Massachusetts Turnpike
Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group
Wednesday June 1, 2011
6PM – 8:30PM
Boston Room - BPL
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Agenda
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Introductions
Study Recap
Existing Conditions
Alternative Screening
Next Steps
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Introductions
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Agencies/ Groups invited
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MassDOT
MAPC
City of Boston
MBTA
MassPort
CTPS
Business Groups
Neighborhood Groups
State and City legislators
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Recap
GOALS
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Increase the regional accessibility of
Boston's Back Bay with I-93, the Seaport
District and Logan Airport.
Provide new access to the regional express
highway system for Boston's Fenway and
Longwood Medical Area to better connect
with I-93, the Seaport District, and Logan
Airport.
Ensure that any transportation
improvements are sensitive to the concerns
of neighborhoods within the study area.
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Recap
OBJECTIVES
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Study potential new or revised eastbound-on or westbound-off
ramps along the Massachusetts Turnpike that would directly
serve Boston's Back Bay, Fenway, and Longwood Medical
Area.
Ensure that any potential new or revised Massachusetts
Turnpike ramps do not reduce the existing level-of-service
along the Turnpike.
Ensure that traffic pattern changes caused by new ramps
along the Massachusetts Turnpike maintain or reduce the
traffic volumes along key arterials that travel through adjacent
neighborhoods connecting to the Back Bay, Fenway, and
Longwood Medical Area.
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Recap
EVALUATION CRITERIA
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Traffic congestion
Circulation and access
Safety
Neighborhood impacts
Environmental impacts
Business considerations
Cost and schedule
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Existing Conditions
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Traffic
Origin/ Destination Survey
Travel Time Runs
Transit System
Environmental Impacts
Land Use
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Existing Conditions
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Traffic
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Core Area counts and analysis
„ Massachusetts Turnpike Mainline
„ All Ramps Connecting Turnpike
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Existing Conditions
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Traffic
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Core Area counts and analysis
„ Massachusetts Turnpike Mainline
„ All Ramps Connecting Turnpike
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Regional Area counts and analysis
„ Key Intersections
„ Key Arterials/ Water crossings
„ Other Key roadways
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Storrow Drive Origin Destination Survey
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Conducted April 28, 2006 by DCR
Statistically Accurate
Covered all entrances/ exits between Allston
and Leverett Circle
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Storrow Drive Origin Destination Survey
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Total Percentage of Trips to/ from I-93/
Seaport/ Logan Airport:
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Back Bay = 5.91%
Fenway/LMA = 7.75%
Back Bay and Fenway/LMA = 13.67%
Allston Landing = 1.49% (could use Pike now)
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Travel Time Runs
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Used O/D study to determine best
starting/ ending points
northern/ central/ southern route
Drove I-93 routes during AM and PM
Drove Seaport and Airport routes
during PM only
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Travel Time Runs
I-93 from the North (minutes)
AM Peak Hour
PM Peak Hour
30
35
25
30
25
20
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
15
10
5
0
20
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
15
10
5
North
Central
South
0
North
Central
South
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Travel Time Runs
I-93 from the South (minutes)
AM Peak Hour
PM Peak Hour
25
35
30
20
25
15
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
10
5
0
20
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
15
10
5
North
Central
South
0
North
Central
South
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Travel Time Runs
Logan Airport (minutes)
PM Peak - From
PM Peak - To
35
30
25
20
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
15
10
5
0
North
Cent
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
North Cent South
South U-turn
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Uturn
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Travel Time Runs
Seaport (minutes)
PM Peak - From
PM Peak - To
25
35
20
30
25
15
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
10
5
0
20
Fenway
Longwood
Back Bay
15
10
5
North
Cent
South U-turn
0
North Cent South
Uturn
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Transit System
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Rapid Transit System
123,000 boardings per day within the
project study area
„ 11% during the AM Peak
„ 25% during the PM Peak
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Commuter Rail – Worcester Line
Over 7,000 per day detrain at Yawkey,
Back Bay, or South Station in AM Peak
„ Just under 5,500 board during PM Peak
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Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Transit System
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Bus System
Routes crossing Study Area carried just
under 166,000 per day
„ Local routes carry 75% of total
„ Sliver Line carries 16% of total
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Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Environmental Impacts
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Environmental Constraints
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Historic Places
Wetlands
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Environmental Constraints
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Historic Places
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Federal Law: National Historic
Preservation Act – Section 106
State Law: Registry of Historic Places –
Chapter 254: MGL, Chapter 9, Sections
26-27C
Both require review of all locations in
National Register/ SRHP
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Environmental Constraints
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Wetlands
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Federal Law: Section 404 under Clean
Water Act
State Law: Wetlands Protection Act,
Chapter 131, Section 40
Both ensure public interests protected
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Open Space
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Open Space Restrictions
Federal Law: USDOT Section 4f
„ State Law: Article 97
„ Preserve and Protect Open Space
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Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Land Use
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Air Rights
Parcel 7 Development
„ All other Parcels on-hold or no immediate
plans
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Article 80 – Boston Zoning Code
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Seaport has greatest number of proposed
developments – Seaport Square
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 1: New eastbound on-ramp
at Arlington Street
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 1: New eastbound on-ramp at Arlington
Street
Pros: Better access to express highway network
from Back Bay.
Cons: More traffic attracted to Arlington/ Tremont
Streets; merge sight distance/ safety issues;
distance between on-ramp and Exit 24 requires no
access to I-93 ramps, pedestrian safety.
Fatal Flaws:
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Worcester Rail Line severely impacted.
Recommended Next Step: Drop Alternative
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 2: New westbound off-ramp
at Berkeley Street
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 2: New westbound off-ramp at
Berkeley Street
Pros: Better access from express highway
network to Back Bay.
Cons: Sight distance, ramp grade, and
interchange spacing; Arlington Street
westbound on-ramp closed; more traffic on
Berkeley Street; Cortez Street no longer
connecting to Berkeley Street, pedestrian
safety.
Recommended Next Step: Traffic Modeling
and further design review.
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 3: New westbound off-ramp
at Trinity Place/ Stuart Street
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 3: New westbound off-ramp at
Trinity Place/ Stuart Street
Pros: Better access from express highway
network to Back Bay.
Cons: Arlington and Clarendon Streets
westbound on-ramps closed; Trinity Place
becomes major traffic generator; ramp
curvature/ grade, new tunnel under
proposed park between Clarendon Street
and Columbus Avenue.
Recommend Next Step: Traffic modeling
and further design review.
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 4: New eastbound on-ramp
at Boylston Street/ Bowker Overpass
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 4: New eastbound on-ramp at Boylston
Street/ Bowker Overpass
Pros: Better access to express highway network
from all three neighborhoods.
Cons: More traffic on Boylston Street, pedestrian
safety.
Fatal Flaws:
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Muddy River – Wetlands
Olmsted National Historic Park – Open Space
Fenway Studios – Historic Building
Worcester Commuter Rail Line
Recommended Next Step: Drop Alternative
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 5: New eastbound on-ramp
at Brookline Avenue
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 5: New eastbound on-ramp at Brookline
Avenue
Pros: Better access to express highway network
from Longwood/ Fenway Area.
Cons: More traffic on Brookline Avenue, pedestrian
safety.
Fatal Flaws:
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Worcester Commuter Rail Line
Muddy River – Wetlands
Olmsted National Historic Park – Open Space
New Yawkey Station as part of Parcel 7 Development
Recommended Next Step: Drop Alternative
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 6: New westbound off-ramp
at Commonwealth Avenue
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 6: New westbound off-ramp at
Commonwealth Avenue
Pros: Better access from express highway network
to all three neighborhoods.
Cons: More traffic on Commonwealth/ Charlesgate;
must close Newbury Street westbound on-ramp;
ramp curve, safety issues; Newbury Street
narrowed.
Fatal Flaws:
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Muddy River – Wetlands
Olmsted National Historic Park – Open Space
Recommended Next Step: Drop Alternative
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 7: New westbound off-ramp
at Brookline Avenue
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
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Alternative 7: New westbound off-ramp at
Brookline Avenue
Pros: Better access from express highway
network to Longwood/ Fenway Area.
Cons: More traffic on Brookline Avenue;
must close Newbury Street westbound onramp; must provide new access to Art
Institute of Boston; Newbury Street
narrowed and closed.
Recommended Next Step: Traffic Modeling
and further design review.
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
Alternative Screening
RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS
„ Continue to Study Berkeley Street,
Trinity Place, and Brookline
Avenue westbound off-ramps
(Alts. 2,3,& 7).
„ Discontinue studying all other
alternatives (1,4,5, & 6).
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011
Massachusetts Turnpike – Boston Ramps Study
NEXT STEPS
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Work with CTPS over summer to
conduct alternatives analysis for the
three recommend alternatives.
Present findings at next SAG in the late
summer/ early fall.
Study Advisory Group – 2nd Meeting: June 1st, 2011