April 6, 2011
Agassiz School

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Planning Study Public Meeting Schedule
Meeting 1 Project Purpose, Goals and Existing
Conditions
Meeting 2 Issues & Opportunities, Evaluation
Criteria, 2035 Traffic Projections,
Framework for Design Alternatives
Meeting 3 Development of Alternatives, Refinement of Evaluation Criteria
Meeting 4 Finalization of Alternatives, Apply
Evaluation Criteria
Meeting 5 Selection of Preferred Alternative

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
• Deteriorated bridge is at the end of its useful life. Must be demolished
• Historic Opportunity
• Study to investigate alternatives
– Mobility – Livability
– Emerald Necklace Link
– Better at-grade modal connections
• Community Input

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Why NOW?
• Current Bridge Condition
• Accelerated Bridge Program
• Available Funding
• Schedule and Opportunity
PLANNING
STUDY
2011
DESIGN
2012 2013
DEMOLITION AND CONSTRUCTION
2014
Community Involvement Throughout Project
2015
Select Alternative
Design Review
Construction Staging & Traffic Management
Phasing Meetings
2016

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
The Opportunities: All Users-All Modes
• Once in a lifetime opportunity
• New and improved street network
• Better bicycle and pedestrian connections
• Historic landscape & open space linkages
• Improved transit connections

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
MassDOT – Highway and Transit
Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR)
City of Boston
Consultant Team
Working Advisory Group (WAG)

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Working Advisory Group
Arborway Community
Sarah Freeman
Arboretum Park Conservancy
Nina Brown
Asticou/Martinwood/South Street Neighborhood
David Hannon
Asticou Neighborhood
Elizabeth Wylie
Boston Center for Independent Living Inc.
Karen Schneiderman
Boston Cyclists Union / JP Bikes
Bob Dizon
Community Planning Committee for the Arborway
Yards
Bernard Doherty
Emerald Necklace Conservancy
Mary Hickie
Ethos Care
Dale Mitchell
Franklin Park Coalition
Suzanne Monk
Greenspan / Boston Natural Areas Network
Eugenie Beal
JP Business & Professional Association
Carlos Icaza
JP / South Street Main Streets
Michael Epp
JP Neighborhood Development Council, Traffic and
Parking Committee
Michael Halle
JP Neighborhood Council
Emily Wheelwright
Livable Streets
Kevin Wolfson
MassBike
David Watson
South Street Business Community
Charles Fiore
Southwest Corridor PMAC
Jeffrey Ferris
Stony Brook Association
Allan Ihrer
Stony Brook Neighborhood Association
Fred Vetterlein
WalkBoston
Don Eunson
Washingtonian Court Condominium
Kathy Kottaridis
Washington Street Business Group
Andy Schell
West Roxbury Courthouse Neighborhood Association
Liz O’Connor
West Roxbury District Court
Honorable Kathleen Coffey

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
PUBLIC
MEETINGS
1
MAR
EXISTING
CONDITIONS
APR
2 3 4
SELECTION CRITERIA &
INITIAL CONCEPTS
MAY JUN
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT &
ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION
JUL
5
AUG
IDENTIFICATION OF
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
SEP
All public meetings held at the Agassiz Elementary School

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Focus Areas of
Past Studies

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Studies and Plans Compiled Since 2000
2010 Centre and South Streets Streetscape and Transportation Action Plan
2008 MBTA Parcels V and W Solicitation
2008 Forest Hills Improvement Initiative:
Use and Design Guidelines and Transportation Action Plan
2008 Franklin Park Transportation and Access Study
2008 Structural Condition Investigation and Traffic Study
2007 Arborway Traffic Review
2004 Arborway Master Plan
2001 Memorandum of Agreement between City of Boston and MBTA
2000 Green Triangle Study
Build On Past Work

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
1890s Arborway constructed as a parkway – horse- drawn vehicles
1910s Arborway pavement deteriorating due to automobile traffic
[1908 Commissioners Report]
1920s Continued pressure to accommodate automobiles
Overpasses and underpasses discussed
[48 th
Annual Report, Board of Commissioners]
1925 Shea Circle constructed at Franklin Park entrance
[James B. Shea, former Chairman, Parks
Commission]
1950s Casey Overpass constructed to span over
Boston Elevated tracks and RR bridge
1980s Southwest Corridor project places Orange Line and RR tracks in tunnel
Casey Overpass now higher than necessary

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
1955 Original Construction
6 lanes
1990 Rehabilitation
4 lanes + sidewalk
6 4
2010 Bridge Restrictions
2 lanes
2

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Photos from 2010 Inspection - BRIDGE IS SAFE TODAY!

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Design Flaws
Photo from 2010 Inspection Photo of Repairs
!!!!! BRIDGE IS SAFE !!!!!

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Confusing and Overly Complicated Street Network
• Not a capacity issue but rather a configuration issue
• Particularly difficult for neighborhood
– Parking & Traffic Congestion
– Transit Drop-Off / Pick-Up
– Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Surface Streets Designed Around the Overpass

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

ARBORETUM
ARBORETUM
CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
SW
CORRIDOR
ARBORWAY
YARDS
T
KEY
Existing Buildings
Planned Development
FOREST HILLS
CEMETERY
FRANKLIN
PARK

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
• Eleven Hour (7 AM–6 PM) at 16 Intersections
– Vehicles, Trucks, Peds, Bikes
• Average Trip Ratios at Two Locations
– Casey Overpass
– New Washington Street
• License Plate Data
– Casey Overpass
– Parking lots
• Accident Data

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Average Daily
Trips = 24,000
Weekday AM Peak
Hour - Vehicles

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
AM PM
T T

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
AM PM
T T

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
34/34E
35 36
37 40
50 51
37/38 39 42
140-150
Peak–Hour
Bus Trips
21/31
39
34/34E
35 36
37 38
40 50
51
T
16 21
31 32
42
16
21/31
KEY BUS ROUTES
Routes to the Northwest
Routes to the Northeast
Routes to the Southwest
Routes to the Southeast
32

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
105 UNDER OVERPASS
252 PRIVATE LOT
22
EMPLOYEES
65
EMPLOYEES
188
MBTA LOTS

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS)
Coordination
• Developing 2035 future year traffic projections
• License plate survey used to calibrate the traffic model
• Provide travel demand peak period forecasts for existing conditions, a future no-build (2035)
• Travel Demand Model (multi-modal, vast data set, calibrated to current conditions)

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Destinations of Traffic in the PM Peak Period
Using the Casey Overpass – by Percent

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Route Selection (PM)
33

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
• Allow regional connections without compromising community access
• Manage growing and changing mobility needs for all users on narrow, curvilinear streets with varying grades
• Parking Demand Management
• Orange Line head house and ventilation stack

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
• Holistic approach to managing mobility – respecting needs of all modes and users
• Address problem areas: pedestrian/vehicle conflicts
(protect integrity of neighborhood streets)
• Remove barrier - creates an opportunity for a new area center
• Re-establish a parkway connection
• Celebrate area’s historic transportation and open space resources

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
www.fhwa.dot.gov/livability/case studies/guidebook/livability www.massdot.state.ma.us/main/greendot.aspx
www.bostoncompletestreets.org
"Sustainable Transportation means providing exceptional mobility and access in a manner that meets development needs without compromising the quality of life of future generations. A sustainable transportation system is safe, healthy, affordable, renewable, operates fairly, and limits emissions and the use of new and nonrenewable resources."
Secretary LaHood

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
PUBLIC
MEETINGS
1
MAR
EXISTING
CONDITIONS
APR
2 3 4
SELECTION CRITERIA &
INITIAL CONCEPTS
MAY JUN
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT &
ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION
JUL
5
AUG
IDENTIFICATION OF
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
SEP

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Meeting 1 Project Purpose, Goals and Existing
Conditions
Meeting 2 Issues & Opportunities, Evaluation
Criteria, 2035 Traffic Projections,
Framework for Design Alternatives
Meeting 3 Development of Alternatives, Refinement of Evaluation Criteria
Meeting 4 Finalization of Alternatives, Apply
Evaluation Criteria
Meeting 5 Selection of Preferred Alternative
40

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
May 18, 2011
Proposed Agenda
• Major Issues and Opportunities
• Develop Evaluation Criteria
• 2035 Traffic Projections & Development Pipeline
• Presentation of Design Framework (bookends)
• Key Opportunities to include in alternatives

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
• What are the top three priorities we should consider in this planning process to guide our designs?
• Where are the opportunities?
• What are your ideas?

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
Paul King, Project Manager e-mail Paul.C.King@state.ma.us
office phone 617-973-8137
John Romano, Municipal Affairs Liaison e-mail John.Romano@state.ma.us
office phone 617-973-7028
For more information: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/caseyoverpass/

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
If the bridge was not replaced, I feel that a replacement surface road would essentially cut us off from the other side of JP, much as the Jamaica Way seems to already.
Also… I’m wondering what the traffic would be like trying to cross that road if the bridge were removed.
I feel quite the opposite. The overpass is like a Berlin Wall separating Forest Hills from the rest of Jamaica Plain. ..
The fact is, the overpass is a relic of 1950’s era thinking about cars that has torn apart our neighborhood… We have such an enormous opportunity here to clear away the mistake of past generations and create a livable neighborhood…

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY
April 6, 2011
Agassiz School

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY

CASEY OVERPASS PLANNING STUDY