The following is the text of a letter sent today by Boston's Chief of Streets Chris Osgood to Secretary Stephanie Pollack, regarding the City's feedback on MassDOT's Invitation to Bid for the Railroad Right of Way off of McClellan Highway.
Secretary Stephanie Pollack
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 4160
Boston, MA 02116
July 22, 2019
Dear Secretary Pollack,
We write to offer comments and a request with respect to MassDOT’s Invitation to Bid for the Railroad Right of Way off of McClellan Highway.
As you know, the parcel of land that is the focus of this ITB parallels Route 1A and serves as a buffer between East Boston and Chelsea Creek. Consequently, this parcel presents important transportation and resiliency opportunities -- opportunities we want to thoroughly examine given the growth in East Boston and the region, as well as projections for sea level rise in the harbor. Moreover, as you are probably aware, the BPDA is currently in the process of a community driven, neighborhood-wide plan for East Boston (“PLAN East Boston”), for which transportation planning is a significant component. As written, the ITB does, in part, consider these transportation opportunities, particularly by requiring space for a shared use path and reserving the opportunity for the MBTA to use any future roadway infrastructure.
We want to ensure, however, that this ITB does not preclude any critical opportunities. Consequently, we ask that you rescind this ITB, so that the State, the City, other municipalities and the community can discuss how this land can best meet our shared goals.
This will give us the opportunity to engage the community and conduct an analysis on the ability of this land to improve mobility and resilience in the Route 1A corridor and have that analysis and engagement inform the next steps. We understand the effort that has gone into the ITB already by your team, and we will work with you on the next steps for planning and engagement with this parcel.
We appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Chris Osgood Chief of Streets
More on the Route 1A easement issue at eastboston.com
July 26 through August 11: MassDOT will replace westbound side of the bridge
Intensive construction operations will mean significant travel impacts throughout the region
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is reminding members of the public that significant travel impacts will begin next week as part of the intensive construction operations to replace the westbound side of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
On the evening of Thursday, July 26, a section of Commonwealth Avenue and the Boston University Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic, and MBTA bus detours for the CT2 and 47 routes will go into effect. The MBTA Green B Line will be replaced by shuttle buses at the start of service on Friday, July 27, and lane reductions on I-90 in Boston will then begin later that evening.
Crews will start demolishing the westbound side of the bridge on the morning of Saturday, July 28. The MBTA Commuter Rail Worcester/Framingham line and the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited line will be replaced by bus shuttles throughout the weekend, and during the following weekend, in order to ensure adequate room for operations. The new westbound side of the bridge will then be constructed with steel beams, prefabricated concrete deck panels, and asphalt by August 11.
(A photograph taken in summer 2017 of MassDOT’s construction operations to replace to the eastbound side of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.)
This $110 million bridge replacement project, which would take an estimated four to five years using conventional techniques with significant lane-takings and service disruptions, is scheduled for completion in 2019 under the accelerated plans. The westbound side of the bridge will be constructed this summer using 3 cranes that weigh 600 tons each. Crews will utilize this equipment to put in place 45 steel beams and 214 pre-fabricated concrete deck panels along with 680 cubic yards of concrete and 520 tons of hot mix asphalt.
The full upcoming travel impacts will be as follows:
Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Pedestrians and bicyclists will have access across the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on the eastbound side throughout construction.
Download the Blue Bikes app on the App Store or Google Play to find a station near you. For a limited time, Blue Bikes is dropping their Single Trip Pass to $1 from July 26 - August 11, available in the Blue Bikes app.
MassDOT is also partnering with the City of Boston to provide an additional temporary Blue Bikes station at Silber Way on Commonwealth Ave during the construction period.
For more information, visit www.bluebikes.com.
Drivers
Commonwealth Avenue
Commonwealth Avenue (between Packard’s Corner and Kenmore Square) will be closed to vehicular through traffic (local access only) from 7:00 p.m. on July 26 to 5:00 a.m. on August 11.
Access through this area will be maintained for local businesses and customers, residents, MBTA buses, emergency services, pedestrians, and bicyclists during this time.
See the “Commonwealth Avenue Closure Detour” on the Traffic Management page.
Boston University (BU) Bridge
The BU Bridge will be closed to vehicular and bus traffic from 7:00 p.m. on July 26, to 5:00 a.m. on August 11. Access will be maintained for pedestrians and bicyclists only.
See the “Boston University (BU) Bridge Closure Detour” on the Traffic Management page.
I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike
From 9:00 p.m., on July 27, to 5:00 a.m., on August 6, I-90 (between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston) will have no more than two lanes open in each direction during peak hours.
I-90 in this area will be further reduced to one lane in each direction at various times during off-peak, weekend, and weekday overnight hours.
The I-90 eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed during this entire period.
- The I-90 westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.
- I-90 will fully restored to four lanes in both directions at 5:00 a.m., on August 6.
- See the “I-90 (Mass Pike) Ramp Closures Detour” on the Traffic Management page.
Memorial Drive
· The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will allow vehicular traffic on Memorial Drive in Cambridge on Sunday, July 29, and Sunday, August 5, in order to minimize impacts on local roadways and allow for safe and reliable travel throughout the area.
· DCR will add an additional Sunday closure of Memorial Drive in Cambridge this fall meaning vehicular traffic will not be allowed between Western Avenue and Mount Auburn Street from 11:00 a.m., to 7:00 p.m., on Sunday, November 18.
Sumner Tunnel
The additional “swing lane” on Route 1A southbound at the Sumner Tunnel will have extended hours so that it is opened at 3 p.m., on Friday, July 27, and will remain open through 5 a.m., Monday, July 30.
The swing lane will then be opened daily from 1 p.m., through 10 p.m., between Monday July 30, and Thursday, August 2.
The swing lane will also be opened at1 p.m., Friday, August 3, and will remain open through 5 a.m., Monday, August 6.
I-93 HOV Lane
The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will be open during the normal morning hours of 5 a.m., through 10 a.m., from Monday, July 30, through Friday, August 3.
The HOV lane will open early for the afternoon commute at 2 p.m., from Monday, July 30, through Thursday, August 2, and will then open at 1 p.m., on Friday, August 3.
MBTA Green B Line
The Green B Line will be replaced with shuttle buses between Babcock Street and Blandford Street Stations from 5:00 a.m. on July 27, to 5:00 a.m., on August 11. The MBTA will be providing regular service updates to customers.
MBTA Commuter Rail
The Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line will operate regular service on weekdays.
On the weekends of July 28-29 and August 4-5, bus shuttles will replace Commuter Rail service in this area.
Free bus shuttles will replace Commuter Rail train service between Framingham and Wellesley Farms. After Wellesley Farms, the shuttle bus will then continue nonstop to Riverside, where riders can connect to the Green D Line.
In addition to the local shuttles, express shuttle service will be available between Framingham and Riverside.
MBTA Bus
MBTA Bus Routes CT2 and 47 will be detoured from their normal routes from 7:00 p.m. on July 26, to 5:00 a.m. on August 11. These detours are expanded from the 2017 detour routes due to the closure of the Boston University Bridge this summer to all vehicles including MBTA buses.
The Route 57 Bus will operate its normal route and will not make outbound stops in the construction area.
See the “2018 MBTA CT2 and 47 Bus Detour Map” on the Traffic Management page.
Amtrak
Amtrak’s Lakeshore Limited Line will be replaced by shuttle buses between South Station and Albany, NY for the weekends of July 28-29 and August 4-5.
MassDOT asks for the community’s help to reduce traffic volume in the area as much as possible. MassDOT encourages the public to consider:
- REDUCE – Work with employers on flex time or telecommuting as an alternative to travel during this time period. Take your summer vacations during this time and avoid traveling through the area if at all possible
- REROUTE – Plan alternative travel routes around this construction area during the times mentioned.
- REMODE – Consider using alternate modes of transportation which may include public transit, walking or biking.
The Baker-Polito Administration appreciates the cooperation and patience of the traveling public as core transportation infrastructure is improved. Members of the public are encouraged to utilize the appropriate technology tools including mass511.com, our GoTime travel app, and other wayfinding resources to find the most appropriate route, mode, and timing of travel during our construction operations.
Individuals are encouraged to sign up for email notices to receive public meeting notices, construction updates and traffic alerts. The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Replacement Project website also contains specific details and maps and individuals can contact MassDOT with questions at: CommAveBridge@dot.state.ma.us
ADVISORY OF PUBLIC MEETING
The Department of Public Health will hold a public meeting to release the findings of the Logan Airport Health Study (also known as the Logan Study). The Logan Study involved interviews with more than 6,000 adults living within a 5-mile radius of the airport evaluating potential health impacts of air pollution and noise on residents in 17 communities within the study area.
Associate Commissioner Suzanne K. Condon and staff will review methodology used in the study and findings. The study will be available on the Department’s website following the meeting.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 6:30pm
WHERE: Winthrop Senior Center, 35 Harvard Street, Winthrop, MA
For more information contact: Anne Roach (617) 624-5006
City of Boston Files Petitions with Mass. Gaming Commission, Preserves City’s Rights to Both Host and Surrounding Community Status, Compels Information Sharing with Communities
Action Required to Meet Tonight’s Gaming Commission Deadline; Mayor Walsh Reaffirms Commitment to Protect the Interests of the Residents of Charlestown, East Boston and the City of Boston
The City of Boston today petitioned the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in order to preserve the interests of the City, its residents, businesses and visitors, in the development of proposed Mohegan Sun and Wynn resort destination casinos. The petition preserves the City’s right to assert host community status for both proposals, without waiving its rights to surrounding community status. The petition also asks the Gaming Commission to compel both proponents to share information with the communities that would be most impacted by their proposals.
“We believe this unrestricted route is the best path forward to protect the residents of East Boston and Charlestown, and the City of Boston as a whole,” Mayor Walsh said. “These applicants must have a more open dialogue with the people of Boston, particularly those neighborhoods that will be most impacted. At any time, if the facts indicate that Boston is a host city, we preserve its right to withdraw from surrounding community negotiations.”
The City also petitioned the Gaming Commission, in part, to reconsider its previous denial of Boston’s request for an extension. On Thursday, January 9, the City requested an extension of 30 days from the Commission deadline, in order to review 43,000 pages of documents provided to the City with just five business days to review. The vast majority of the documents were provided to the City for the first time and warrant careful review and analysis. The City’s reasonable request for an extension was denied by the Gaming Commission on the afternoon of Friday, January 10. The City had requested the extension in order to review and assess the documents; request and obtain additional information, clarification and supplementation of the filings; and to receive detailed input from the proponents.
While preserving its rights to host status, the City’s Petition also asked the Gaming Commission to have both the Wynn and Mohegan Sun applicants supplement their filings with the Commission, and if they fail to do that, for the Commission to designate Boston a surrounding community.
The petition also asked the Gaming Commission to compel both Mohegan Sun and Wynn to cooperate fully with the City, providing any and all information requested by the City so that it may best evaluate its status as host or surrounding community and properly evaluate the two proposals in relation to the City.
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Source: Mayor's Office
This just in from Friends of Meridian Street:
Empty Logan Airport taxis continue and still a problem on East Boston public streets.
It's 4am and still a steady stream of empty Logan Airport taxis using Meridian Street and East Boston public streets to Chelsea instead of the multi- million dollar Coughlin Bypass Road build with taxpayers money built specifically to keep commercial traffic from Logan Airport off the public streets of East Boston. These words of Massport and Massachusetts Department of Transportation leaders have never been backed up and East Boston residents, families and children are still paying with their health, safety and maintenance.
After warnings from Massport officials:
“The opening of the Martin A. Coughlin Bypass Road marks a significant milestone in Massport’s commitment to minimize Logan Airport’s impact on our East Boston neighbors,” said Massport CEO Thomas Glynn. “Thousands of airport-related commercial vehicles will no longer use East Boston’s streets. Massport is proud to make Mr. Coughlin’s vision a reality for East Boston.”
“The Martin A. Coughlin Bypass Road is a great example of the quality of life improvements that can be made by thinking creatively and collaboratively about abandoned infrastructure,” said Massport Board Chairman and MassDOT Secretary& CEO Richard A. Davey. “The new roadway also complements the new Chelsea Street Bridge by allowing traffic in the area to flow more efficiently.”
Why is nothing being done about this? There is no excuse after years and years of complaints to our elected officials and state leaders.
Chamber Works With Boston Transportation to Address Concerns of Businesses
The East Boston Chamber of Commerce first informed City Councilor Sal LaMattina, Chairperson of the Council?s Transportation Committee, in mid-2008 of the large volume of neighborhood parking issues being logged by the Chamber from local business owners. Working with Councilor LaMattina and Boston Transportation Department (BTD) Commissioner Thomas Tinlin, the Chamber hosted a forum in early 2009 at Maverick Landing, where business owners shared their stories and expressed their concerns.
Two months ago, the Chamber invited Commissioner Tinlin to take part in a walking tour of the neighborhood?s business districts; he welcomed the opportunity. Several BTD representatives led by Commissioner Tinlin, along with Chamber President Angelo Vigliotta, Jr., Chamber director John Dudley, East Boston Main Street director Clark Moulaison, and Janet Knott from the Office of Councilor LaMattina, took to each of the four major East Boston business districts ? Central, Day, Maverick, and Orient Heights Squares.
The group made stops at several merchants in each square and took notes. Several issues were identified by the Chamber: these issues have been already, or are in the process of, being addressed by BTD. Included in this list were: a problematic, dangerous intersection at the corner of Bremen and Maverick Streets, which had no stop signs, unclear parking signage, and potential for increased customer parking; a lack of two-hour visitor limits along Meridian Street, to turn over parking for merchants? customers; faded commercial signage in Day Square; and need for increased parking enforcement in sections of Central Square and Orient Heights. ?The Chamber would like to thank Commissioner Tinlin and Councilor LaMattina for their time and concern for our business community.
They are helping us create a setting that will make it easier for our members and other businesses to operate and satisfy customers," said Chamber President Angelo Vigliotta, Jr. "We will continue to work closely with them moving forward," he added. For more information on the East Boston Chamber of Commerce, please call 617-569-5000 or visit www.EastBostonChamber.com.
Commissioner Thomas Tinlin and staff join Chamber members and representatives from Councilor Sal LaMattina?s office and East Boston Main Streets in Day Square. Photo 271: Chamber President Angelo Vigliotta, Jr., with Commissioner Thomas Tinlin and BTD staff in Maverick Square.
Chamber President Angelo Vigliotta, Jr., with Commissioner Thomas Tinlin and BTD staff in Maverick Square.
