DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING
MARCH 13, 2012
AT
MORSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Auditorium
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
7:00 PM
FOR THE PROPOSED
RIVER STREET/WESTERN AVENUE BRIDGE REHABILITATION
RIVER STREET & WESTERN AVENUE OVER THE CHARLES RIVER
AND SOLDIERS FIELD ROAD
Project No. 605527
Accelerated Bridge Program
BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND CITY OF CAMBRIDGE,
MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAY DIVISION
FRANK DEPAOLA, P.E.
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR
THOMAS F. BRODERICK, P.E.
CHIEF ENGINEER
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – HIGHWAY DIVISION
NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING
Project File No. 605527
A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT to discuss the proposed Rehabilitation of River St and Western
Ave Bridges over the Charles River and Soldiers Field Rd in Boston-Cambridge, MA.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 @ 7PM
Morse Elementary School
40 Granite Street
and
Cambridge, MA 02139
Thursday, March 15, 2012 @ 7PM
Honan-Allston Branch Library
300 North Harvard Street
Allston, MA 02134
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully
acquainted with the proposed Rehabilitation of River St and Western Ave Bridges over the Charles River and
Soldiers Field Rd. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum
extent possible.
PROPOSAL:
The purpose of the project is to repair the River Street and Western Avenue Bridges over the
Charles River and Soldiers Field Road so that they can continue to efficiently and safely meet the needs of the
traveling public. The project will rehabilitate the bridges to maintain their structural integrity, preserve their
historicity, and to better meet the needs of all users including motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and recreational
boaters. The Soldiers Field Rd bridge superstructures will likewise be replaced to ensure their continued structural
viability.
A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may
be required. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or
public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at this hearing.
Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of
the hearing shall be displayed for public inspection and copying at the time and date listed above. Plans will be on
display one-half hour before the hearing begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this
project. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below.
Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing
regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Acting Chief Engineer,
MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, ATTN: Accelerated Bridge Program, Project File No. 605527. Such
submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public
hearing transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of this Public Hearing. Project inquiries may be
emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us
This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or
language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign
Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and
alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation
or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Director of Civil Rights by phone at (617) 973-7171, TTD/TTY
at (617) 973-7715, fax (617) 973-7311 or by email to MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us. Requests should be
made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language,
CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten business days before the
meeting.
In case of inclement weather, hearing cancellation announcements will be posted on the internet at
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Highway/
FRANCIS A. DEPAOLA, P.E.
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR
THOMAS F. BRODERICK, P.E.
ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER
Boston, Massachusetts
WHAT IS A DESIGN HEARING?
WHY A DESIGN HEARING?
To provide an assured method whereby the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can furnish to the
public information concerning the State’s highway construction proposals, and to afford every
interested resident of the area an opportunity to be heard on any proposed project. At the same
time, the meetings afford the Commonwealth an additional opportunity to receive information
from local sources which would be of value to the State in making its final decisions to what
design should be advanced for development.
WHY NOT A VOTE ON HIGHWAY PLANS?
The hearings are not intended to be a popular referendum for the purpose of determining the
nature of a proposed improvement by a majority of those present. They do not relieve the duly
constituted officials of a State highway department of the necessity for making decisions in State
highway matters for which they are charged with full responsibility.
WHAT DOES A DESIGN HEARING ACCOMPLISH?
It is designed to ensure the opportunity for, or the availability of, a forum to provide factual
information which is pertinent to the determination of the final alternative considered by the state
to best serve the public interest, and on which improvement projects are proposed to be
undertaken.
It is important that the people of the area express their views in regard to the proposal being
presented, so that views can be properly recorded in the minutes of the meeting. These minutes
will be carefully studied and taken into consideration in the determination of the final design.
TO SAFEGUARD THE PROPERTY OWNER
If your property, or a portion of it, must be acquired by the State for highway purposes in the interest of
all people of the Commonwealth, your rights are fully protected under the law. Briefly, here are some of
the answers to questions you might ask.
1. WHO CONTACTS ME?
Representatives of the Right of Way Bureau of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s
Highway Division. They will explain the impacts and your rights as protected under
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 79.
2. WHAT IS A FAIR PRICE FOR MY PROPERTY?
Every offer is made to ensure that an equitable value is awarded to you for the property, or to appraise
the “damage” to the property as a result of the acquisition. MassDOT appraisers, independent
appraisers, MassDOT “Review Appraisers” and a Real Estate Appraisal Review Board may all
contribute in arriving at an award of damages. The State also pays a proportionate part of the real
estate tax for the current year for fee takings, and interest from the date the property is acquired to
the payment date, on all impacts.
3. MUST I ACCEPT THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFER?
No. If, after the figure established as market value has been offered to the owner, the owner feels he
or she is not being offered a fair price, he or she has the right, within three years, to appeal to the
courts. Pending a court decision, he or she can be paid on a “pro-tanto” basis (or “for the time
being”) that in no way prejudices the court appeal.
4. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY HOUSE?
The owner will have the opportunity to buy back his or her house, provided he or she has a location to
which it can be moved, and the proper permits for its removal. If the owner does not wish to
repurchase, the house will be advertised for bids. The highest bidder, who must also have a
location and permits for removal, will be awarded the house. Otherwise, the structure will be
slated for demolition.
5. WHAT HAPPENS IF I MUST RELOCATE?
In addition to the market value of the property, the Department pays certain relocation benefits for
both owners and tenants of acquired residences and businesses who meet eligibility requirements.
Assistance in relocation is also provided. Department brochures are available for details on these
benefits.
Figure 1:
Site Locus Plan
Bridge No. B-16-006=C-01-005 (River Street)
Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts
Bridge No. B-16-010=C-01-006 (Western Avenue)
Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts
Bridge No. B-16-375 (Western Avenue/Soldiers Field Road)
Boston, Massachusetts
Bridge No. B-16-377 (Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road)
Boston, Massachusetts
Project Location
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is proposing to rehabilitate the
historic Western Avenue and River Street Bridges over the Charles River as part of their
Accelerated Bridge Program. The project will also include superstructure replacements on the
bridges at Soldiers Field Road/Western Avenue and Soldiers Field Road/River Street.
Purpose
The purpose of the project is to repair the Western Avenue and River Street Bridges over the
Charles River and the bridges at Soldiers Field Road/Western Avenue and Soldiers Field
Road/River Street so that they can continue to efficiently and safely meet the needs of the
traveling public. The project will rehabilitate the bridges to maintain their structural integrity,
preserve their historical features, and bring them into alignment with current design standards to
better meet the needs of all users including motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and recreational
boaters.
Existing Conditions
The Western Avenue and River Street Bridges over the Charles River were built between 1924
and 1926 by the Metropolitan District Commission as part of the agency’s effort to develop a
park system along the Charles River Basin. The only major work on the bridges since their
construction was a resurfacing project in the 1980’s. Both bridges are in fair to poor condition.
The bridges along Soldiers Field Road are also deteriorated and have been stabilized through
repairs.
Traffic counts obtained in 2010 show that approximately 2,100 vehicles cross the River Street
Bridge during the peak hour and 1,800 vehicles use the Western Avenue Bridge. The Charles
River below the bridges is navigable to recreational vessels including power boats, canoes,
kayaks and crew shells from local high schools and universities. Crew activity is ongoing
through much of the year, but peaks in the spring and fall.
Scope of Work
Rehabilitation work for the Western Avenue and River Street Bridges over the Charles River will
maintain the bridges’ historic appearance. This includes removing and replacing all of the
spandrel walls, ringstones, parapets, and sidewalks. The existing superstructures and decks of the
Western Avenue/Soldiers Field Road and Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road bridges will be
replaced.
The proposed lane configuration for the Western Avenue and River Street Bridges over the
Charles River will include: three lanes of vehicular traffic, a grade separated cycle track in the
same direction as the vehicular traffic, and sidewalks on both sides. Motorized vehicles and
cyclists will be separated horizontally by a two foot buffer and by a curb. The approach bridges
will also feature grade separated cycle tracks. Cycle tracks will be provided for the direction of
roadway travel with one cycle track eastbound on the southern side of the Cambridge Street over
Soldiers Field Road Bridge and two cycle tracks will be provided on the north and south sides of
the bridge carrying Western Avenue over Soldiers Field Road. The approach bridge cycle tracks
will be separated from vehicular traffic by a 3” tapered curb and separated from pedestrian users
by an 8” curb and curb mounted traffic barrier.
Significant bicycle and pedestrian counts have been taken to inform this project including
September and December of 2009, February, May and September of 2010 and May and
September of 2011. The counts showed that cyclists comprise of approximately 35%-40% of
non-motorized traffic over the bridges and that they generally ride with traffic. In addition to
count data, planning coordination was conducted between MassDOT and the cities of Boston and
Cambridge to align with existing or proposed cycle tracks. Additional proposed bicycle and
pedestrian improvements would include expanding the sidewalks at the corners of the
intersections surrounding the bridges to provide queuing space and shorter crossing distances,
widening the section of bicycle path along Soldiers Field Road known as “the narrows,” or “the
pinch point”, updating signal timings and equipment, wayfinding, and ADA compliant
pedestrian ramps.
To facilitate construction, there will be times at which turning movements at the intersections
adjacent to the bridges will be restricted, particularly the northbound left-turn from Soldiers Field
Road onto Cambridge Street westbound. Night and weekend closures of the Soldiers Field Road
approach bridges may be required to facilitate certain aspects of construction. All closures will
be communicated to the community well in advance of their occurrence. Two vehicular lanes,
bicycle and pedestrian access will be available and at least two unobstructed arches, coordinated
between the Western Avenue and River Street bridges, will be maintained to ensure that boat
traffic is not impeded. It is currently expected that work on each bridge would begin in the
center lane, shift to one exterior lane of the bridge, shift to the opposite exterior lane, and return
to the center lane and finish on the exterior lanes of both bridges to install the proposed cycle
tracks.
Schedule
The work on the Western Avenue and River Street Bridges is being coordinated within the
overall scope of the Charles River Basin Bridges Rehabilitation effort. The Western Avenue and
River Street project construction commencement will be coordinated with the conclusion of the
Anderson Memorial Bridge rehabilitation. It is anticipated that the Western Avenue and River
Street project construction will begin in 2014 and end in 2016.
For more information, please visit the project website at
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges/WesternAveRiverStBridge.html or if you
have questions or concerns, please contact Stephanie Boundy, Public Outreach Coordinator for
the Accelerated Bridge Program at (617) 973-8049.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAY DIVISION
BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND CITY OF CAMBRIDGE, MA
WESTERN AVENUE/RIVER STREET BRIDGE REHABILITATION
WESTERN AVENUE & RIVER STREET OVER THE CHARLES RIVER
Project No. 605527
This sheet is provided for your comments. Your input is solicited and appreciated.
Please return your sheet, with comments, to a staff member at the meeting, or mail to:
Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Acting Chief Engineer
MassDOT, Highway Division
10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116-3973
Attn: Accelerated Bridge Program
The final date for receipt of written statements and exhibits for inclusion into the official hearing
transcript will be ten (10) days after the Public Hearing. Please type or print legibly.
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Thomas F. Broderick, P.E.
Chief Engineer
MassDOT, Highway Division
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116-3973
RE: Public Hearing
Western Avenue and River Street Bridges Rehabilitation Project
Boston/Cambridge, MA
Project File No. 605527
Accelerated Bridge Program