reflects the priorities of Cambridge residents.

The fourth Cambridge Participatory Budgeting (PB) cycle ran from May to December 2017. The City set aside $800,000 of the FY19 Budget for one-time capital PB projects to improve the community. PB Cycle 4 Timeline

• Planning, and recruitment of OUTREACH COMMITTEE (May 2017)
• Community members submit IDEAS (June 1-July 31, 2017)
• Volunteer Budget Delegates turn ideas into concrete project PROPOSALS (August-November 2017)
• City staff vet proposals for FEASIBILITY and COST (November 2017)
• Residents VOTE on which projects they’d like the City to fund (December 2-8, 2017)
• RESULTS are announced and winning projects are included in the City’s FY19 Capital Budget (December 2017)
• Projects are IMPLEMENTED (July 1, 2018 onward)

To read about all of the ideas that were submitted in the fourth cycle, please visit the City of Cambridge's Open Data Portal.

From August to November, 50+ Budget Delegates worked in five committees to research, assess, and prioritize all of the submitted ideas and ultimately develop the following 20 final proposals for the December 2017 PB ballot. Read the 2017 Budget Delegate Guide to find out more about the proposal development process.

1. Drinking Water Across More Parks ($100,000)
2. Benches for a Walkable City ($25,000)
3. Enhancements to the Central Square Library ($72,500)
4. Critical Resource Kits for the Homeless ($50,000)
5. New Musical Instruments for CRLS ($200,000)
6. Upgrade the Gately Youth Center ($100,000)
7. Public WiFi for Inman Square and Russell Field ($20,000)
8. Urban Bicycle Wash Stations ($20,000)
9. Sheltered Bike Parking at the Main Library ($90,000)
10. Flashing Crosswalks for Safer Streets ($176,000)
11. Digital Bike Counters with Open Data ($90,000)
12. Bicycle Safety for Cambridge Youth ($95,000)
13. Make Our Playgrounds Fun for All Ages & Abilities ($200,000)
14. Making Danehy Friendlier and Healthier ($140,000)
15. Murals to Inspire Cambridge Youth ($75,000)
16. Interactive Conversation Benches ($60,000)
17. Drive on Superpower: Electric Vehicle Charging ($165,000)
18. Jade Chain: Living Moss Walls to Combat Pollution ($100,000)
19. 100 Trees for a Cleaner, Greener Cambridge ($141,000)
20. Smarter Cleanup for a Smart City ($80,000)

The fourth Participatory Budgeting Vote was held from December 2-8, 2017. During this time, 6,778 Cambridge residents age 12 and older, including non-US citizens and university students, were able to vote for up to 5 PB projects on the ballot.  Voting took place online and in-person at 30+ voting events around the city.

The following 7 projects won a total of $867,000 in FY19 funding:

1. 100 Trees for a Cleaner Greener Cambridge ($141,000)
2. Critical Resource Kits for the Homeless ($50,000)
3. Flashing Crosswalks for Safer Streets ($176,000)
4. Drinking Water Across More Parks ($100,000)
5. New Musical Instruments for CRLS ($200,000)
6. Jade Chain Living Moss Walls to Combat Pollution ($100,000)
7. Upgrade the Gately Youth Center ($100,000)

Winning projects will be included in the City's FY19 Capital Budget.