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What is South Station? Why is it important?
Purpose of the South Station Expansion project
Project Description
Draft Environmental
Impact Report
Project Benefits and
Impacts
How to Comment

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• With 112,000 daily passengers, only Logan Airport is bigger in New
England
• Passenger spaces and platforms undersized and outdated
• Growth projections show an additional 50,000 passengers over 20 years
• Current rail structures limit service reliability and opportunities to expand
• Current MBTA layover: 28 spaces needed; 22 exist

• Private project
• Permitted in April 2006
• Treated as an Existing
Condition for South
Station Expansion project
• Consists of:
• 40 story office tower
• Smaller towers of office, residential, and hotel
• Fill-in development along Atlantic Ave.
• Expansion of the
Intercity Bus Terminal
Secretary’s Certificate on the SSAR Project: EEA Project No. 3205/9131
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Address inadequate capacity for projected passenger rail growth in the Northeast and the Commonwealth
• More daily trains between Boston, New York, and
Washington
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• Improved regional connectivity
New MBTA services - increased economic benefit
Improve facilities for passengers and rail operations
• Address inadequate passenger spaces
• Provide sufficient layover spaces

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High
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Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program (HSIPR)
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Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) program
Improve US passenger rail network
Address key destinations/city pairs
Reduce road and air congestion
Promote urban development, livability
$2.5 billion in awards made to states and railroads.
MassDOT awarded $32.5 million for South Station Expansion
Planning, design, and environmental

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• Acquire the USPS facility on Dorchester Avenue
Expand South Station’s facilities
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• Rail: 7 new tracks; 4 new platforms; revamped interlockings
Expanded or new headhouse and station concourses
• Improved passenger amenities throughout
Construct layover facilities at remote locations
Reopen Dorchester Avenue & extend the Harborwalk
Provide for the possibility of future joint development

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Project mailing list and email updates
Social Media: MassDOT Blog, Twitter, and Facebook
Meetings and Events:
• Open Houses and Informational Sessions (South Station,
Farmer’s Market)
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• Institution and Business Briefings
Neighborhood and Advocacy Group Briefings
Agency and Elected Official Briefings
Online Surveys in Multiple Languages
• Over 1500 responses over 2 surveys

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April 2013: Secretary’s Certificate on ENF issued
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• MEPA scoped for 4 station alternatives:
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• No Build
Alternative 1: Transportation Improvements Only
Alternative 2: Joint/Private Development Minimum Build
Alternative 3: Joint/Private Development Maximum Build
MEPA scoped for 4 layover facility locations:
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• BTD Tow Lot
Beacon Park Yard
Readville Yard 2
Widett Circle
DEIR developed based on ENF Certificate

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A Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) includes:
The magnitude and nature of the proposed project
Benefits of the project
Detailed environmental analysis to assess potential impacts from the project
Proposed mitigation to manage unavoidable impacts of the project
A DEIR is publicly available, and comments are welcome.

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Existing Conditions
Future No Build
Build Alternatives
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• Transportation Improvements Only
Joint/Private Development Minimum Build
Joint/Private Development Maximum Build
Layover Alternatives
Preferred Alternative
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• Not identified in DEIR
BPY layover to be further evaluated in MassDOT Allston Interchange
Project

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MassDOT intends to utilize Beacon Park Yard (BPY) as preferred location to the west
• Simultaneous environmental review of I-90 Allston Interchange project
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• Single environmental process that will review BPY as a layover facility site and future commuter rail station
SSX DEIR No Build assumes no change at BPY; any environmental impacts that result from future changes in the use of BPY would be analyzed in I-90 Allston Interchange environmental review
Continuing to evaluate Widett and Readville alternative sites to provide layover to the south

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Alternative 2 –
Minimum Build
Alternative 3 –
Maximum Build
Size Parking
ENF DEIR ENF DEIR
850,000 sf 660,000 sf 470 spaces 234 spaces
2.5 million sf 2 million sf 1,370 spaces 506 spaces
BTD Tow Lot was considered and dismissed as a layover site alternative.
Unconstrained rail alternatives were also dismissed.

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Increase Capacity &
Efficiency of Existing
System
• Improved on-time performance
• Enhanced reliability
• Allows increased ridership
• Improved passenger experience
Supports System Growth
• Allows for new and expanded services
• Induces mode shift by promoting walking, bicycling, and public transit
• New passenger amenities and spaces
Generates Economic
Impact
• Transportation connections drive economic benefit
• Opportunity for new residential, retail and commercial uses

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Connectivity Improvements
• Reopen Dorchester Avenue – restore access to waterfront
• New ½ mile of Harborwalk and cycle track
• New Hubway opportunities & secure bicycle accommodations
• Improved multimodal connections
Quality of Life Improvements
• Reduced CO
2 emissions, sustainable design approach, adaptation strategies
• Decreased congestion on Atlantic Ave, new activity on Dorchester Ave
• New open spaces in each alternative
Development Opportunities
• Ability to connect existing neighborhoods with a new mixed-use district
• Development spurs regional economic benefit (est. $26-78 million)

Land Acquisition
• USPS Facility
• Dorchester Avenue patio easement
• Widett Circle
• Readville – Yard 2
Noise/Vibration
• Noise walls needed for 245 Summer St
& Fort Point district
(Alt. 1 only)
• Noise walls needed for Beacon Park
Yard (Pratt &
Wadsworth Streets)
• Noise walls needed for Readville – Yard
2 (Riley & Wolcott
Streets)
Traffic
• Slight impact to area intersections
• Mitigation through signal retiming and minor intersection work
Wetlands
• Readville – Yard 2 requires construction in riverfront zone
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Wind/Shadow
• Minor wind impacts to be mitigated with landscaping
• Minor shadow impacts
Stormwater
• Adds new BMPs
• Reduces impervious cover and runoff at most sites
• Increase in impervious cover at
Readville
Water/Wastewater
• Increases in water usage
• May require new sewer main in
Dorchester Ave
No or Negligible Impacts
Archaeological/Historic
Air Quality
Greenhouse Gas
Environmental Justice
HazMat
• Historic railroad uses
• Requires additional testing

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Comments on the project should be sent by December 24 to:
Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
MEPA Office, Attn: Holly Johnson, MEPA Analyst
EEA # 15028
100 Cambridge St., Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
Fax: 617-626-1181
Email: Holly.S.Johnson@state.ma.us

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