Showing posts with label
transportation projects in East Boston.
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Showing posts with label
transportation projects in East Boston.
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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
Sumner Tunnel Toll Plaza Reconstruction
Weekly Look-Ahead
Period of April 15, 2018 to April 21, 2018
Throughout the period covered by this look-ahead, MassDOT’s contractor for the Reconstruction of the Sumner Tunnel toll plaza will resume operations. No lane closures will be required and work will be during daytime hours between 6:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. No work will take place on Monday, April 16, Patriot’s Day.
At the Sumner Tunnel entrance, SNR will be installing light pole foundations and conduit in the Massachusetts State Police parking lot on Tuesday, April 17 and Wednesday, April 18. Crews from SNR will also install manholes, drywells and pipe in the Massachusetts State Police parking lot Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20. MassBay will install mast arm foundations Wednesday, April 18 through Friday, April 20. Crews will perform survey work as required. Police details will be onsite to assist with moving equipment across the road. No traffic setups will be required, and all work will be done in construction work zones.
UPDATED SWING LANE TIME:
The Sumner “swing lane” will open at 2 p.m. Friday, April 13 and it will remain open throughout the weekend and the Patriots Day Holiday/Marathon Day, Monday, April 16. The swing gate will close at 5 a.m., Tuesday, April 17 and resume normal operations for the rest of the week, opening 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
The District will continue to monitor all traffic. We will send out notification if there are any temporary adjustments to the swing lane hours.
To receive email and text alerts for a low balance on an EZPass transponder, go to https://www.ezdrivema.com/ and sign into your account. Select “Statement Options” and there you can sign up for email or text alerts on your EZPass transponder balance.
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
Sumner Tunnel Entrance Reconstruction and Toll Plaza Demolition Project
Public Information Meeting
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will begin All Electronic Tolling (AET) in the Sumner Tunnel effective October 28, 2016.
In preparation for the transition MassDOT will host a public meeting in East Boston to provide information about the proposed design of the tunnel entrance and toll booth elimination which will begin at a later date.
Within the project overview MassDOT will discuss the design and construction process including:
- timeline of the toll booth demolition process,
- the alternatives analysis for the design of the Sumner Tunnel entrance,
- and construction impacts such as
traffic and noise,
material disposition and
other project-related issues.
This meeting will ensure that users of the Sumner Tunnel and neighboring communities are fully informed about the project and design and construction process to minimize any public inconvenience.
If you are unable to attend a meeting, a copy of the presentation will be available at https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TollInformation/AllElectronicTolling
Public comments and questions may also be submitted by email AETinfo@dot.state.ma.us.
The meeting will be held from 6:30pm – 8:30pm and is scheduled as follows:
Monday, October 17th – East Boston,
East Boston High School Auditorium
86 White Street
Locations are accessible to people with disabilities.
MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print) as available.
For accommodation or language assistance, please contact Jim Kersten by phone (857) 368-9041 or by email (james.a.kersten@state.ma.us).
Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting. For more difficult to arrange services including sign language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting.
