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Environmental Impacts As a Result of the MTA and the CA/T Project

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Environmental Impacts as a Result of the MTA and the CA/T Project Presented by: Lisa Petraglia Photo: MTA Photo: David L.Ryan, Boston Globe Study Purpose To document the environmental benefits related to the completed CA/T Project and other MTA investments Photo: MTA Photo: MTA 1 Overview of Projects Rt. 1A McClellan Hwy Other Important Leonard Zakim Contributions Bunker Hill Bridge Logan Airport ramps •Public Safety Services for Boston Area Highways Storrow Drive Connector Tunnel and Bridge Callahan & Sumner •Noise Abatement Tunnel Ramps &Lanes •Route 146 Interchange (Turnpike I-93 Central Exit 10A) Artery •I-90 Improvements West of Route 128 I-90 Fort Point I-90 Ted Williams Channel Tunnel Tunnel I-90 Massachusetts Turnpike Extension Prior MTA - CA/T Project Studies • Transportation facility changes and land-use impacts (turnpike extensions, CA/T) [ An Analysis of the MTA: Its Impact on MA & A Comparative Analysis, Donahue Institute, 1996 On Top of the Big Dig: Economic Analysis of Urban Parks Created by Boston CA/T Project, Tajima, 2002, Tufts Univ. Real Estate Impacts of the MTA & the CA/T Project, EDR Group, 2006, Vol. 2] • Transportation Performance Improvements Î Economic Impact for the Boston Metro area [Economic Impacts of the MTA & Related Projects, EDR Group, 2006, Vol. 1] 2 Traffic Volume & Time Savings • I-93 Central Artery • I-90 Massachusetts Turnpike Extension • Harbor Crossings: Callahan, Sumner & Ted Williams Tunnels • Storrow Drive and Charles River Crossings • Downtown Traffic Comparison of VHT Changes with Original Projections Projected in EIS Document Average Daily VHT on Expressways No Build 2010 Build 2010 change Expressway Central Area 27,154 15,848 -42% Storrow Drive at West End 2,251 1,206 -46% Actual Post Opening Average Daily VHT on Expressways Pre-Opening 1995 2003-2004 change Central Artery 23,758 7,558 -68% Storrow Drive at Leverett Circle 1,120 217 -81% 3 Emissions Impact Emissions Impact • FSEIS study projected impact with and without CA/T for 2010 • The improved traffic flow reduces congestion and idling/acceleration events that lead to increases in mobile source emissions • Better allocation between local streets and highway/tunnels also helped to reduce emissions 0 -124 -33 -216 -500 CO HC NOx PM10 -1000 tons -1500 -2000 -2123 -2500 Emissions Impact Validated Emissions Impact • For 2005 VOC emissions in the CA/T study area are lower by 14% as a result of the improvements – based on a recent analysis* by Central Artery/Tunnel Project staff & Central Transportation Planning staff. This result (equivalent to 166 fewer tons) is consistent with the year 2010 HC emission reduction improvements estimated in the FSEIS. Publication forthcoming Spring 2006 4 Turnpike-wide Implementation of FAST LANE Since 1999 - • Current adoption rate of 68 % (responsible for 55 % of the average hourly toll transactions) • Recent evaluation of the Allston/Brighton Toll Plaza has improved peak period avg. speed up to the allowable speed limit. Emissions Benefit from FAST LANE • For the Allston/Brighton Interchange emission rates during the peak hour period are lower as a result of FAST LANE when compared to manned lane transactions FAST LANE 's Pollution Benefit 0.0% -5.0% CO Nox VOC -10.0% -15.0% -20.0% -25.0% -30.0% -35.0% -40.0% -45.0% Daily Peak Period Reduction -50.0% 5 Re-routing Traffic Underground • Eliminates traffic-related noise and making proximal neighborhoods 25 -33 % quieter depending on time of day • Greater subjective benefit of less noise pollution to residents and businesses- especially in North End Impact on Utilities Network Development • Pre-Central Artery construction required moving 29 miles of assorted utilities & allowed for streamlining-modernizing the network Before After 6 Storm-water Improvements • Separating sewer from storm-water influents • Emergency spill control 24-7 through CA’T’s Operations Control Complex • “Stormceptor” allows for total suspended solids to be less then 20% • Velocity dissipators at Millers River Conduit circa 1905 Stormceptor Visual Impact • Removal of highway has made proximal neighborhoods more livable and enjoyable • There is a privacy gain for residents as well as a better view across the cityscape • Commercial & residential property in the vicinity has already begun to appreciate due to highway demolition & anticipated RFK Greenway – documented at almost $1 bil. 7 Re-knitting Neighborhoods and Entry Points •Neighborhoods previously isolated from rest of the city such as the Seaport District and North End are once again connected •The rest of the city will be more open to entry from these neighborhoods as well as the harbor Pedestrian Access • Elevated highway was a physical and psychological barrier, discouraging pedestrians to walk through • Areas between neighborhoods will be easily walkable • The Freedom Trail, which draws approx. 3 million visitors per year will no longer be disconnected 8 Surface Parks & Open Space • Plans for 320 additional acres of parks & landscaped spaces from Charlestown to South Bay to East Boston to the Boston Harbor Islands • Parks Include: – 21 acres of parks and streetscape above the Central Artery thru downtown Boston envisioned as the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway; – The Paul Revere Park in Charlestown near the Charles River Dam opened in July 1999; – The 2.5 acre Nashua Street Park along the Charles River near Leverett Circle & the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital is complete; – North Point Park along the New Charles River Basin will open in the summer of 2006; – 18-acre Bremen Street Park in East Boston will open in the summer of 2006 NewNew &and Improved Improved ParksParks Charlestown North End Parks on both sides of the Charles River, connecting the Esplanade to Boston Harbor “Lost Half-Mile” “Lost Half-Mile” 9 Spectacle Island – from leaching land-fill to BHI National Park System • 121 acres of park, beaches, trails, landscaping and visitor center with new docking facility for Boston Harbor Ferry – made possible with approx. 3.5 mil cy of clay-dirt-gravel excavated from the project & $180 million. Source: masspike.com Conclusions After a unique and sizeable undertaking the completed CA/T project has produced environmental benefits that have… 9 Outfitted Boston with capacity to handle current & future traffic more efficiently 9 Made the environs of the former alignment more enjoyable – quieter, cleaner, visually unencumbered & greater privacy for abutting residences by depressing the artery 9Effectively eliminated congestion in the downtown & with FAST LANE’s contribution along the entire MassTurnpike – lower vehicle emissions are contributing to building better air quality for the Metro area and all of MA 9 Invested more broadly in the city’s sewer/stormwater management apart from the project 9Developed or improved parks & habitats for Boston’s residents & visitors to enjoy – including re-use of capped land-fills. 10 Prepared for: Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Presented by: Lisa Petraglia Photo: MTA Photo: David L.Ryan, Boston Globe 11.
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