McGrath Boulevard Project Development
Working Group Meeting #3
April 16th, 2015– East Somerville Community School
Agenda
• Review of February Working Group Meeting
• Measures of Effectiveness (MOE)
• Discussion of Interim Improvements
• Temporary Bicycle Lane
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Bicycle & Pedestrian Connectivity
Vehicular Diversions
Preliminary Build Analysis
McGrath Boulevard Sample Configuration
Break-out Discussions & Report Back
Next Steps
February Working Group Session
Review and Key Themes
Key Elements I
• Discussion of the Shared Values
• A big dose of traffic data
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Informs transit, walking, and cycling discussion
• Introduction of the CTPS Travel Demand Model
(TDM)
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Projection of 2040 conditions
• TDM is strong, but not absolute – other inputs
needed:
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Professional, engineering judgment
Community reality check
Key Elements II
• Build Alternatives- Projected
and Diverted Traffic Volumes
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6-lane without Rutherford
Improvements
6-lane with Rutherford
Improvements
4-lane without Rutherford
Improvements
4-lane with Rutherford
Improvements
Key Elements III
• What did we learn:
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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
• Where are we headed:
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What do local street impacts look like?
What do those impacts mean for corridor
configurations?
What do those impacts mean for all modes?
Measure of Effectiveness (MOE)
Shared Priorities
Improve safety for all modes: walking, cycling, driving, transit
Remove McCarthy Overpass
Context sensitive design or:
 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
Consider overall public health in planning/conceptual design
 Separate active transportation and vehicles to the fullest extent
practical
Calm traffic without inducing harmful local or regional congestion
Protect the neighborhood during construction
Maintain unique neighborhood vibrancy after construction
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.
Where We Are
Where We Are - Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the
general project timeline.
• The project is currently in the project
development phase.
• As part of all MassDOT projects, community
involvement will take place throughout the
entire project process.
Interim Improvements
Current Conditions
• 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 - Description
• The previous slide showed existing conditions
photographs along the McGrath Highway.
• The photographs show queues backing up
from Pearl Street past Broadway during
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 as well as the addition of bike facilities will take
place.
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.
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.
Interim Improvements
• Coming in construction season 2015 to an
overpass near you!
• Step 1: Modifications to the traffic signals at
both 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 October
Wynn Casino
Wynn Casino - Description
• The previous slide showed the anticipated
traffic volumes along Washington Street in
relation to the Wynn Casino.
• It is anticipated that Washington Street will
see an increase in approximately 4% traffic.
• The anticipated peak periods for the Wynn
Casino are Friday evenings and Saturday
evenings.
Temporary Bike Lane
Existing Lane Configuration
Existing Lane Configuration - Description
• The previous slide showed the existing lane
configuration along the McGrath Highway at
five different sections.
• For most sections along the corridor, three to
four lanes are provided with a designated
turning lane.
• On the southernmost and northern most
sections the lane configurations range from
two to three lanes.
Future Lane Configuration with Northpoint
Future Lane Configuration with Northpoint- Description
• The previous slide showed the future lane
configuration along the McGrath Highway at five
different sections considering the developments
at Northpoint.
• Modifications have been made at the
intersection of Third Street and McGrath
Highway, Cambridge Street and McGrath
Highway, and McGrath Highway south of First
Street.
• Bike lane accommodations have been installed
up to Third Street from Land Boulevard.
Temporary Bike Facility Extension
Temporary Bike Facility Extension - Description
• The previous slide showed the temporary
bike facility extension along McGrath
Highway.
• In the previous slide, bike lanes have been
extended from Land Boulevard west to the
vicinity of Medford Street.
Potential Challenges
• Third Street
• Rufo Road
Potential Challenges- Description
• The previous slide showed two images of
potential challenges associated with the
future land configurations along McGrath
Highway.
• The first image shows increased delay at Rufo
Road.
• The second image shows AM peak traffic
volumes over capacity at Third Street.
Bicycle & Pedestrian Connectivity
Bicycle Network
Bicycle Network – Description
• The previous slide showed the City of
Somerville’s bicycle network.
• The bicycle network map outlines streets
with sharrows, bike lanes, planned bike lanes,
and planned sharrows.
• The bicycle network map also outlines
locations of existing and proposed Hubway
stations.
Bicycle Network
Adjacent Facilities
• Community Path Extension
• Washington Street
• Bike Lanes/Sharrows
• Somerville Avenue
• Bike Lanes
• Medford Street
• Bike Lanes
• Interim Improvements
• Bike Lanes
• North Point – McGrath
Improvements
• Bike Lane & Cycletracks
Bicycle Network – Description
• The previous slide showed the City of
Somerville’s bicycle network focusing on the
McGrath Highway and East Somerville area.
• While McGrath Highway does not currently have
any bicycle accommodations there are adjacent
facilities along Somerville Avenue, Washington
Street, and Medford Street.
• As part of the McGrath Boulevard Project,
separated bike facilities will be implemented
along the McGrath Highway.
Somerville Walks
Somerville Walks – Description
• The previous slide showed a map of existing
as well as proposed walking routes in
Somerville.
• The map was created in partnership with
WalkBoston, the City of Somerville,
Groundwork Somerville, and Shape Up
Somerville.
• Black dots along a walking route represent a
quarter mile or a 5 minute walk.
Somerville Walks
Current Crossings
• Washington Street
Adjacent Desire Lines
• Somerville Avenue
• Medford Street/Gore Street
Somerville Walks – Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the
Somerville Walks map focusing on the
McGrath Highway corridor.
• The McGrath Highway is highlighted in
yellow.
• There is currently only one pedestrian
crossing across the McGrath Highway.
Vehicular Diversions
Outside of the Route 28 Corridor
• Reviewed CTPS
diversion maps
• Analyzing future
year operations
• Documenting
operational
impacts
Outside of Route 28 Corridor – Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the
Somerville Walks map focusing on the
McGrath Highway corridor.
• The McGrath Highway is highlighted in
yellow.
• There is currently only one pedestrian
crossing across the McGrath Highway.
Local Diversions Impacts
• Under all Build Scenarios
Somerville Ave. at Dane St.
Somerville Ave. at School St.
Somerville Ave. at Webster Ave.
Prospect St. at Webster Ave.
• With Rutherford Improvements
Broadway at School St.
Cross St. at Pearl St.
• Analysis intersections under
study
Local Diversion Impacts– Description
• The previous slide showed an image
highlighting the intersections of local
diversion impacts.
• The blue circles represent the study area
intersections and the red dots represent
impacted locations.
Preliminary Build Analysis
Operational Impacts along McGrath Corridor
• 6 Lane Build Alternatives
• 4 Lane Build Alternatives
• Rutherford Improvements
Operational Impacts along McGrath Corridor – Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the
operational impacts along the McGrath
Highway corridor.
• Shown in red, the middle of the corridor is
impacted most when Rutherford is modified
with either a 4 or 6 lane build alternative.
McGrath Boulevard Configuration
Boulevard Alternative
• Conventional signalized
intersections
• Minimized pedestrian
crossing distances
• Full access and
connectivity
Boulevard Alternative - Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the
proposed McGrath Boulevard corridor with
restricted left-turns at Washington Street and
Linwood Street.
• In order to remove left-turns at these two
intersections, new left turns will most likely
be implemented elsewhere along the
corridor.
McGrath at Somerville/Medford/Poplar
Boulevard Option
Potential Alternative Configuration
McGrath at Somerville/Medford/Poplar - Description
• The previous slide showed two images of atgrade boulevard configurations at the
intersection of McGrath Highway, Poplar Street,
Somerville Avenue, and Medford Street.
• The first image shows two signalized
intersections adjacent to one another with a
surface road parallel to McGrath Highway to the
north.
• The second image shows a single signalized
intersection where all legs of the abutting streets
converge at a single point.
Breakout Group Discussion
Breakout Discussion
Connectivity
Cross-Sections
Breakout Discussion – Description
• The previous slide showed two images that were
used to initiate the conversation for the breakout
groups.
• The first image of the boulevard option was used
for working group members to show their
desired crossings paths over the McGrath
corridor.
• The purpose of the second image was to provide
examples of different cross-section
configurations along the McGrath corridor.
Connectivity
• What connections are a
priority?
• What are the most
desired routes?
• Pedestrian
• Bicycle
• Vehicle
Connectivity - Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the
McGrath Boulevard configuration.
• This image was used in the breakout sessions
for working group members to draw their
desired pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular
desired lines.
Cross-Sections
What is a cross-section?
Cross-Section - Description
• The previous slide showed an image of the
McGrath Boulevard configuration.
• The corridor was broken up into four different
groups; A, B, C, and D.
• Each working group member was assigned to
a group to determine the most preferred
configuration of their assigned cross-section.
Cross-Sections
• Choose desired section elements
• 6 Lane Alternative
• 4 Lane Alternative
• Fit “puzzle pieces” to cross-sections of
available right-of-way
Cross-Sections - Description
• The previous slide showed four images of the
puzzle pieces used in the cross-section
breakout groups.
• The puzzle pieces included pedestrian,
bicycle, green, and vehicular space.
• Each puzzle piece varied in width and working
group members configured the cross-section
to what they believed was the best fit.
Example Cross-Sections
Example Cross-Sections - Description
• The previous slide showed 3 images of crosssection examples for the McGrath Boulevard
corridor.
• The images shown provide examples of 4, 5,
and 6 lane cross-sections with bicycle
accommodations, open space, parking lanes,
travel lanes, and pedestrian space.
NEXT STEPS
Next Steps
• Fully analyze each build scenario
• Pedestrian & Bicycle Operations
• Vehicle Operations
• Quantify Impacts of Diversions
• Pedestrian and Bike Infrastructure & Analysis
Schedule/Timeline
• Public information meeting:
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May, 2015
Share what we know so far
Check our direction with the larger community
• Next working group session:
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June, 2015
Stakeholder group briefings available upon request
Questions/Discussions