Urban Ring Phase 2
Proposed Circumferential Transit Project
Urban Ring
Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting
June 10, 2009
1
Urban Ring Phase 2
Agenda
2
CAC Alternatives Subcommittee review
Notice of Project Change
Implementation plan
Response to comments
Next steps
Discussion
Urban Ring Phase 2
CAC Alternatives Subcommittee
3
Key issues raised at May 12th meeting:
Schedule of RTP update
Expiration of federal earmarks/shape of new bill
FTA buy-in on implementation strategy
Ability of MOS to relieve central subway
Resolution of outstanding issues, impediments
Use of bond bill funds to advance the work
Implementation plan for targeted improvements
outside the recommended MOS
Urban Ring Phase 2
Agency Coordination
4
2030 MPO Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
Constrained to reasonable financial assumptions
Must include State Implementation Plan commitments
– Green Line Ext, Fairmount Branch, 1,000 parking
spaces, Red-Blue Connector design
Includes Urban Ring Phase 2 component, but tunnel
not financially feasible at this time
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Discussed approach with FTA Region 1
Continue coordination to maximize overall project in
application, while pursuing early implementation
Urban Ring Phase 2
Notice of Project Change
Implementation Plan
Identify “early action items” to improve transit
service in the Urban Ring corridor
Define overall project phasing
Provide “schedule for resolving the key remaining
technical, routing, and implementation issues”
Comment response
5
EOT must “thoroughly respond” to the 75 comment
letters (not counting the multiple form letters)
Urban Ring Phase 2
Implementation Plan – Early Actions
6
Evaluate potential service improvements
(constrained by MBTA/EOT finances)
Work with MBTA to review and rationalize bus
routes and service, identify potential to
enhance service in Urban Ring corridor
Work with MBTA and municipalities to deploy
Bus signal priority
Queue jump lanes
Enhanced amenities in corridor – shelters, traveler
information
Urban Ring Phase 2
Implementation Plan – Early Actions
Identify engineering tasks that can be
accomplished in the near term to bring the early
action items closer to realization
Coordinate with MBTA capital investment plan, and the
annual bus planning processes
Advance the planning and design of earmarked projects
East
Boston Haul Road
Sullivan
Melnea
7
Square
Cass Boulevard
Advance the planning and design of surface busways and
buslanes at other major congestion points
Urban Ring Phase 2
Implementation Plan for the Full Project
8
Define overall project phasing
RTP Update establishes financial parameters of first phase
Recommended Northern Tier MOS candidate provides best
combination of benefits with strong independent utility and
fewest major impediments.
Northern Tier MOS has least impact on subsequent
implementation of full LPA
Subsequent phases dependent upon RTP, potential new
revenue sources, resolution of outstanding engineering and
abutter issues
Urban Ring Phase 2
Implementation Plan - Evaluation Criteria
9
Ridership
Costs and cost-effectiveness
Environmental Justice benefits
Economic Development benefits
Percentage of dedicated running way
Continuity/Independent Utility
Feasibility/right-of-way and abutter issues
Local support
Urban Ring Phase 2
MOS Candidates
10
Minimum Operating Segment (MOS) presented to
CAC in May 2008. Updated in 2009 for NPC.
MOS Candidates
Logan Airport to Kendall Square, “Northern Tier”
Logan to Wellington
Wellington to Kendall
Assembly Square to Yawkey
Kendall to Logan with tunnel
Kendall to Logan, “Southern Tier” without tunnel
Harvard to Logan with tunnel
Harvard to Logan without tunnel
Urban Ring Phase 2
Daily riders (2030)
184,000
% Reserved ROW
53%
Capital cost (2009)
Preliminary
Cost-effectiveness
Ev er e t t
Wellington
Downtown
Chelsea
Station
Me d fo r d
~ $2.6 B
Somerville
Assembly
Square
Ch e l se a
Sullivan
Square
~ $16-22
Harvard
Square
E a st
B o st o n
New
Lechmere
Airport
Ca m b r i d g e
Recommended
Project
LPA
Logan
West
Garage
Cambridgeport
Kendall /
MIT
World
Trade
Center
A ll s t on
Yawkey
Broadway
BU Bridge
LMA
Ruggles
Washington
Street
Br o o k l i n e
S o u t h Bo s t o n
Proposed Alignment
11
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Urban Ring Phase 2
Newmarket
Dudley
Square
Ro x b u r y
JFK/UMass
D o r ch e s t er
Summary Evaluation Matrix for
MOS Candidates
MOS CANDIDATES
MEASURES
Logan Kendall
Logan Wellington Wellington
Kendall
Kendall Logan
(tunnel)
Kendall - Assembly
Logan (no
Sq tunnel)
Yawkey
Harvard Logan
(tunnel)
Harvard Logan (no
tunnel)
Daily Riders (2030)
66,000
35,000
31,000
105,000
89,000
47,000
105,000
92,000
Capital Cost (2009)
$486 M
$300 M
$185 M
$2.1 B
$300 M
$300 M
$2.1 B
$345 M
Preliminary
Cost-effectiveness
$8-$11
$11-$14
$6-$10
$25-$28
$4-$8
$6-$10
$24-$27
$4-$8
EJ Population (2000)
72,900
49,200
25,300
120,700
119,600
67,800
132,200
131,100
TOD Support
High/Medium
High/High
High/Medium
Medium/High
Medium/High
High/Medium
Medium/High
Medium/High
% Dedicated
Right-of-Way
63%
70%
35%
55%
50%
65%
54%
56%
Continuity
High
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Wellington Cir
Rt28
Low
Medium
Wellington Cir.
Rt28
Medium
River Xing
BU Academy
Tunnel Align
Medium
River Xing
BU Academy
Longwood Av
Medium
River Xing
BU Academy
Medium
Rail Yard
Tunnel Align
Medium
Rail Yard
Longwood Av
High
High
Medium
Medium
Low/Medium
Medium
Medium
Low/Medium
Major Impediments
Local support
12
Urban Ring Phase 2
Logan-Kendall
Eve re tt
Me df or d
Cost - $ 486 M
Benefits
Environmental Justice
Dedicated ROW
Contiguity
Som er vi lle
Che l sea
East
Bost on
C am br i dge
Logan
West
Garage
Al ls ton
Kendall /
MIT
Major Impediments
Malden River xing
environmental impact
Wellington Circle,
Revere Beach Pkwy
improvements
Br ook lin e
South B o ston
Roxb ury
D orch est er
Mixed Traffic
13
Sullivan Sq commuter
rail station
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
Urban Ring Phase 2
Logan-Kendall
(via Route 99)
Eve re tt
Me df or d
Som er vi lle
Che l sea
Route 99
Routing
East
Bost on
Logan
West
Garage
C am br i dge
Al ls ton
Kendall /
MIT
Br ook lin e
South B o ston
Roxb ury
D orch est er
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
14
Urban Ring Phase 2
Proposed Stop
Charles River
Crossing
Cost - $ 130 M
Benefits
Travel time savings
Reliability
Key life science
corridor connection
C am b ri d g e
Kendall /
MIT
Major Impediments
CSX negotiation
Ongoing CSX
operations
Fort Washington, MIT
Br oo k l i n e
development parcel
BU Academy site
6
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
15
Urban Ring Phase 2
Area of Ongoing
Analysis
Mountfort Corridor
Cost - $ 14 M
Benefits
C am b ri d g e
Kendall /
MIT
Travel time, reliability
Efficient use of
available roadway
Major Impediments
Town of Brookline
coordination
BU Master Planning
Br oo k l i n e
6
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
16
Urban Ring Phase 2
Area of Ongoing
Analysis
Allston –
Harvard Square
Cost - $ 82 M
Benefits
More direct routing
Travel time, reliability
Key life science
corridor connection
7
A l l st o n
Major Impediments
CSX negotiation
Beacon Park Yard
consolidation,
relocation
17
Cam b r i d g e
Mixed Traffic
Harvard development
timing
Urban Ring Phase 2
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Br oo k l i n e
Route Options
Area of Ongoing
Analysis
Fenway/LMA
Cost – up to $1.7 B
Benefits
Travel time, reliability
Service to densest
concentration of trip
demand in corridor
Kendall /
MIT
8
Br oo k l i n e
Major Impediments
Tunnel financing
Lack of consensus on
surface routing
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
18
Urban Ring Phase 2
R ox b ur y
Area of Ongoing
Analysis
Ruggles Station
Cost – $32 M
Benefits
Improved commuter
rail service,
connectivity Br oo k l i n e
Improved commuter
rail operations
Kendall /
MIT
8
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
19
Urban Ring Phase 2
R ox b ur y
Area of Ongoing
Analysis
Melnea Cass
Boulevard
Cost – $ 27 M
Benefits
Travel time, reliability
Environmental Justice
Creation of
development parcels,
access
9
Rox b u r y
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
D or c h e s t e r
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
20
Urban Ring Phase 2
Area of Ongoing
Analysis
Dorchester
S ou t h B o
Cost – $ 3 M
Benefits
Travel time, reliability
Environmental Justice
10
Rox b u r y
Major Impediments
Availability of ROW for
bus lanes
D or c h e s t e r
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
21
Urban Ring Phase 2
Area of Ongoing
Analysis
Comment Response
22
Categorize comments by group
Individual comments are tagged and
responses underway
Comments and responses will be provided to
MEPA in format consistent with Volume II of
the RDEIR/DEIS
Responses to USEPA comments will be
coordinated through FTA Region 1
Urban Ring Phase 2
Next Steps
Finalize Notice of Project Change (NPC)
Boston Region MPO RTP – MOS
Procurement of consultant services
FTA coordination and New Starts process
23
Consider CAC input
File NPC with EOEEA by June 30th
July 8 Environmental Monitor – public comment
Comprehensive project definition
Approval to proceed with early MOS implementation
Plan to implement later phases
Urban Ring Phase 2
Discussion
Please visit our website at
www.theurbanring.com
24
Urban Ring Phase 2
Implementation Plan for Full Project
25
2009
Define Urban Ring implementation possible within RTP
Coordinate with FTA on federal funding and New Starts
application
MOS – Prepare for final environmental and PE
Balance of LPA – Advance the planning and engineering for
surface alignments and routes outside the MOS
2010
MOS – Application for federal funding and initiate PE and
FEIR/S to resolve remaining issues
Balance of LPA – Continue with planning and engineering to
support implementation of targeted improvements
Urban Ring Phase 2
South Boston
11
S o ut h B os t o n
Mixed Traffic
Buslane
Busway (Surface)
Busway (Tunnel)
Proposed Stop
Route Options
26
Urban Ring Phase 2
Area of Ongoing
Analysis