Columbus Center complaints intensify

Though the controversial project has long had its critics, neighbors ramped up concerns and doubts after developers were granted an 18-month construction hiatus to sort out financing difficulties last year.

Renewed complaints by residents prompted officials from the state Executive Office of Transportation, which assumed oversight of the project from the Turnpike Authority in May, and authority officials, to tour the area July 13.

Ned Flaherty, a South End resident and project watchdog, says the developers have 26 restoration tasks that they are required to finish, in addition to promises they must fulfill under the existing lease agreement governing the city and state property.

Among them are removing Jersey barriers along the Mass. Pike, Cortes Street, and a Pike ramp at Arlington Street that narrow the roadway; replacing two dozen trees that were cut down on Cortes; restoring power to more than 75 lights over the Pike that have been dark for well over a year; and paying for a new ventilation system at the MBTA Back Bay train station to help filter high levels of diesel exhaust.

Other requests include taking down construction fences, and cleaning up trash and weeds.

State transportation officials have not yet reached an agreement on what work will be done or by what date. “We are meeting with the developers, and our goal is to have the developers clean up the site according to the neighbors’ understandable concerns,’’ said Adam Hurtubise, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Transportation.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has been working with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services to ensure complaints that affect city property are addressed by the developer.

“At this time, the BRA is awaiting the outcome of the state’s determination . . . of the development’s status,’’ said Jessica Shumaker, a BRA spokeswoman. “In the interim, at the city level, we will continue to enforce and monitor safety and transportation issues expeditiously.’’

Commissioner William Good said officials from the city’s Inspectional Services Department walked through the area last week to review complaints about improper trash disposal. Good said the department will monitor the neighborhood, though it has no plans to install security cameras, as some hoped.

As for that new air filtration system at Back Bay Station, the MBTA and state transportation officials have identified $3 million in federal stimulus funds to pay for the equipment, said T spokeswoman Lydia Rivera.

Now under federal review, the money is expected to be released in October, with a contract to follow after Jan. 1, she said.