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JULY 2003 TRANSREPORT TRANSPORTATION NEWS FROM THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

MassPike Finalizes Land Sale to Harvard; Easements Protect Current Transportation Uses On May 30 the Turnpike right-of-way and Beacon Yards, which are for purposes of constructing permanent Authority finalized the sale of 91 acres of located next to the turnpike between the buildings, parking areas, and rail storage land in to Harvard University for Boston University Bridge and the All- facilities.” It also permits the construc- $75 million. The parcel includes Beacon ston/Brighton interchange. tion of buildings and improvements Park Yards, which are an inter- beside the turnpike and in the ve Western A modal freight terminal that serves airspace over it. Although Har- the region, the MassPike vard has no current plans for the Allston/Brighton toll facility, property, it is the university’s sec- approximately 3,000 additional ond recent land acquisition from feet of eastbound and westbound ge St the MassPike. In 2000 it pur- Cambrid Ma turnpike lanes, and several on- and ss Pike chased 48 acres of land adjacent off-ramps. Beacon Yards to the turnpike and Beacon Yards Wor cester /Framin gham Com muter C between Cambridge Street and As part of the agreement made Rail harl es MaM R a iv ss e P r Western Avenue, and the univer- with the Harvard University Bea- ikike

Com BU Bridge monwe sity is in the initial stages of con Yards Limited Liability Corpo- alth Ave ration, MassPike retains a perpet- developing master plans for its Land acquired by Harvard ual easement for the roadway and University on May 30 Allston campus. Additional infor- toll plaza, the MBTA has an ease- mation about plans for the area ment for commuter rail operations, and The agreement allows the university to may be obtained from Harvard’s Web CSX retains its perpetual lease of the rail “use as much of the property as possible site, www.hpai.harvard.edu/ai.htm. New MBTA Commuter Rail Service Provider Begins Operation As TRANSREPORT Providence, and Worcester Stations. •Yellow fare receipts have replaced the went to press, the The MBTA has enlisted Cafe pink receipts that were formally used to MBTA was finalizing LaFrance, located in Providence Sta- ensure that on-board fares are properly plans for a smooth tion, to sell tickets and passes, and is accounted for. transition from its working to establish a ticket vendor Following the transition, MBCR and the commuter rail service in Worcester. MBTA will focus on customer service, provider of sixteen • At South Station and Back Bay Sta- ridership growth, increased operational years, Amtrak, to the tion, MBCR sells tickets from dedi- efficiency, asset utilization, safety, and Commuter Rail Com- cated windows. Additionally, security. pany (MBCR), which signed a $1.07 bil- monthly passes are available from an lion, five-year contract in April. While MBTA customer service van at INSIDE THIS ISSUE schedules remain the same and com- South Station on the last four days of MPO activities update ...... 2 muters may see many of the same the month from 3:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. employees on trains and in stations, there Commuters are encouraged to buy Rose Kennedy Greenway forum . . . 2 have been the following minor adjust- their passes early and to use Express Transportation short notes ...... 3 ments: Check machines at certain MBTA New ocean carrier service ...... 3 • Amtrak no longer sells MBTA tickets stations or the MBTA’s Web site for Recent publications ...... 3 and passes at South Station, Back Bay, their purchase. Meeting calendar ...... 4

The members of the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): Executive Office of Transportation and Construction • City of Boston • City of Everett • City of Newton • City of Salem • Federal Highway Administration • Federal Transit Administration • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Advisory Board • Massachusetts Highway Department • Massachusetts Authority • Massachusetts Turnpike Authority • Metropolitan Area Planning Council • Regional Transportation Advisory Council • Town of Bedford • Town of Framingham • Town of Hopkinton BOSTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES Designs for Central Artery Open Space Evolving BOSTON MPO ACTION ITEMS With the Central Artery project now 90 On June 26, after a 30-day public comment period and upon percent complete, plans for the develop- the recommendation of its Transportation Planning and ment of the Downtown Corridor Park Programming Committee, the Boston MPO approved an system are well underway. The park sys- amendment to the fiscal year 2003–08 Transportation Improvement Program. As tem, named the Rose Kennedy Green- reported in TRANSREPORT last month, the amendment programs additional federal way, will provide nearly 30 acres of new highway funds, reduces previously programmed non-federal highway funds, and open space where the current elevated changes which projects were programmed for FY 2003 based primarily on their readi- Central Artery has stood since 1956. ness for construction. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE ACTION ITEMS In addition to meeting on June 26 regarding the TIP amendment reported above, the Committee also met on June 19 to approve three Central Transportation Planning Staff work programs:

•Assembly Square and Surrounding Vicinity Study — The primary objective of this Major debate about the Greenway began study is to provide a transportation and development overview of areas surrounding in May 2002; a number of public meet- Assembly Square in Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Medford, and Somerville to ings have been held since then. ensure that revitalization and economic development of these areas is conducted in accordance with smart growth principles, which focus on environmentally, fiscally, On June 18 the latest public session was and economically responsible development. held at the . It was sponsored by the Massachusetts Turnpike • Braintree Split Reconnaissance Study and Operational Assessment — This study Authority, the City of Boston, the will examine the traffic operational difficulties experienced on the ramps and road- mayor’s Central Artery Completion Task ways within the Braintree Split area and will recommend improvements. The Force, the Boston Society of Architects, study area is located between Route 3 Interchange 17, I-93/Route 128 Interchange and the Boston Society of Landscape 6, and I-93/Southeast Expressway Interchange 8. Architects. Three design teams for the • Improving Pedestrian and Bicycle Access to Selected Transit Stations — This proj- parks were selected in late 2002/early ect, which is jointly funded by MassHighway and the MBTA, will explore ways to 2003 and were introduced at a public improve non-motorized transit access modes and to enhance the sense of well- meeting in February. They were assigned being and safety for travelers already using these modes. to parcels as follows: The Committee also approved two CTPS reports: A Feasibility Analysis of Safety and • North End parks: Gustafson Partners Operational Improvements at Eleven Route 128 Interchanges in Beverly, Wenham, Man- Ltd. and Wallace Floyd Design Group chester-by-the-Sea, and Gloucester and the MassHighway Park-and-Ride Lot Inventory. • District parks: EDAW with Cop- For information on how to obtain copies of these reports, which were produced for ley Wolff Design Group and William MassHighway, contact CTPS manager Efi Pagitsas at (617) 973-7100 or at McDonough and Partners [email protected]. • Chinatown/Leather District park: Carol REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL UPDATE R. Johnson Associates and Turenscape At the June meeting of the Advisory Council, speakers Terry Regan, Senior Associ- The designers have been conducting a ate at Planners Collaborative, and Barbara Lucas, Senior Transportation Planner at series of workshops and neighborhood the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, led a discussion of the link between land meetings. The June 18 session brought use and transportation. They cited examples, such as the Piers Transit- together the design teams, a panel of way, of the impact of development on transportation uses and vice versa. The Coun- experts, and interested participants to cil also gave special thanks to member Alan McClennen of Arlington, who is retir- discuss the progress of the Greenway ing after thirty years of service to the organization, which included two terms as plan. Participants also examined issues of chairman. Council members wish him well. continuity among the three park areas. Also in June, members participated in a tour of the MBTA Operations Center. The The audience took part in the discussion. tour, guided by Dave Carney of the MBTA, showcased the MBTA’s state-of-the-art For more information on the Rose Intelligent Transportation Systems program, including the vehicle tracking system, Kennedy Greenway design and its communications, and emergency notification and response system. progress, visit www.bigdig.com.

TRANSREPORT 2JULY 2003 Announces New Ocean Carrier Service Transportation Short Notes

The Mediterranean Shipping Company service so that two vessels will call While not as dramatic as (MSC), one of the world’s leading ocean Boston weekly—one directly from North- other mile- vessel carriers, is expanding their weekly ern Europe and one directly from the stones, such as the service to Boston, providing an opening Mediterranean. opening of a new sec- for new trade lanes to South America, The European service calls Antwerp, Bel- tion of roadway for South Africa, Australia, Asia, Mexico, gium, Bremerhaven, Germany, and Le Route I-93 North, the and the Caribbean. The Geneva-based Havre, France, with cargo from Rotter- Leonard P. Zakim Bunker dam, Netherlands, and Tilbury, U.K., Hill Bridge, or the Route I-93/I-90 Con- relayed via Antwerp. The ships sail from nector, it is noteworthy that on June 21 Le Havre to the U.S., with Boston as the at 5:00 A.M. the relocated Albany Street first port of call. From Boston, the ships Extension Ramp to I-93 southbound call New York, Baltimore, and Norfolk opened to traffic. This new, permanent before returning to Antwerp. ramp, which is just south of Herald Street, may be accessed from both Knee- The newly inaugurated Mediterranean land Street and Herald Street. service will call Valencia, Spain, and Naples and La Spezia, Italy. The ships On May 26 the MBTA will sail from La Spezia to the U.S., with opened the rehabili- Boston as the first port of call. From tated Northeastern steamship line will call Boston twice a Boston, the ships call New York, Balti- Station on the week, doubling its vessel calls and offer- more, Charleston, and Savannah before Green Line. Work at ing cargo relay service for Boston- and calling at MSC’s relay port in Freeport the station included the New –based businesses via and returning to Valencia. From installation of raised platforms, new tile, Freeport, Bahamas, to the east and west Freeport, cargo may be relayed to one of brick pavers, shelters, and landscaping, coasts of South America and to South several MSC vessels calling in as well as new paint. The new platforms Africa, Australia, Asia, Mexico, and the South America, South Africa, Australia, are able to accommodate the recently Caribbean. Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico. purchased, low-floor, Type 8 cars, mak- MSC recently added ports in Italy and The revised North Europe service pro- ing the station accessible and fully com- Spain to its weekly European service, giv- vides direct service between Boston and pliant with the Americans with Disabili- ing local importers a direct inbound and several European ports, further improving ties Act. outbound connection to the Mediter- ■ New Carrier Service cont. on p. 4 Another ADA-related project got ranean. In June MSC began splitting this underway in June when the MBTA and its contractor, Barletta Construction, Summer Reading for the Transportation-Minded began the Charles/MGH Accessibility While they may not be beach reading, be requested by writing to Rubel and Modernization Project on the Red exactly ,the following transportation- BikeMaps at P.O. Box 401035, Cam- Line. In addition to making the station related publications have recently bridge, MA, 02140, or logging on to accessible, the project will include con- become available: their Web site at www.rubel.com. struction of a new headhouse and noise • Car-Free in Boston, 10th • Second Nature: Improving walls, structural repairs to the viaduct edition — This new Transportation without leading to the station, and rehabilitation edition, which was Putting Nature Second — of the existing platforms, as well as util- produced by the The result of a partner- ity relocation, roadway work, landscap- Association for Pub- ship between the Defend- ing, and surface improvements. lic Transportation in ers of Wildlife and the Sur- partnership with face Transportation Policy Rubel BikeMaps, Project, this “how to” report Minorities — For more information on includes information about MBTA on minimizing highway and develop- this report by the Civil Rights Project service additions since 1995, such as ment impacts on the natural environ- at Harvard University and the Center Night Owl service, the Silver Line, and ment is available on-line at www. for Community Change, visit the Old Colony Commuter Rail Line defenders.org/habitat/highways and at www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu. Restoration. It is available in book- www.transact.org. stores and specialty shops and may also • Moving to Equity: Addressing Inequitable Effects of Transportation Policies on

TRANSREPORT 3JULY 2003 ■ New Carrier Service cont. from p. 3 MEETING CALENDAR transit times. New England importers and The public is welcome to attend the following Monday, July 14 exporters now have more choices for transportation-related meetings. A photo ID is usu- Chinatown/ 6:00 P.M. shipping cargo from Boston, while truck- ally required for access to meeting sites. Central Artery Advisory Committee ers, forwarders, and brokers now have AT THE STATE TRANSPORTATION BUILDING, St. James Church more opportunity to experience terminal 10 PARK PLAZA, BOSTON 125 Harrison Avenue, Boston efficiencies in the Port of Boston. The Wednesday, July 9 Wednesday, July 16 Boston MPO Environmental 10:00 A.M. Central Artery 6:00 P.M. new service to Freeport is of particular Justice Committee Advisory Committee interest to exporters, who may now trade MPO Conference Room, Suite 2150 Harborside Community School 312 Boarder Street, East Boston direct from Boston via all-water service Regional Transportation 3:00 P.M. Advisory Council Thursday, July 17 to markets all over the world. Conference Room 1 Regional Visioning and Planning 10:00 A.M. Tools in Action: Brown bag MSC has been calling the Port of Boston Thursday, July 10 lunch event Boston MPO Transportation 10:00 A.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology directly from ports in Europe for 16 years. Planning and Programming Building 3, Room 270 Major imports to this region include fur- Committee Work Session on the 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge Transportation Plan Update niture, household goods, specialty foods, MPO Conference Room, Suite 2150 Charlestown Central Artery 6:00 P.M. Advisory Committee wine, and spirits. Major exports from MBTA Board Meeting 1:00 P.M. Mary Colby Apartments New England include waste paper, hides MBTA Board Room, Third Floor 11 Devens Road, Charlestown and skins, and beverages. Wednesday, July 16 Wharf District Central Artery 6:00 P.M. Boston MPO Transportation 10:00 A.M. Advisory Committee Planning and Programming For location information, contact Steve Committee Work Session on the Brewer at (617) 951-6552 or smbrewer@ TRANSREPORT Transportation Improvement Program bigdig.com. MPO Conference Room, Suite 2150 PRODUCED BY THE CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION Tuesday, July 22 PLANNING STAFF Wednesday, July 23 North End Central Artery 5:30 P.M. Access Advisory Committee 1:00 P.M. Advisory Committee Editors Graphics to the MBTA Nazzaro Community Center Mary Ellen Sullivan Kenneth A. Dumas Conference Room 2 30 North Bennett Street, Boston Jonathan Church Kate Parker Thursday, July 24 Photography Boston MPO Transportation 10:00 A.M. Meeting dates and times are subject to change: please Carol Bent Planning and Programming call (617) 973-7119 for confirmation. Additional Committee: Vote to circulate draft Unified Planning Work transportation meetings open to the public are listed PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON METROPOLITAN Program, draft Transportation on the Boston MPO Web site, at www.bostonmpo. PLANNING ORGANIZATION Improvement Program, and draft org. Daniel A. Grabauskas, Chairman Regional Transportation Plan Update Dennis A. DiZoglio, Chairman; Barbara G. Lucas, MPO Conference Room, Suite 2150 Vice Chairman; Transportation Planning and Programming Committee AT OTHER BOSTON-AREA LOCATIONS Tuesday, July 8 TRANSREPORT is available in accessible formats New Charles River Basin 4:00 P.M. to people with disabilities. Contact the Central Citizen Advisory Committee Transportation Planning Staff Certification For location information, contact Stephen Activities Group at (617) 973-7119 (voice), Collins at (617) 951-6066 or smcollins@ (617) 973-7089 (TTY), (617) 973-8855 (fax), or bigdig.com. [email protected] (e-mail).

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TRANSREPORT is published monthly by the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization to disseminate information on current transportation projects and issues in the Boston region. Comments and requests to be added to or deleted from the mailing list are welcomed and should be sent either to TRANSREPORT Editor, CTPS, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116, or to [email protected]. TRANSREPORT is free. Its preparation is financed in part by grants from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration.