Grounding McGrath:
Determining the Future of
the Route 28 Corridor
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
December 5, 2013
Study Purpose
Examine transportation issues and develop solutions
• Somerville’s interest removing McCarthy Overpass
• Extension of the MBTA Green Line to Somerville and Medford
• Accelerated Bridge Program – McCarthy and Gilman Street
• MassDOT – Reduction of long-term maintenance costs
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Planning Study Process
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Task 1 – Goals, Objectives, Evaluation Criteria, and Public Process
Task 2 – Existing and Future Conditions, Issues ID, Constraints
Task 3 – Alternatives Development
Task 4 – Alternatives Analysis
Task 5 – Recommendations
Public Involvement Process
Intended to establish early and continuous support
and input from community and stakeholders
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Working Group
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Elected Officials, Municipalities, Agencies, Abutters, Representative Organizations
Seven Working Group Meetings
Represent and report back to community groups
Public Informational Meetings
Project Website
| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
12/5/2013
Goals and Objectives
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Improve Access and Mobility
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Promote Connectivity
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Enhance safety for all modes
Maintain regional travel capacity
Limit impacts on surrounding roadways
Provide Accountability
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Identify new connections
Improve urban form/places
Improve access to open space
Support and/or generate economic development
Improve and Balance Functionality
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Improve regional and local travel time
Improve health of residents
Facilitate multi-modal transportation opportunities
Share benefits and burdens of changes
Limit impact to environment
Ensure long-term corridor maintainability
| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
12/5/2013
Focus Area
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Alternatives Development
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No-Build (+)
Move It
Bring it Down
Partially Elevated/Grounded
Alternatives Development
Four Alternatives Analyzed
• Boulevard
• Access Road
• Hybrid U-Turn/Signalized Rotary
• Boulevard/InnerBelt to Northpoint
Connection
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Boulevard
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Access
Road
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Hybrid UTurn/Signalized
Rotary
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Boulevard with
InnerBelt
Connection
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Alternatives Analysis Results
Comparatively and Generally:
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All “score” better than the No Build
Similarities in achieving goals
Challenges and traffic implications
Improved community character
Environmental and Environmental Justice benefits
Public health benefits
New and re-development opportunities
Reduced 75-year life cycle costs
Planning and Policy Context
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The Massachusetts Healthy Transportation Compact and MassDOT’s Healthy
Transportation Policy Directive
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MassDOT’s GreenDOT policy - includes goal of tripling the travel mode share
by bicycle, transit, and walking
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Federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21)
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MassDOT’s Complete Streets policy
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The Accelerated Bridge Program’s emphasis on reduction of long term
maintenance costs
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
12/5/2013
Long-Term Alternative Recommendations
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Advance 6-Lane Boulevard Alternative to Environmental
Review
Based on Public Input – Four-Lane Boulevard Option will
also be considered
Project Website
www.massdot.state.ma.us/grounding
mcgrath/Home.aspx
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
12/5/2013