McGrath Boulevard Project Development
Public Meeting #2
May 28th, 2015– East Somerville Community School
Agenda
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Introductions
Project Context
Current Construction
McGrath Boulevard Project Development
Next Steps
Project Partners
Project Team
Engineering
Consultant Lead
Public Involvement
Working Group
McGrath Boulevard Working Group Membership
Project Area - General
• Examined issues in Route 28 corridor
• Assessed potential to remove McCarthy Overpass
• Evaluated multi-modal transportation potential
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Complete Streets
Intuitive Wayfinding
Community Improvement
Open Space
• Traffic Diversions
• Washington St. Connectivity
• Potential Queuing
• Completed planning study
• Recommendations
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6-lane Boulevard
4-lane Boulevard
Current Construction
Current Conditions – Gilman Street Bridge Project
• Reduced to two lanes between
Medford St and Broadway
• Southbound queues backup from Pearl
Street past Broadway during weekday
morning peak hour
• 10-15% decrease in peak hour volumes
at Broadway, Pearl, and Medford
intersections
Current Conditions – Gilman Street Bridge Project:
Description
• The previous slide showed two existing
condition photographs shot along the
McGrath Highway.
• The photographs show queues backing up
from Pearl Street past Broadway during the
weekday morning peak hours.
Somerville Avenue “Punch Through”
Somerville Avenue “Punch Through” - Description
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The previous slide showed an image of the Somerville
Avenue “punch through.”
As part of the interim improvements at the intersection of
Medford Street and Somerville Avenue, upgrades to traffic
signals and bicycle facilities will be provided.
The southbound off-ramp from McGrath Highway that
connects to Medford Street will be permanently closed as
well as the northbound McGrath Highway underpass that
links the intersection with Linwood Street.
A new roadway connection will be created south of the
McGrath northbound overpass allowing vehicles traveling
from Somerville Avenue and Medford Street to directly
access the overpass.
• Step 1: Modifications to the traffic signals at
Washington St. and Somerville Ave.
• Step 2: Resurfacing of Medford Street
• Step 3: Installation of new pavement markings
• Step 4: Closure of Somerville Avenue off-ramp
in Fall 2015
McGrath Boulevard Project Progress
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Improve safety for all modes of transportation
Calm traffic
Provide east to west connections
Improve/create pedestrian and bicycle conditions
Take full advantage of benefits conferred by GLX
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Fully, and without bias, investigate
whether a 4-lane cross-section is possible.
Know fully the impacts of changes in
Somerville on abutting communities.
Not an “either/or” issue.
We may come to a 5-lane cross section or
some other hybrid solution.
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Convened by MassDOT
Inform and advise the agency with local knowledge
Help the agency team develop a preferred alternative to take into the
environmental process
Help develop design details for future discussion in the preliminary
design process
Project Meetings to Date
• Public Information Meeting – 7/19/14
• City of Somerville – 8/7/14
• City of Cambridge – 9/11/14
• Green Line Extension – 10/17/14
• Working Group – 11/19/14
• Working Group – 2/5/15
• Congressman Capuano Briefing– 2/26/15
• LivableStreets Briefing – 4/13/15
• Working Group 4/16/15
Where We Are
Project Development Timeline
Project Development Timeline: Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the project
development timeline for the McGrath Boulevard Project.
• The project is currently in traffic operations and analysis
portion of project development.
• Throughout the summer of 2015, the project team will
continue working to develop a conceptual design for the
McGrath Highway.
• By fall of 2015, the project team will be working on
permitting as part of the project development phase.
TRAFFIC STUDY
Traffic Study Intersections
• “Grounding” Project
• “Boulevard” Project
• Expanded Study Area
Traffic Study Intersections: Description
• The previous slide showed the different intersections that
are being analyzed as part of the larger traffic study of the
McGrath Boulevard Project.
• The initial Grounding McGrath Study looked at the
intersections highlighted in red.
• The current Project Development Phase originally
expanded the Grounding McGrath Study intersections to
include the intersections highlighted in blue.
• As part of the current Project Development Phase, the
project team has further expanded the intersection
analysis to include the intersections highlighted in purple.
2014 Existing Traffic Volumes
• No Significant Change
• Broadway
• Washington Street
• Increase along McGrath Highway
Future Traffic Projections
• Builds off existing counts
• Projects out 25 years (2040)
• Accounts for Development and
Transportation projects
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Future Trips
Future Mode Share
CTPS Process
• Regional Travel
Demand Model
• Demographic &
Land Use Data
Transportation
Infrastructure
• Extensive Model
• Model Outputs
Local Development
1a. Green Line Extension:
Magoun Square
1b. Green Line Extension:
Gilman Square
1c. Green Line Extension:
Ball Square
2. Sullivan Square
3. River Green
4. Assembly Square
5. Beacon Street
6. Boynton Yards
7. Brickbottom/Inner Belt
8. East Somerville
Gateway
9. Fabrication District
10. Union Square
11. North Point
12. Wynn Casino
Transportation Improvements
1. Green Line
Extension/ Union
Square
2. Rutherford Avenue/
Sullivan Square
Components of the Future Projections Contd.
Vehicle traffic growth between 2014 and 2034:
• Peak hour traffic increases between 5% and
23% depending on exact location
• Traffic along the McGrath corridor increases
on average by 15%
2040 CTPS Model
AM Traffic Volumes - Existing and Future
PM Traffic Volumes - Existing and Future
Ped, Bike, Transit Modes
Mode Choice
Mode Shift Goals
• GreenDOT
• Design a multi-modal transportation system
• Promote healthy transportation + livable communities
• City of Somerville
• Increase active and alternative transportation options
• 10% Bicycle Mode Share by 2020
• 50% of New Trips via Transit, Bike, or Walking
Transit Mode
Bus Routes and Stops
Subway Routes
Green Line Extension
Ridership Projections
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Based on FTA constraints
Daily ridership - approximately 38,000
Majority switch from bus to train
9,000 new transit trips per day
Pedestrian Mode
2014 Existing Pedestrian Peak Hour Volumes
2014 Pedestrian Facilities
Somerville Walks
Somerville Walks: Description
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The previous slide showed a map of existing walking routes
as well as proposed walking routes in Somerville.
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The map was created in partnership with WalkBoston, the
City of Somerville, Groundwork Somerville, and Shape Up
Somerville.
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Black dots along a walking route represent a quarter mile or
a 5 minute walk from the next black dot.
Somerville Walks – McGrath Highway
Current Crossings
• Washington Street
Adjacent Desire Lines
• Somerville Avenue
• Medford Street/Gore Street
Somerville Walks – McGrath Highway: Description
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The previous slide showed an image of the Somerville Walks
map focusing on the McGrath Highway corridor.
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The McGrath Highway is highlighted in yellow.
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There is currently only one pedestrian crossing across the
McGrath Highway.
• Highway Capacity Manual 2010
• Walkability Checklist
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Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC)
• Pedestrian Environmental Quality Index
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Developed in San Francisco
• Pedestrian Performance Measures
• Pedestrian Performance measures
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“Bicycle and Pedestrian Level-of-Service
Performance Measures and Standards for
Congestion Management Systems,” Linda B. Dixon
Transportation Research Record 1538
Considers facilities, conflicts, amenities, vehicle
traffic, maintenance, & multimodal connections
Bicycle Mode
2014 Existing Bicycle Peak Hour Volumes
Bicycle Network
Bicycle Network: Description
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The previous slide showed the City of Somerville’s bicycle
network.
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The bicycle network map outlines streets with sharrows and
bike lanes as well as planned sharrows and planned bike
lanes.
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The bicycle network map also outlines locations of existing
and proposed Hubway stations.
• Bike Lanes/Sharrows
• Bike Lanes
• Bike Lanes
• Bike Lanes
• Bike Lane & Cycletracks
Bicycle Network – McGrath Highway: Description
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The previous slide showed the City of Somerville’s bicycle
network focusing on the McGrath Highway and East
Somerville area.
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While McGrath Highway does not currently have any bicycle
accommodations there are adjacent facilities along
Somerville Avenue, Washington Street, and Medford Street.
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As part of the McGrath Boulevard Project, separated bike
facilities will be implemented along the McGrath Highway.
Hubway Stations
• Highway Capacity Manual 2010
• Level of Stress
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Mineta Transportation Institute
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60 percent of people are interested but concerned
33 percent of people will simply not ride
7 percent are enthused and confident
1 percent or less are strong and fearless
• Level of Traffic Stress
 “Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity”,
Maaza C. Mekuria, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE, Peter G. Furth,
Ph.D. and Hilary Nixon, Ph.D.
 Considers facilities, traffic mix and speed, right-turn
treatments, & crossings
2014 Bicycle Analysis:
Levels of Traffic Stress
Source: Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity Maaza C. Mekuria, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE,
Peter G. Furth, Ph.D. and Hilary Nixon, Ph.D.
• The previous slide showed an image of the four different
types of level of traffic stress for cyclist.
• Level of stress one is suitable for a relaxing bike ride with
little cyclist attention required.
• Level of stress two is suitable for most adults but more
demanding
• Level of stress three has a higher traffic stress but still
acceptable for most current cyclist
• Level of stress four is the most stressful cycling condtions
Measure of Effectiveness (MOE)
 Increase connectivity of entire corridor (up & down, side-to-side)
 Use Complete Streets guidelines to create inviting bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure
 Coordinate with abutting projects
 Create new, evenly distributed green space and landscaped boulevard
 Separate active transportation and vehicles to the fullest extent
practical
Goals to MOEs
Goals to MOEs: Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the project’s
MOEs developed as part of the initial Grounding
McGrath Study.
• The goals of the MOEs are to improve access and
mobility, promote connectivity, improve and balance
functionality, and provide accountability.
• The MOEs guiding principle is to improve safety,
access, and connections for all modes of travel using
context sensitive design.
2040 Build Traffic Projections
McGrath Boulevard
McGrath Boulevard: Description
• The previous slide showed an aerial view of the
McGrath Highway corridor.
• The call out is one of the boulevard designs
options from the initial Grounding McGrath
Planning Study.
Rutherford Avenue
Build Scenarios
6 Lane without Rutherford Improvements
(same analysis was done for a 4 lane scenario)
Build Scenarios: Description
• The previous slide showed a diagram of one of
the possible build scenarios for McGrath Highway.
• This concept includes a six lane, at-grade crosssection along McGrath Highway without
improvements made to Rutherford Avenue.
Build Scenarios Contd.
6 Lane with Rutherford Improvements
(same analysis was done for a 4 lane scenario)
Build Scenarios Contd. : Description
• The previous slide showed a diagram of one of
the possible build scenarios for McGrath Highway.
• This concept includes a six lane, at-grade crosssection along McGrath Highway with
improvements made to Rutherford Avenue.
Vehicular Diversions
6 Lane with Rutherford AM - Diversions
6 Lane with Rutherford AM – Diversion: Description
• The previous slide showed traffic diversions
based on a six lane McGrath Boulevard
alternative with Rutherford Avenue
modifications during the AM peak hour.
• The green lines represent positive or
increased traffic volumes.
• The red lines represent negative or decreased
volumes.
6 Lane with Rutherford PM - Diversions
6 Lane with Rutherford PM – Diversion: Description
• The previous slide showed traffic diversions
based on a six lane McGrath Boulevard
alternative with Rutherford Avenue
modifications.
• The green lines represent positive or
increased traffic volumes.
• The red lines represent negative or decreased
volumes.
Diversion Summary
Percentage of peak hour traffic diverted:
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11% - 6 Lanes with Rutherford Ave. improvements
24% - 6 Lanes without Rutherford Ave. improvements
30% - 4 Lanes with Rutherford Ave. improvements
34% - 4 Lanes without Rutherford Ave. improvements
• Broadway
• I-93
• Charlestown
• School Street
• Beacon Street
• Somerville Avenue
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McGrath and Rutherford Corridors are connected
Capacity reductions on one side shifts traffic to the
other
Capacity reductions on both sides squeeze vehicles
into adjoining streets
What do local streets impacts look like?
What do those impacts mean for corridor
configurations?
What do those impacts mean for all modes?
Current Working Group Task
Working Group Activity
Connectivity
Cross-Sections
Connectivity
• What connections are a
priority?
• What are the most
desired routes?
• Pedestrian
• Bicycle
• Vehicle
Cross-Sections
What is a cross-section?
• 6 Lane Alternative
• 4 Lane Alternative
Working Group Activity – Breakout Exercise
Working Group Activity – Connectivity Results
Working Group Activity – Cross-Section Results
Group Activity Takeaways
(Results)
• Washington Street
• Prospect Hill to Cross Street
Typical Sections – Common Themes
• Create a Greenway with a “Comm Ave” type
configuration
• Provide Bike Lanes Both Sides of corridor
(at least one two-way)
• Need for Parking On-Street (west side)
• Need to provide turning lanes at
McGrath/Medford Street intersection
• Dismissed pedestrian and bicycle use in the
middle of the corridor
NEXT STEPS
Next Steps Contd.
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Refine and analyze each build scenario
• Pedestrian & Bicycle Operations
• Vehicle Operations
• Ideas from Working Group Cross-section exercise
Quantify Impacts of Diversions
Next Working Group meeting – July 2015
Questions/Discussions