INDYCAR: Boston GP hits back at critics

Organizers of the new IndyCar street race in Boston have hit back at claims that the event was signed off without consultation with local residents.

IndyCar is scheduled to make its inaugural visit to the city over next year's Labor Day weekend, with a 2.25-mile circuit having been mapped out around the city's Seaport District. However, the plans have been poorly received by some locals, whose anger culminated in a letter being submitted to the office of Mayor Marty Walsh questioning the legality of the event.

The criticism has been strongly refuted by the Boston Grand Prix group, which issued a statement this week insisting that local residents and businesses had been kept fully informed right through the planning process.

"Any suggestion that we haven't engaged the public is simply not true," said the statement. "We've been engaged in numerous meetings with every civic and neighborhood association in the area, as well as a number of business associations and individual business owners.

"We've met with the residents of Seaport Lofts multiple times, and have provided extensive information including track layouts, details of related events beyond the race itself, the associated process with the city and state, and a broad range of other information.

"We've welcomed feedback from all of these groups and have ... incorporated suggestions from them on security concerns, parking issues, and a number of other issues. And as recently as last week, we flew our track engineer in for a meeting, where we spoke with representatives from every abutting neighborhood and civic association ... and discussed various track proposals at length.

"We've answered every question at every juncture to the best of our ability."

The event is also facing scrutiny over concerns that the event will prove to be a drain upon public coffers.

When the race was announced in March, organizers promised a "minimally invasive" event that would be privately funded in its entirety. However the Boston Herald reported this week that representatives of the race have been negotiating with state agencies including Massport, the state's Port Authority.

MassPort CEO Thomas P Glynn told the newspaper that the Boston Grand Prix had approached him to discuss sidewalk modifications, repaving of streets and other works that he believes would cost in the region of $500,000.

Glynn also dismissed claims by Walsh that any public financing would be repaid by the money that the race would inject into the economy.

"I don't see any argument for us subsidizing a private-for-profit," Glynn said.

Kate Norton, speaking on behalf of Boston Grand Prix, confirmed that the event is in negotiation with local authorities. She insisted that the race is not looking for financial assistance from Massport.

"I can confirm that these are some of the items we are discussing with Massport and other state agencies," she said. "Any specific cost estimates are a little premature, frankly, because we have not finalized the track. We're still receiving community input. But I can say this definitely: We are not requesting money from Massport."

Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said that they have not yet issued any permits for the race, which would be required for the closure of public roads. A MassDOT spokesperson said that the department has only had "preliminary talks with [race] organizers about their needs and timeframes."

According to the Herald, the contracts currently under negotiation are different to those signed by Walsh's administration earlier this year, which required no financial commitment from the city, but also no provisions for organizers to pay the public costs required to host the race.