Public Informational Meeting #1
June 11, 2014 – 6:00PM
New Bedford Public Library, New
Bedford
Agenda
• Introductions
• What is the Study?
– Purpose & Process
• Why Study the Bridge?
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Reliability
Navigational Width
Clearance
Duration of Openings
Environmental Concerns
Bicycle/Pedestrian Connections
• Where Are We in the Study Process?
– Study Framework (Draft Goals & Objectives)
• What’s Next?
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Development of Alternatives
Alternatives Analysis (Evaluation Criteria)
Identified Opportunities
Project Schedule
Future Opportunities for Input
Introductions
• MassDOT
– Ethan Britland – Project Manager
• HDR Study Team
– John Weston – HDR Team Project Manager
– Stefanie McQueen – HDR Team Deputy Project Manager
– Jill Barrett (FHI) – Public Involvement
What is the Study?
• Study Purpose:
– Evaluate multi-modal
transportation & associated land
use issues
– Develop potential solutions
– Recommend improvements
along the Route 6 Corridor
What is the Study?
• The Bridge Has Been Studied Numerous Times…
– 1893-1903: Bridge construction
– 1966: Southeastern Massachusetts Comprehensive Transportation & Arterial Study
– 1965-1967: Legislative Special Commission Study for bridge replacement
– 1969: Feasibility Study on the Replacement of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge
– 1977: New Bedford-Fairhaven Route 6 Bridge Corridor Planning Study Report
– 1978: New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, A Review of the Facts Favoring Timely
Replacement, New Bedford-Fairhaven Harbor Master Plan
– 1979: New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, Route 6 Over New Bedford Harbor: Draft
Engineering Study Report
– 1985: Environmental Assessment (EA) recommended replacement with double
bascule bridge; In 1987, Mass Dept. of Public Works study concluded repair instead
– 2004: Conceptual Alternative Study for the Relocation of the Route 6 Bridge Over
New Bedford Harbor recommends realignment with high-level movable bridge
– 2014: MassDOT begins current bridge study
What is the Study?
MassDOT 5-Step Planning Process
What is the Study?
• Public Outreach Activities
– Study Advisory Group (SAG)
• Early and continued involvement throughout study (2 meetings
held to date)
• Representatives from stakeholder & interest groups, study area
neighborhood associations, bicycling advocates, regional
planning & transit agencies, port authority, municipal, regional &
state government (elected officials & staff)
– Public Informational Meetings
• 3 meetings at key study milestones
• Limited English Proficiency (LEP) accommodations
– Project Website & Study Materials
• Study materials/presentations available online
• Newsletters and other materials will be translated
What is the Study?
Local Study Area
Regional Study Area
Why Study the Bridge?
• Key Issues/Constraints
1. Bridge Reliability/
Structural Soundness
2. Bridge Navigational
Width
3. Bridge Clearance
4. Frequency/Duration of
Openings
5. Environmental
Considerations
6. Bicycle/Pedestrian
Conditions
1. Bridge Reliability/Structural Soundness
• History of Major Repairs
– 1903: Bridge construction completed
– 1931: First major overhaul
– 1961: Deck and deck framing of fixed spans
and abutments replaced
– 1972: Western end of bridge replaced/Route
18 ramp
– 1984: Major repair
– 1989: Major repair (closed 6 weeks)
– 1995: Major repair (closed for 11 months)
– 2012: Electrical repairs (closed for 3 weeks)
– 2014: Structural steel repairs (closed for 2
weeks)
2. Bridge Navigational Width
• Width of Bridge Opening
Constraint to Vessels
– Swing span navigational
width of 92 feet
– Harbor hurricane barrier
limits all vessel breadth to
150 feet
• Delays to Cargo
Shipments
– Winds (12 knot max)
– Navigational constraints
– Additional costs (pilot & tug
fees)
2. Bridge Navigational Width
Development Potential of North Port Area
Hicks-Logan-Sawyer
Redevelopment Sites
• Potential casino/mixed use
North Basin Properties
• Potential for cargo,
manufacturing, rail access
Planned South Coast Rail
Whale’s Tooth Station
Marine Industrial
• Current and envisioned to
remain in the future
Designated Port Area
2. Bridge Navigational Width
• 2010 New Bedford/Fairhaven Harbor Plan
– Supports proposed or ongoing initiatives:
• Replacement of the New Bedford-Fairhaven swing
bridge in current location
• Recommends roadway improvements or
enhancements to improve vehicular and pedestrian
connections and access between port facilities, the
planned intermodal transportation center, and
downtown areas
2. Bridge Navigational Width
• New Bedford Unemployment (April 2014)
– New Bedford – 9.5%
– Massachusetts - 6.0%
– U.S. - 6.3%
• Port of New Bedford Economic Production
– Catch value is increasing
• 2011: $369 Million for 117 million pounds
• 2005: $283 Million for 153 million pounds
– Most profitable port in U.S. for last 10 years
– Additional direct impact on local economy
• Average $100K-150K/vessel load
– 4,400 existing jobs
3. Bridge Clearance
• Vessel Clearance
– Vertical clearance: 6 feet
– Bridge clearance limits
number of vessels that
can pass underneath
• Bridge Openings
– Annual openings
increased by 200% in
last 30 years
– 4,380 scheduled
openings/year
– 13 hourly scheduled/day
3. Bridge Clearance
Bridge Openings, Selected Years (1981 to 2013)
6,000
5,524
4,380 Scheduled Openings
5,000
4,000
4,000
4,305
4,117
4,458
3,000
2,000
1,852
1,000
0
1981
2000
2010
2011
2012
2013
Bridge Openings
Sources: 1985 EA, 2004 Concept Alternative Study, 2010-2013 MassDOT Monthly Drawbridge Reports
4. Frequency/Duration of Openings
• Bridge Operating Cycle
– Minimum time to open and close: 7.5 minutes
– Average time depending on vehicular, pedestrian,
and marine traffic clearance times: 12.5 to 22.5
minutes
Minimum
Time
Average
Time
4. Frequency/Duration of Openings
• Increasing Number of Vessels/Year
• Historic Navigational Traffic (vessels/year)
16,000
14,830
14,000
12,000
9,536
10,000
8,955
9,692
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,108
2,403
1965
1981
2,000
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
TOTAL - All Vessels
Sources: 1985 EA, 2010-2013 MassDOT Monthly Drawbridge Reports
4. Frequency/Duration of Openings
Vessel Size, Type & Bridge Passings - 2013
Vessel Type
Typical Typical
Beam Height
(feet)
(feet)
2013
Bridge
Passings
Cargo Ships (tankers) /
Large Fishing Vessels
70-90
90-110
452
Fishing Vessels
(commercial)
20-35
40-60
4,991
Pleasure Crafts (sail boats,
recreational)
6-18
8-80
3,002
12
12
3,425
30-40
40-60
2,960
Tow Boats (tugs)
Towed Crafts (barges)
Sources: 1985 EA, 2013 MassDOT Monthly Drawbridge Reports
4. Frequency/Duration of Openings
• Vehicular Traffic Counts Completed April 2014
• Historic Bridge Traffic Counts
– Decrease in volume over bridge (1971 to 2014)
– Completion of I-195 and I-495/MA 25 in 1970s-80s
– Increased marine traffic during same period
30,000
26,850
26,350
25,000
23,000
17,900
17,400
20,000
19,230
15,000
16,100
10,000
11,500*
5,000
0
1971
1975
1979
1991
1999
2000
2003
2014
Sources: 1985 EA, MassDOT, SRPEDD, 2014 ATR Traffic Counts
* Bridge Under Construction (lane restriction) during 2014 count
5. Environmental Considerations
• Floodplains
• Wetlands
• PCB contamination
& ongoing EPA
cleanup
• Historic resources
• Recreational land
• National Register
eligibility
• Environmental
Justice Populations
6. Bicycle/Pedestrian Conditions
• Bicycle Routes
– No safe route for
bicyclists off western
end of bridge
• Bike/Pedestrian
Conditions
– Pedestrian
environment along
the corridor is a
concern
• Construction
– Currently underway
& creates additional
constraints for
bikes/pedestrians
Where Are We in the Study Process?
MassDOT 5-Step Planning Process
Where Are We in the Study Process?
• Study Framework Completed:
 Draft Goals & Objectives
 Evaluation Criteria
 Public Involvement Plan
• In Progress:
– Finalizing Existing Conditions and Issues & Opportunities
Analysis
• Next Steps:
– Develop Alternatives (using Goals & Objectives &
Identified Opportunities)
– Evaluate Alternatives (using Evaluation Criteria & Public
Input
– Make Final Recommendations for Improvements
Study Framework
• Draft Goals
– Improve vehicular, marine, bicycle and pedestrian
mobility, connectivity, and safety within the study
area and regionally
– Maximize economic development for the region
through replacement/repair of New Bedford-Fairhaven
Bridge
– Identify feasible cost-effective alternatives for short-,
medium-, and long-term improvements in the
corridor
Study Framework
• Draft Objectives
– Facilitate economic opportunities for waterdependent industries in New Bedford Harbor
– Improve bridge operational speed and reliability to
reduce delay and travel time for vehicular and
marine traffic
– Reduce bridge impacts to local roadway traffic
– Mitigate bridge impacts to marine traffic
Study Framework
• Draft Objectives (cont.)
– Improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility and
connectivity in the corridor and regionally
– Minimize potential impacts to the community,
businesses, and environment from selected
improvements
– Support and ensure consistency with established local
goals and regional plans
What’s Next?
• Development of Alternatives
– Several conceptual alternatives will be developed
to address transportation deficiencies and issues
– Alternatives will consider:
• Different bridge types
• Short-term, medium-term & long-term
improvements
– Alternatives will be responsive to the Goals &
Objectives & Identified Opportunities
What’s Next?
• Alternatives Analysis
– Evaluation Criteria will be
used to assess the
Alternatives
• Economic Development
Opportunities
• Bridge Operations
• Transportation Impacts
• Safety
• Environment
• Community
• Alternative Feasibility
Example Criteria:
• Number of businesses
impacted
• Vertical and horizontal
clearance (feet)
• Estimated number of
bridge openings
• Average delay times
• Impact to natural
resources
• Capital and
maintenance costs
Identified Opportunities
• Channel/Bridge Width
– Increased channel width
at bridge could minimize
impacts of bridge to
maritime industry
• Bridge Clearance
– Increased bridge
clearance could minimize
number and duration of
bridge openings
Identified Opportunities
• ITS
– Enhanced ITS (variable
message signs) could
minimize impacts of
bridge openings to
vehicles
• Harbor Cleanup
– Potential to time any
bridge improvements with
ongoing harbor cleanup
Identified Opportunities
• Bike/Pedestrian
Improvements
– Roadway
modifications (i.e.,
sidewalks or
crosswalks) could
improve conditions
– Connection to South
Coast Bikeway
• GreenDOT Policy
Initiative
– Promoting healthy
transportation modes
Identified Opportunities
• Regional Priority
Development Area
– New Bedford Downtown/TOD
Site Priority Development Area
• Rail Access and Transit
– Proposed South Coast Rail Whale’s Tooth Station
– Rail Access for Industrial/
Marine Land Uses
• Designated Port Area (DPA)
Source: South Coast Rail Corridor Plan
Project Schedule
New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Corridor Study Schedule
Project Schedule
2014
TASK
1. Project Scoping (Study Area, Goals and Objectives)
2. Existing Conditions & Issue Evaluation
3. Alternatives Development
4. Alternatives Analysis
5. Recommendations
6. Final Report
Public and Stakeholder Participation
Public Informational Meeting =
Stakeholder Advisory Group =
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
2015
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
Future Opportunities for Input
• Public Informational Meetings
– 2 additional meetings will be held later in study
process to review alternatives and recommendations
• Project Website
– Study materials/presentations available online
– www.mass.gov/massdot/newbedfordstudy
Questions?
Comments and feedback can be emailed to
jbarrett@fhiplan.com