The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College
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The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College THE CROSS-BRONX Outline EXPRESSWAY 1. History of the Cross-Bronx 2. Robert Moses 3. Problems: Construction, Social 4. Interchange: Highbridge and Bruckner 5. Ramifications 6. Evaluation: Who was Right? 7. How to Build Urban Freeways Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 2 of 21 Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Page 1 of 11 The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College NYC Expressways and Regional Importance Parkways: Timeline of The Cross-Bronx 1908 Long Island Motor Parkway opens: first highway using overpasses, one of first with concrete 1925 Bronx River Parkway opens: first surviving limited-access highway, first NYC-area parkway 1936 Regional Plan Association proposes NY/NJ/CT freeway network Late Robert Moses proposes limited- 1945 access highways for all vehicles – Existing parkways only open to cars – Largest highway undertaking by far (100+ freeway miles) 1955 Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority introduces yet another Next Hudson Crossing for I-95: freeway plan I-87 at Nyack, 12 miles to the North Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 3 of 21 Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 4 of 21 Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Page 2 of 11 The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Robert Moses — History of the Cross-Bronx Why the Highway System? • NY State Head of Parks (1924) • Connect George Washington Bridge with • NYC Parks Commissioner, proposed Bronx-Whitestone Bridge Head of Triborough Bridge & Tunnel – Only East-West connection through Bronx Authority (1933) • Construction Issues • Notable (and hated) for pushing plans – Topology: blasted trench to viaduct instantly through without prior approval – High real estate values – Population density = 34,548 /sq. mile (1950) (Somerville = 19,715 paxs/sq. mile, 1990) • Philosophy – Beautiful parkways, state parks – Economic development: Shea Stadium, UN Building, 1960 World’s Fair • Hated ‘ghetto’ slums – Subways = waste of money – Downtown = dead without expressways Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 5 of 21 Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 6 of 21 Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Page 3 of 11 The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Stages Problems: Construction • Initial cost estimate: $17 million (1941) • Highway to Nowhere • Became part of planned I-95 (1946) – First section is less than a mile long • Interstate 95 approved (1957) – Western and Eastern sections done first • Possibility the middle never gets built • 8.3 miles (Bruckner to Highbridge) • Traffic problems through the center of the Bronx • Accidents 1954 • “East” (between Bronx River Pkwy and – 1959: retaining wall collapses (rain weakened Bruckner Circle) hillside), one died • “West” (between Harlem River and – 1962: crane buckles, two died Jerome Avenue) • Materials 1961 • “Extension” (Bruckner Circle to Throgs Neck Bridge) – Unionport Bridge delayed – competition for materials with other highway projects • Now I-295 spur (also I-895) – Inferior drying method used on Highbridge 1962 • “Middle” (between east and west) pavement = 70% cost overrun 1964 • Highbridge interchange with I-87, • Existing Infrastructure Alexander Hamilton Bridge – Tunnels under a subway line (!) 1972 • Bruckner Interchange – IRT subway station raised to fit highway (I-95 complete) underneath – service not disrupted Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 7 of 21 Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 8 of 21 Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Page 4 of 11 The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Problems: Social Highbridge Interchange • Many people displaced along corridor – First contract was for relocating tenants – 1,530 families moved in above stretch • 5,000 total for highway • Washington Bridge is not Interstate-standard – $7 million to move people – Ends in traffic light – Neighbourhood(s) destroyed permanently – Narrow lanes, no shoulders • New interchange with Washington Bridge and Harlem River Drive • Moses v.s. Bronx Borough President James • Washington Bridge built in 1888 for $2.65 million Lyons – Improve to six lanes, remove trolley tracks (1949) – Lyons wanted alignment through Crotona Park – Replaced by Alexander Hamilton Bridge (1959-64) • 1-2% of the damage (19 families moved) • Connect Cross-Bronx and Deegan Expwy – Moses threatened to stop construction – 18 months overrun • Interstate engineering standards; Corruption • Ultimate Cost = $60 million (1969) Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 9 of 21 Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 10 of 21 Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Page 5 of 11 The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Bruckner Interchange Ramifications • Robert Moses forced out of New York – Resigned from city to head World’s Fair (1959) – Lost NY State jobs under Rockefeller, then retired (1968) • No more construction through cities – Planned NYC expressways (Bushwick, Lower- and Mid- Manhattan, Nassau) stopped • Nassau half-built – Embarcadero, Central Artery, other elevated highways now being torn down • Traffic Circle is inadequate for traffic •Boston – Not freeway standard – Inner Belt (I-695) cancelled • Built with Bruckner Expressway (new traffic – Route 2 (Northwest Expressway) replaced source) with Alewife Red Line Extension (interstate • $67.8 million (largest single contract ever) funds transfer) – Entire Bruckner Expressway was $137 million – Southwest Expressway (I-95) • Brings four freeways together • Community opposition = effective force • Delayed almost 20 years – Park Freeway West (Milwaukee), Somerset – Community opposition to elevated freeway Freeway (NJ), West Side Highway (Manhattan) – Money and land acquisition were problems • Highways seen as bad in urban areas – Redesign for building around existing drawbridges Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 11 of 21 Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 12 of 21 Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Page 6 of 11 The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Cancelled Highway Projects Who was Right? • Direct Costs – Opportunity cost of land (acquisition costs) – Construction cost • Externalities (also Costs) – Displacement of existing residents – Devaluation of properties immediately adjacent – Splitting neighbourhoods in half Southwest Expressway I-295 and U.S. Route 6, • Direct Benefits (Convertible to Revenue) (I-95), Boston, Mass. Providence, R.I. – Time saving for passengers – Logistics cost savings for freight • Positive Externalities – Increase in value of nearby properties – Reduction in accident rate • Monetize costs and benefits for Project Evaluation (Economic Analysis) Route 1 and MA 60, I-189 (at U.S. Route 7), Lynn, Mass. (planned I-95) Burlington, Verm. Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 13 of 21 Steve M. Alpert & 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Slide 14 of 21 Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Lexcie Lu Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Steve Alpert & Lexcie Lu Page 7 of 11 The Cross-Bronx Expressway MIT 1.011 Project Evaluation, Spring 2003 Big Dig Seminar at Boston University, Metropolitan College Using Numbers Estimating Social Costs Urban Freeway Social Cost Control Panels • Lots of people are kicked out of their Lexcie Lu, MIT Center for Transportation Studies, 04/06/03 Based on prior work by Steve Alpert, MIT Department of Civil Engineering homes. How many is lots? Is it too many? Value of Time for the Average Citizen $20 per hour – Highway Footprint = Rent per Household per Annum $18,000 per household per annu (Lane Width * Lanes + Shoulders) * Length Number of Households per Building 4.0 households/building Opportunity Cost per Building per Year $72,000 per building per annum – Dwelling Replacement Cost = Opportunity Cost per Mile $11.0 million per annum (This should increase with inflation -- ongoing cost) Pop. Density * Footprint * Cost per Dwelling Adjacent Property Devaluation Control Panel Mileage Either Side of Alignment Impacted 0.2 miles • Translate this ‘problem’ into a ‘cost’ Number of paxs per household