From its polarizing, brutalist architecture to its confusing floor plan, Boston City Hall has never been perceived as a welcoming, approachable place for Bostonians to complete their civic duties. 

Kyle Potts, a fourth-year computer science major at Northeastern University, said while he has been to City Hall several times, it is not the friendliest looking building.

“It’s a good skate spot, but I can see how people would be turned off just by the looks of it,” Potts said. 

While Potts and other avid skateboarders may praise the area for its “skatability,” City Hall has received criticism since its inception for its intimidating design and location.

In the hopes of mitigating such concerns, Boston’s “City Hall on The Go” program provides residents in underserved communities access to city services and resources without the headache of commuting to Government Center.

The “food-truck inspired” mobile truck travels to marginalized neighborhoods in Boston to promote public confidence in government and increase community engagement. The 10 neighborhood stops include West Roxbury, Allston, Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Dorchester, Mid-Dorchester, Mattapan, Roslindale and Hyde Park.

“City Hall on The Go” offers a multitude of services including absentee ballot requests, parking ticket appeals, health insurance applications, marriage certificate requests and more.

Lifelong Boston resident and the community outreach coordinator for the City of Boston, Errol Johnson, said the truck provides Bostonians of all ages and abilities service to necessary city resources. 

“With our senior residents, once you get older it’s tough to maneuver [the city] the way you once did, so we provide service in their neighborhood, bringing [City Hall] to them,” Johnson said.

“But I think it’s beneficial for everyone. I see people of all ages utilizing the truck.”

While the “City Hall on The Go” truck first hit the road in 2014, the truck recently relaunched this September after maintenance issues temporarily suspended its use in October 2023. 

“The truck itself has been down, so it’s getting back into the community,” Johnson said. “People are just getting comfortable with the services that it provides.”

The truck’s schedule can be found on the Boston.gov website and on the Office of Civic Organizing’s Instagram.

Johnson said only about five to six residents utilize the truck’s services per visit on average, but more would likely visit the truck with increased awareness of its existence. 

“Not everyone is following our social media or has access to Boston.gov or knows that the information is on there,” Johnson said.

For residents aware of the service, many are satisfied.

Lindsey Boozer, a Boston resident and the strategic partnerships manager of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement for the city of Boston, visited the Mission Hill stop outside of her workplace in the Tobin Community Center. She said there is definitely demand for a traveling City Hall.

“It can be difficult to get to City Hall and it’s difficult to navigate once you’re there,” Boozer said. “It’s a big concrete building, there’s a lot of walk up windows, there’s lines, so I think bringing [City Hall] to the community is great.”

Boozer is not the only resident who has found relief in the newly-bolstered program.

“I’ve heard countless times, individuals saying that there’s nowhere to park downtown, they can’t make it with their work schedules,” Johnson said. “They are glad that the truck is in their community because they just don’t have the time to make it down to City Hall.”

Although the “City Hall on The Go” program is just a small step towards increased accessibility in Boston, the program highlights the city’s commitment to solving barriers to government services, Johnson said.

“The ‘City Hall on The Go’ truck is the perfect embodiment of the Mayor’s three guideline principles,” Johnson said. “Getting City Hall out of City Hall, raising the possibilities and getting the big things done by doing the little things right.”