The council voted Wednesday to summon Eng after he did not attend a hearing the previous week. Eng said a scheduling conflict kept him away and that he has been actively engaging with the community. He is expected to appear at a council hearing on Nov. 6.

The proposal would put bus lanes in the center of Blue Hill Avenue. The MBTA estimates the lanes could cut rush-hour travel times for riders by as much as 15 minutes. Eng has argued the project would improve safety and warned that major changes could put federal funding at risk. “The community deserves something today,” he said. “The worst thing would be to lose the federal dollars.”

Some residents have raised safety concerns, while Councilor Miniard Culpepper has questioned whether the design is safe and called for considering an Orange Line extension instead. He described the issue as one of transportation equity, saying predominantly Black communities along the avenue have been underserved for decades. “We are asking for equity for the Black community,” Culpepper said, calling the matter a civil rights issue involving unequal public investment.

Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration criticized the council’s decision, saying subpoenas are not a constructive way for government partners to work together and urging councilors to find other ways to engage. Culpepper said he believes Eng will comply. If Eng does not appear Nov. 6, the council would need to vote on whether to pursue court action.