DECEMBER 2001 TRANSREPORT TRANSPORTATION NEWS FROM THE BOSTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION Aquarium Station Reopens on the MBTA’s Blue Line The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Hall Marketplace. The new west-side east side of the Central Artery, will open Authority (MBTA) reopened Aquarium entrances improve access to both the in 2003. Station on October 29. The Blue Line Faneuil Hall area and the Financial Dis- Completely closing the station for subway station had been closed a year allowed the modernization for the past year. The renovated work to proceed more quickly: facility features a longer platform the project can now be completed that makes possible the use of a year ahead of the original 2004 six-car trainsets. The old station scheduled completion date. In was only able to accommodate 2003 the MBTA will start to four-car trainsets. operate six-car trainsets on the Currently, the station can be Blue Line. The $172 million pur- accessed only from a new head- chase of 94 new Blue Line cars house on the west side of the from Siemens Transportation Sys- Central Artery at the intersec- tems, which was authorized by tion of State Street and McKin- the MBTA board of directors in ley Square. The headhouse October, will provide the rolling includes an elevator. A second A Blue Line train enters the reopened Aquarium Station stock required for the operation west-side entrance is nearing com- of longer trains. pletion and will open soon. It is located trict. The old headhouse located adjacent on the other side of State Street, adja- to the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel, as cent to Marketplace Center and Faneuil well as another new headhouse on the Updated Big Dig Exhibit Debuts; Tunnel Construction Delayed The Museum of Sci- contributions from private companies the five-foot-thick concrete floor. ence and the Cen- working on the CA/T project. Through these holes, workers will inject expandable grout that will fill the 14- tral Artery/Tunnel The Big Dig is the largest, most techni- inch space permanently. Project have cally challenging highway project in reopened an exhibit American history. A current unexpected I Big Dig cont. on p. 4 on the Big Dig. challenge is a persistent water leak at Originally opened in Fort Point Channel between the I-90 1993, it has been renovated and now connection and the Ted Williams Tun- INSIDE THIS ISSUE includes interactive hands-on displays. nel. The leak was discovered in June at One of the main features of the exhibit is the entrance pit of the eastbound side of MPO activities update . 2 a model of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker the connection. A 14-inch space Transportation Plan workshops . 2 Hill Bridge accompanied by a display between the bottom of the tunnel box New Logan Airport roadways . 3 providing a closer look at the cables that and a concrete base slab has been esti- make the bridge a unique landmark. mated to be allowing approximately Arborway trolleys to return . 3 Located at the Museum of Science, the 25,000 gallons per minute to pass Fairmount Line study . 4 exhibit is funded through a grant from through. To fix the leak, engineers are Meeting calendar . 4 the Federal Highway Administration and drilling approximately 80 holes through 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 Peabody • Federal Highway Administration • Federal Transit Administration • Joint Regional Transportation Committee • Massachusetts Bay Transporta- tion Authority • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Advisory Board • Massachusetts Highway Department • Massachusetts Port Authority • Massachusetts Turnpike Authority • Metropolitan Area Planning Council • Town of Bedford • Town of Framingham • Town of Hopkinton BOSTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES MPO Workshops Provide Forum for Discussion of SUB-SIGNATORY COMMITTEE UPDATE the Transportation Plan A committee made up of representatives of all MPO mem- Work on the Transportation Plan Update bers met several times in November to develop a revised for the Boston Region continues in Boston MPO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The preparation for submitting a final docu- MOU, which will replace a 1997 agreement, was required by the Federal Highway and ment to the federal transportation agen- Federal Transit Administrations in their recertification report of March 15. Consensus cies by March 15, 2002. The latest efforts on the new MOU was reached on November 15; a committee is preparing the final included public-outreach workshops held document for approval and signing in December. at various locations throughout the The SSC also met to discuss the 2001 Regional Transportation Plan Update, another region and continued coordination with requirement of the March recertification report. MPO staff presented additional infor- the Joint Regional Transportation Com- mation to help the SSC define a package of projects that will be analyzed using travel mittee (the MPO’s public advisory board) models. After analyzing all the model results and other information, the SSC will rec- and the Metropolitan Area Planning ommend a set of projects for the Plan Update. The draft Plan Update will be circulated Council subregional groups. for a 35-day public review and comment period beginning in late January. These efforts have included distributing JRTC UPDATE information on policies for selecting proj- The Joint Regional Transportation Committee’s subcommittee on the 2001 Regional ects to be recommended in the Plan, on Transportation Plan Update is reviewing materials developed for the Plan and preparing for discussion with the full JRTC at the December meeting. The JRTC will submit its comments on the Plan to the MPO. The JRTC has organized committees to plan pro- PLAN grams and specialize in other MPO documents. It is forming another to update its by- UPDATE laws. The JRTC is also considering ways to facilitate member and citizen participation. Other JRTC activity in the past month included extending membership to the town of 2001 Weymouth. AACT UPDATE alternative project sets being tested using At its November 20 meeting, the Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA (AACT) the regional transportation model, and was given a presentation by the MBTA on the 30 percent–design work for moderniza- on the universe of potential projects. The tion of Savin Hill Station on the Red Line. One aspect of the modernization is making list of potential projects includes ones the station accessible; this includes an elevator from street level to the platform. Work that have been previously studied, are on the station is scheduled to be complete in late summer 2003. currently under study, or are in develop- ment, as well as projects that were pro- posed in comments received during the public-outreach efforts for the Plan MBTA to Hold Meetings for Fairmount Line Commuter adopted in January 2001. The public has Rail Upgrade Study been asked to comment on and add to this list, indicating what the region’s pri- The MBTA is developing a plan for possi- achusetts Avenue, Columbia Road, and orities should be over the next 20 to 25 ble service improvements on the Fair- Blue Hill Avenue. New stations at these years. The list may be downloaded from mount commuter rail line and would like locations, as well as others, are some of the Boston MPO Web site at www.ctps. your opinions and input. The Fairmount the suggestions the MBTA has already org/bostonmpo.plan2000/plan. To request Line operates in Boston and Milton, with received. An increase in service frequency that a copy be mailed, call Anne McGa- stations at Uphams Corner in Dorches- is viewed as a way to increase ridership. han at (617) 973-7100. ter, Morton Street in Mattapan, and Fair- Currently, trains run once an hour during mount and Readville in Hyde Park. the off peak and not on weekends. The comments received by the public will be used by the MPO in selecting the The Fairmount Line Commuter Rail The first meeting to discuss the study was set of projects to be included in the Plan. Upgrade Study will explore several held on November 29 in Hyde Park. The proposed schedule is for the MPO to options for improving service along this Additional meetings are scheduled for release a draft of the Plan Update in Jan- right-of-way. Two improvements that are December 10 in Dorchester and December uary 2002 for a 35-day public review being examined are the construction of 18 in Mattapan; see the meeting calendar period, which will be the next opportu- new stations and an increase in service to the left. For more information concern- nity for public input into the Plan frequency. The line crosses several high- ing the study, call Yawa Duse-Anthony at process. volume streets in Boston, including Mass- 1-800-556-7245. TRANSREPORT 2DECEMBER 2001 New Logan Airport Roadway System Opens; Other Massport News The first segment of Logan Airport’s two- after leaving a departure area. This seg- the Massport board of directors in Octo- level roadway system opened to motorists ment has yet to be built, so all vehicles ber went into effect on November 12. on November 11. The purpose of the departing the airport will continue to use The daily rate at Central Parking is now two-level system, which the Massachu- the lower roadway. $22 and the weekly rate is capped at $99. setts Port Authority and the Central Two immediate benefits accrue from the The weekly rate is only available until Artery Project began to build in 1996, is opening of the first segment of the upper satellite parking lots reopen, at which to provide separate routes for vehicles roadway. Work can now begin on the time weekly rates will be offered at those destined for terminal departure areas and direct connection from the Ted Williams economy lots only.