Mayor Walsh, Massport announce new commitments to East Boston

City and Massport to partner on key projects to enhance East Boston neighborhoods

BOSTON - Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today announced new commitments to the residents of East Boston, including Phase II of Piers Park on Boston Harbor, additional funding for the East Boston Foundation, operational funding for a new senior center for East Boston residents, and a traffic study to help mitigate congestion on Neptune Road. These commitments were identified as high impact projects by both the City of Boston and the community members and organizations of the Logan Impact Advisory Group (LIAG) through their review process for both the Terminal E modernization and the addition of 5,000 new parking spaces.

"I am proud to partner with Massport to enhance the thriving neighborhood of East Boston. These projects build on our commitment to provide new and additional pathways for economic mobility and avenues to improve quality of life for residents," said Mayor Walsh. "From improving and building upon our green spaces, to enhancing our streetscape, to providing members of our communities a new place to gather, when we invest in and improve our neighborhoods together, great things happen."

Mayor Walsh announced a new Orient Heights Senior Center to serve the senior residents of East Boston, with Massport providing operational funding for this important project. The City of Boston will help facilitate this plan, with vital input from the community incorporated into all aspects of the project.

"Community spaces and engaging programming create meaningful connections in our neighborhoods that are important for older adults," said Emily Shea, Commissioner on Affairs of the Elderly. "We look forward to continuing to build supports and services here in East Boston."

"As one of Logan Airport's host communities, East Boston has been impacted by the airport in many ways, and today, I'm proud to join my colleagues from the City of Boston and Massport to announce these new commitments which will, no doubt, have positive impacts on East Boston for many years to come," said State Senator Joseph Boncore.

The award-winning Piers Park is an active community center in East Boston with lush greenscapes, playground equipment, exercise equipment and a pier extending into Boston Harbor with gazebos highlighting the neighborhoods of East Boston. The park features some of the most spectacular views of the Boston skyline. Opened in 1995, the park won the 2014 "Best of Boston" Award for "Best Green Space" in the city. Several local organizations offer programming in the park, such as free concerts from Zumix, exercise offerings such as tai chi and yoga and the annual Eastie Pride Day.

"These commitments present exciting opportunities for East Boston and are the result of a collaborative, community-driven dialogue among local stakeholders," said State Representative Adrian Madaro. "A ten-year extension and increased funding for the East Boston Foundation, a new senior center, and an expanded Piers Park will have lasting impacts on our neighborhood that residents will enjoy for generations."

The extensive planning process for the highly anticipated Piers Park II is already underway as a collaborative effort between Massport and the residents of East Boston. The Piers Park Advisory Committee, an advisory group made up of East Boston residents, will work with Massport and its design and construction consultants to oversee the development of the park. The design, bid and construction process of Piers Park II will boast 4.5 acres of active green space and be located adjacent to the existing Piers Park. When added together, both parks will boast over ten acres of greenspace for the East Boston community.

"The partnership between the City of Boston and Massport on these important promises to the East Boston community will lead to improvements in the lives of a wide range of residents and I am looking forward to seeing these commitments come to life in the coming years," said Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina.  

In addition, Massport will also allocate funds toward the East Boston Foundation to enhance the community of East Boston and the organizations that contribute to the betterment of the neighborhoods within it. Created by Massport in 1997, the East Boston Foundation has provided more than $10 million in financial support to 95 community programs that benefit children, adults and seniors- from sports and recreation to education, training and childcare.

"As both a lifelong resident of East Boston and a member of the Massport Board, today is particularly special as we celebrate these significant commitments to the community," said Massport Board Member John Nucci. "I look forward to seeing Piers Park II grow alongside Piers Park I, one of the centerpieces of community life in East Boston, as well as continued support of the East Boston Foundation including funding regarding a senior center for our elders, and the commitment to a study of Neptune Road's traffic impacts."

In partnership with the Boston Transportation Department, Massport will also fund a traffic study to help mitigate congestion on Neptune Road extending to Day Square. Nitsch Engineering is working to complete the study, which includes traffic counts at eight intersections and five road segments, completed GIS maps of study area, including identification of land uses, and the building of a digital traffic analysis for the study area.

"We are proud to stand here with the community of East Boston and the leadership of the Mayor and the City of Boston as we celebrate four major commitments that Massport has made to the people of East Boston," said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. "Piers Park II, the traffic study for Neptune Road, funding to the East Boston Foundation and the Orient Heights Senior Center will contribute to the already vibrant community of East Boston."

Neptune Road is challenging for pedestrians as well as for drivers of large trucks who frequently have difficulty navigating the u-turn from the northbound off-ramp to 1A southbound due to an inadequate turning radius. This problem for oversized vehicles contributes to traffic delays on Neptune Road, a key connection for access to Route 1A, to Logan International Airport, for shuttle buses and other motor vehicles traveling between East Boston and Chelsea, and for local traffic.

"BTD is pleased to have this opportunity to partner with Massport on this transportation study as it is an opportunity to create a 'complete street' design for Neptune Road that is in keeping with our Go Boston 2030 and Vision Zero goals to provide safe and efficient access for all users of Boston's roadways," said Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca. "Through this process, we will take a forward-thinking approach to transportation management, looking at evolving transportation needs, changing roadway use and capacity on Neptune Road. Our focus will be on creating a comprehensive design that will work to mitigate current and future traffic impacts and enhance the surrounding East Boston community."

Massport and the community of East Boston have worked to build a strong partnership over the years. Through supporting youth employment at Piers Park Sailing Center, providing scholarship funds to students of East Boston High School, and creating safe and inviting green space for residents to enjoy, Massport and East Boston are continuing to work to make the community one of the most desirable urban areas to live in Massachusetts.

ABOUT MASSPORT
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $15 billion annually and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. For more information, please visit massport.com.

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Source: Mayor's Press Office 10/17

In letter to DOT, Rep. Madaro expresses frustration and disappointment in new Sumner Tunnel traffic design.

The following is a letter sent by state Representative Adrian Madaro to the Department of Transportation.


May 23, 2017


Secretary Stephanie Pollack
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 4160
Boston, MA 02116

Dear Secretary Pollack:

I write to express my extreme frustration and disappointment with the implementation of the new traffic patterns at the Sumner Toll Plaza. This has become a major quality of life issue for East Boston residents who are now dealing with a significant increase in traffic on neighborhood streets causing much longer commutes as well as elevated levels of pollution. The results have been unacceptable and the inequity for East Boston residents must be addressed swiftly.

During the planning of the redesign, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) officials ensured the East Boston community that the new traffic patterns would result in a safer, smoother, and more efficient commute through the tunnel. Instead of improving traffic flow, the new design has created traffic backups unseen in East Boston since the pre-Ted Williams Tunnel days. In fact, the current traffic is even worse. Beyond the impact on commuters, this increase in neighborhood and tunnel traffic has dangerous implications for emergency vehicles that cannot get through the gridlock. 

In the redesign, traffic impacts to the community were not fully considered. On a daily basis, residential streets in East Boston are entirely congested, including streets that never experienced traffic before. While the transition to all-electronic tolls appears to have improved traffic flow in other areas throughout the State, this particular redesign has resulted in a tremendous step backwards. Simply put, East Boston residents deserve better. 

I recognize the ongoing efforts of MassDOT and the Boston Transportation Department to address this issue. However, it has now been over two weeks since the new traffic patterns went into effect and there has been no improvement. In fact, it seems that traffic gets worse by the day. I know that countless engineers from both the City and State are closely monitoring the situation and actively looking for modifications that will improve the flow of traffic. I strongly urge these changes to be put into place immediately. Any such changes must prioritize East Boston residents who deal with the full brunt of the congestion from North Shore drivers trying to get into Downtown Boston, particularly during the morning commute. 

East Boston residents face a number of transportation equity issues due, in part, to our geographic separation from the rest of the City. The Sumner Tunnel serves as a vital connection between our neighborhood, Downtown, Storrow Drive, and I-93 North. MassDOT must acknowledge the deficiencies of the current pattern and utilize the significant resources at its disposal to fix this issue expeditiously.  

Respectfully,


Adrian C. Madaro
State Representative

Massport Approves $15.8 Million for Runway Rehabilitation Project will resurface Runway 4L/22R and recycle old asphalt

BOSTON (May 26, 2016) – The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Board today voted to approve a $15.8 million budget repave Runway 4L-22R, as well as install centerline lights along the runway for enhanced pilot guidance. The goal of the project is to improve surface condition and drainage characteristics.

When work begins later this year, the 7,864 foot long runway will be repaved with warm mix asphalt. Runway 4L-22R is 150 feet wide.

Logan was the first US airport to use warm mix asphalt on airfield projects. The so-called “green asphalt” is heated to about 75 degrees lower than traditional asphalt and uses about 20 percent less fuel, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent and uses recycled asphalt in its manufacture. All pavement removed from the runway will be transported and recycled offsite for use on a future project.

The rehabilitation project is estimated to generate approximately 61 direct, 36 indirect, and 79 induced FTE positions over the course of 12 months for a total of 179 FTE employees.

“Safety and security are the top priorities for Massport,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “We want to maintain our facilities to ensure the safety everyone who uses them. This project will help keep Logan Airport in great shape.”

The project is set to begin in September and last for 30 days. During that period, the runway will be closed, so flight delays are possible, depending on wind conditions and the runway configuration in use by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Boston Logan, 30 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and 15 minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 76 domestic and 53 international destinations and in 2015 handled 33.4 million passengers. Boston Logan is served by two public transit lines.  The airport generates $13 billion in total economic impact each year.

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/bostonlogan and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/bostonlogan.

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The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $15 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. No state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities. For more information please visit massport.com.

Long awaited Logan Study based on 6,000 individual interviews to be released in Winthrop on Wed., May 28

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