District 3 candidate John O’Toole is pushing for Boston transportation officials to meet with community activists to discuss the traffic congestion plaguing Dorchester Ave.

“Getting around the neighborhood leading up to and during peak commuting times continues to be a challenge that must be addressed in a comprehensive manner,” O’Toole wrote in an Oct. 7 letter to the city’s transportation commissioner, Thomas Tinlin. “Areas of specific concern are: the numerous intersections along Dorchester Avenue, such as Glover’s Corner, Morrissey Boulevard being reduced to one straight lane at the Boston Globe, the timing of the lights at the intersection of Gallivan Boulevard, Granite Avenue and Adams Street. As well as Washington Street to the other side of Adams Street, from Savin Hill to Lower Mills, Dorchester’s traffic congestion is a serious concern that has negatively affected the quality of life of residents across the neighborhood.”

O’Toole wrote that residents need to be assured that the traffic lights are synced properly to handle the volume of traffic and that changes in traffic patterns have been considered.

“I request [Boston Transportation Department] take the lead in bringing community leaders from each part of Dorchester together with its State counterparts at Mass [Department of Transportation] to discuss the formation of a constructive community-based information gathering and suggestion process to provide residents with the proper forum to voice issues and to gain the assurances they deserve that all facets of Dorchester’s long term traffic plan are being analyzed,” he said.