Welcome
Working Advisory Group
Meeting #5C
November 9, 2011
Today’s Agenda
Livability Focus
1. The Perspectives (Revised and Expanded)
2. Livability: Objectives and Experience
a. Discussion: What makes this area special to
YOU?
3. The Conceptual Alternatives: At-Grade & Bridge
4. MOE’s: The Evaluation
a. Discussion: Mobility & Livability Measures
5. Public Meeting #5: Preparation
6. Follow Up
SENSE OF SPACE
BASE AREA = 25 ACRES
SENSE OF SPACE
+/- 2 ACRES
SENSE OF SPACE
+/- 1.5 ACRES
SENSE OF SPACE
BOULEVARD
COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
SENSE OF SPACE
IMPROVED
INTERSECTION
Perspectives on the
Alternatives
View 1
Arborway Yard towards Courthouse
EXISTING
AT GRADE
BRIDGE
View 2
Southwest Corridor Park towards Forest Hills Station
EXISTING
AT GRADE
BRIDGE
View 3
New Washington Street Corridor – between
South Street and Hyde Park Avenue
EXISTING
AT GRADE
BRIDGE
View 4
South Street towards Arnold Arboretum
EXISTING
AT GRADE
BRIDGE
View 5
New Washington Street Corridor – Easterly
between Hyde Park Avenue and Shea
EXISTING
AT GRADE
BRIDGE
View 6
Corner of Morton and Hyde Park Avenue –
Northwest toward SW Corridor Park
EXISTING
AT GRADE
BRIDGE
Livability:
Objectives and Experience
With the removal of the Casey Overpass we
face a choice: Replace it with an at-grade
solution or put back a bridge
*****
Look at some local Boston examples where
elevated infrastructure was removed and the
transformation that has occurred
*****
Two urban design concepts that are common
to examples
Changing Looking-Out to ….
Today, the orientation is
looking away from the
corridor.
…. Looking-In
The opportunity is here
to change that and to
create a center for Forest
Hills.
Object versus Space
Change the focus from
the viaduct to the
surrounding area.
City Square, Charlestown
The elevated Orange Line and
the approach to the Mystic
Bridge discouraged
redevelopment in City Square.
City Square, Charlestown
Removing the elevated
created the opportunity for
redevelopment around City
Square.
City Square, Charlestown
Today, City Square is an inviting and
welcoming asset to the neighborhood.
It did not happen all at once and is still
going on.
Central Artery – Downtown Boston
One of the lessdesirable locations in
the downtown.
Central Artery – Downtown Boston
Properties abutting the
artery corridor are
reorienting toward it and
activating its edges.
Central Artery – Downtown Boston
Properties abutting the
artery corridor are
reorienting toward it and
activating its edges.
Spaces that were once
considered left over, are
now programmed with
active uses.
Washington Street, South End
The aging infrastructure
was a blight to the
neighborhood.
Washington Street, South End
Removal of the elevated
Orange Line created the
opportunity for
redevelopment.
With the object in the
center gone, the edges
became what defined the
space…
… And helped create a
vibrant street life.
Sullivan Square, Charlestown
Originally a
true Square:
a small park
surrounded
by buildings.
Sullivan Square, Charlestown
Originally a true Square: a
small park surrounded by
buildings.
Chipped away by transit and
roadway infrastructure until any
remnant was gone and became a
transportation nexus.
Sullivan Square, Charlestown
Today the elevated
Orange Line is gone,
the viaduct removed.
Sullivan Square, Charlestown
Today the elevated
Orange Line is gone,
the viaduct removed.
Plans are underway to remove the
underpass and modify Rutherford
Avenue - creating a new surface
street network and allowing
transformation to begin.
Forest Hills
Like Sullivan Square some of the overhead
structures were already removed.
The elevated Orange Line and Commuter Rail tracks
were relocated.
The last elevated structure – the Casey Overpass – is
coming down.
We have seen some example of how the effects of
bridges on public spaces can be mitigated, but…
No one says,
“Let’s put a bridge in that
space to improve it.”
Spaces under bridges are
not inherently places people
flock to.
They are places people pass
through but do not
congregate in.
An at-grade solution will provide the opportunity for a
transformation process similar to what we have seen in other
locations.
With a bridge alternative that transformation is unlikely to
ever happen.
Livability Discussion
What Makes this Area Special
To YOU?
The At- Grade Alternative
What is included in the current concept design
What will continue to be developed in the 25% design phase
At-Grade Alternative
At-Grade Alternative – includes:
Assumes Bus #39 remains
in current location
At-Grade Alternative – includes:
Only 2 Bus Bays on Upper Deck
At-Grade Alternative – includes:
Location of bus bay exit moved
south of Asticou. Reduces
impact of bus idling and
operations from today
At-Grade Alternative – includes:
MBTA Emergency vent
stack move south of station
At-Grade Alternative – includes:
Replace drop off lane with
travel lane on western end
between South and Arborway
At-Grade Alternative – includes:
Reduced parking on
frontage road at eastern
end next to residential area
At-Grade Alternative – includes:
Bow Tie moved westerly to
reduce travel times
The Experience - New Washington Street
Relocated Orange
Line Head house
Olmsted tree line
boulevard
Off street bike lanes connect
to and cross at intersections
Area for community
gathering
Bus #39 remains
at current location
passenger loading
at intersection
On street bike lanes
Area for crossings – approx 20’
wide for bikes and pedestrians
Landscaped median
allows for minimal
plantings in this section
At-Grade Alternative – To further explore in 25% design
Examine adding flexibility for Bus
#39 by using Plaza area in front of
station
At-Grade Alternative – To further explore in 25% design
Allocation of uses for taxi and drop
off areas (space preserved)
At-Grade Alternative – To further explore in 25% design
Landscaping & Lighting Treatments
At-Grade Alternative – To further explore in 25% design
Non-Peak Hour Treatments
(e.g., signalization)
Signalization, right turn lanes
(pedestrian and transit), and
detailed intersection geometry
At-Grade Alternative – To further explore in 25% design
Bike accommodations on
Washington Street – northern side
of Ukraine
At-Grade Alternative – To further explore in 25% design
Treatment of Asticou
and Forest Hills Road
The Bridge Alternative
What is included in the current concept design
What will continue to be developed in the 25% design phase
Bridge Alternative
Bridge Alternative – includes:
Assumes Bus #39 remains
in current location
Bridge Alternative – includes:
New street network to replace
current east/west roadway
Bridge Alternative – includes:
Single bridge - shorter,
lower and narrower
Bridge Alternative – includes:
Reduced parking on frontage road
at eastern end next to residential
area
The Experience - New Washington Street
Bus #39 remains
at current location
passenger loading
at intersection
Regional vehicular
traffic located above
Area for community
gathering
Off street Bike lanes
connect to and cross
at intersections
On street bike lanes
Usable contiguous
open space
connections
Area for crossings – approx 20’
wide for bikes and pedestrians
Bridge Alternative – To further explore in 25% design:
Design of piers, under
bridge area, and lighting
Bridge Alternative – To further explore in 25% design:
Examine adding flexibility
for Bus #39 by using Plaza
area in front of station
Bridge Alternative – To further explore in 25% design:
Landscaping and
lighting treatments
Bridge Alternative – To further explore in 25% design:
Treatment of Forest Hills Road
Signalization,and
rightintersection
turn lanes
Signalization
(pedestrian
and transit), and
turning
movements
detailed intersection geometry
Measures of Evaluation (MOEs)
Livability & Mobility
The Evaluation
The Evolution of the MOEs
1. Approach Taken to Casey’s MOEs
a. All modes, livability objectives, new measures
2. WAG Integral to the formation and evolution of the
MOEs
a.
Principles (fatal flaw), Goals, Objectives and Measures
3. MOE’s used throughout the process and to
evaluate alternatives on their own merits
a. MOEs’ shaped the alternatives (i.e., surface streets redesigned for all alternatives – rendering some MOEs
obsolete)
Boundaries of Study Area for MOE Analysis
Base Area for Evaluation = 25 acres
Approximate location to
meet existing conditions
Back of buffer area for
Arborway Yard design
Stone wall around
Arboretum
West edge of
Washington St ROW
Property Lines
Intersection at
Cemetery Road
MOEs – The Distribution
MOEs
Mobility Livability
Goals
3
3
Objectives
9
7
Measures
16
15
Applied to Existing Conditions and
both Conceptual Alternatives
The MOEs – Existing Conditions
Mobility Goals
Total Score = -10
1. Convoluted and Confusing
Street network
2. Complicated connections for
Bikes and Pedestrians
3. Limited visible connections
to businesses, resources
and neighborhoods
4. No coherent, systematic
organization of access for
modes and users
The MOEs – Existing Conditions
Livability Goals
Total Score = -10
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Haphazard integration of open
space and historical resources
Emerald Necklace Interrupted
No “There” there for
community connections or
activities to center upon.
Outward focused
Obstructed visible connections
to Boston’s historic open
space resources
Unclear order and use of space
The MOEs – Bridge Conditions
Mobility Goals
Total Score = 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
Better organized roadways,
intersections, pedestrian and
bike crossings and circulation
North/south connections
improved through intersection
treatments
Limited off-street bike
improvements and connections
(only east/west direction)
MBTA bus operations not
addressed – no change from
today
The MOEs – Bridge Conditions
Livability Goals
Total Score = 0
1.
2.
3.
4.
Improved plantings and
landscape treatments along
the New Washington Street
Corridor
Barrier to open space historic
resources modified for select
areas
Emerald Necklace not restored
as southwest to northeast
views obstructed
Limited areas to create a focal
point for activities
The MOEs – At-Grade Conditions
Mobility Goals
Total Score = 7
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Better organized roadways and
intersections
Less congestions and conflicts for
vehicles, pedestrians and bikes
Improved pedestrian and bike
crossings and circulation both
east/west and north/south
Improved use of MBTA bus
operations and staging areas
(Upper Busway)
Focal Areas created for simplified
crossings and access to historic
open space resources
The MOEs – At-Grade Conditions
Livability Goals
Total Score = 13
1.
2.
3.
4.
Better organized open space
network creating
opportunities for gateways
and recognition of historic
resources
Emerald Necklace Restored
View sheds restored – visual
access to open space,
neighborhood, business,
recreational resources
Increased landscaping and
areas for activities
Discussion
Mobility & Livability Measures
Follow Up Items
Public Meeting #5
Monday,
November 21, 2011
Public Meeting #5
Working Group Participation
•Part of the Presentation
•Roles & Responsibilities
•Agenda & Open House
OPEN HOUSE
Draft Agenda
PROJECT UPDATE – Purpose and Goals
TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC
• Summary of the Findings
• The simulations
THE ALTERNATIVES – AT-GRADE & SINGLE BRIDGE
• The Alternatives
• The Perspectives
MEASURES OF EVALUATION
•Methodology
•Evaluation
NEXT PUBLIC MEETING #6
•Recommended Alternative & Next Steps
Meeting Schedule
Public Meeting #5: Monday, November 21, 2011
WAG Meeting #6: Monday, December 5, 2011
Public Meeting #6: Wednesday, December 14, 2011