Route 79/Davol Street Corridor Study
Fall River, MA
Working Group Meeting #8
May 7, 2014
Boys and Girls Club of Fall River
803 Bedford Street
Agenda
Welcome and Introductions
Brief Overview of Studied Alternatives
FHWA Review and Comments
Alternatives Recommended for Advancing
Next Steps
Task 5 - Recommendations
Task 1 – Study Area, Goals & Objectives, Evaluation Criteria, &
Public Involvement
Task 2 – Existing and Future No-Build Conditions and Issues
Identification
Task 3 – Alternatives Development
Task 4 – Alternatives Analysis
Task 5 – Recommendations
Task 5 - Recommendations
Overview of Alternatives
Alternative 1: Elevated Limited Access Rte. 79
 Maintains Rte. 79 as a visual barrier
 Supports up to 1.3m sf of additional
development
 Provides four east-west connections
 Improves Brightman Street access
 Creates at least 2.45 acres of open land
Alternative 1: Elevated Limited Access Rte. 79
Alternative 1: Elevated Limited Access Rte. 79
Alternative 2: Urban Boulevard
 Eliminates Rte. 79 as a visual barrier
 Supports up to 1.2m sf of additional
development
 Provides four east-west connections
 Improves Brightman Street Access
 Creates at least 2.73 acres of open land
Alternative 2: Urban Boulevard
Alternative 2: Urban Boulevard
Alternative 3: Boulevard with Frontage Roads
 Eliminates Rte. 79 as a visual barrier
 Supports up to 0.3m sf of additional
development
 Provides four east-west connections
 Improves Brightman Street Access
 Creates at least 13.37 acres of open land
Alternative 3: Boulevard with Frontage Roads
Alternative 3: Boulevard with Frontage Roads
Task 5 - Recommendations
FHWA Review & Comments
FHWA Review and Comments
Reduced Route 79 cross section
Truncated west side access road
Climate change impacts
Valuation of land to be re-purposed for private development
Elimination of southbound Davol St. north of President Ave.
Elimination of ramps from Veterans Memorial Bridge and
Rte. 79 to southbound Davol St.
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alternative 2 - Modified
Alt. 2 Modified: Elimination of Davol St. north of President Ave.
Davol St. between President Ave. and
Brownell St. would be maintained and
would become two-way
Cory St. access would
be limited to industrial
driveway only
Direct access from Brightman
St. to waterfront and points
south would be lost
Elimination of ramp would
detour VMB traffic onto
Route 79 to President Ave.
U-Turn bridge would
become inaccessible to
vehicular traffic
Two-lane ramp
would merge into
a single lane
Impacts of Rising Sea Level – Existing Route 79 Elevation
Impacts of Rising Sea Level – Lowered Route 79 Elevation
Valuation of Parcels to be Re-Purposed or Sold
Alternative 3
*Estimated values do
not reflect fair market
value analysis. Prices
per acre are based on a
synthesis of existing
assessed
values; recent
waterfront sales
comps; and local and
regional benchmark
commercial properties
Alternative 2 Modified
Alternative 2
Alternative 1
Parcel #
Parcel Type
Parcel Size (ac)
Estimated Value*
1
2
3
4
5
Wide
Wide
Narrow
Narrow
Wide
Alternative 1 Totals
2.2
1.8
1.4
0.6
4.1
10.1
$660,000
$540,000
$280,000
$120,000
$1,230,000
$2,830,000
1
2
3
4
5
Wide
Wide
Narrow
Narrow
Wide
Alternative 2 Totals
1.4
1.4
1.3
2.3
4.2
10.6
$420,000
$420,000
$260,000
$460,000
$1,260,000
$2,820,000
3.3
1.9
2.2
2.6
4.6
14.6
$990,000
$570,000
$440,000
$780,000
$1,380,000
$4,160,000
2.2
2.1
2.1
3.0
2.2
3.5
15.1
$660,000
$630,000
$630,000
$900,000
$660,000
$1,050,000
$4,530,000
1
Wide
2
Wide
3
Narrow
4
Wide
5
Wide
Alternative 2 - Modified Totals
1
2
3
4
5
6
Wide
Wide
Wide
Wide
Wide
Wide
Alternative 3 Totals
Task 5 - Recommendations
Draft Recommendations
Study Goals
Goals
 Identify opportunities to improve mobility, connectivity, and safety along
and across the Route 79 and Davol Street corridor study area
 Promote and foster local and regional economic development potential
 Improve the quality of life for residents
Policy Context
GreenDOT
Healthy Transportation Directive
Complete Streets
MAP-21
MassDOT GreenDOT Policy
MassDOT is committed to having a positive impact on our
environment
GreenDOT Implementation Plan
Helps achieve sustainable goals
Puts ideas into practice
MassDOT GreenDOT Policy
GreenDOT Implementation Plan Themes
Air – reduce emissions, improve air quality
Energy – use less energy, more renewable
Land – enhance ecology
Materials – env. friendly products and facilities
Policy/Planning – multi-modal, healthy
Waste – reduce
Water – use less, improve ecological functions
MassDOT GreenDOT Policy
How Route 79 Project Will Implement GreenDOT Policy
Trees, trees, trees
Within the median
Along each side of Route 79
East side of Davol Street West
Sides of the east-west connector road
Greenspace (more grass, shrubs, and other landscape features in these
same areas)
Enhanced opportunities for multi-modal uses
MassDOT GreenDOT Policy
What do trees do? Which GreenDOT Themes are
Addressed?
Land
“Protect, preserve and ENHANCE woodland and URBAN TREE
coverage”
“Trees and naturalized landscaping emphasized in revised Project
Development & Design Guide”
“Urban street tree coverage enhanced during improvement projects”
Trees and other vegetation also:
Improve aesthetics (Land) and air quality (Air)
MassDOT GreenDOT Policy
Multi-modal Enhancements
Better access for bicyclists and pedestrians
Opportunity for meandering shared-use paths and sidewalks
Improved access to South Coast Rail Fall River Depot Station
Opportunity to modify existing Southeastern Regional Transit Authority
bus routes
Promote transportation mode shift
Draft Short-Term Recommendations
President Ave./North Main St. Addition of Protected Left Turn
Draft Short-Term Recommendations
President Ave./Lindsey St. Signing and Pavement Markings
Draft Short-Term Recommendations
Bicycle route designation on Low Speed/Low Volume Streets
Draft Short-Term Recommendations
Bicycle Lane on Northbound Davol St.
Draft Short-Term Recommendations
Bicycle Lane on Southbound Davol St.
Draft Short-Term Recommendations
Mid-block Crosswalk on Southbound
Davol St. near Cedar St.
Draft Short-Term Recommendations
Reallocating Lanes on Southbound Davol St.
Draft Mid-Term Recommendations
Shared-Use Path on Southbound Davol St.
Short- and Mid-Term Recommendations
Short-Term
President Ave./North Main St. signal improvements
President Ave./Lindsey St. intersection signing and striping
Bicycle route designation via “sharrow” markings and signs
Bicycle lanes on Davol St. northbound and southbound
Mid-Term
Shared-use path on Davol St. southbound
Long-Term Alternatives vs. Study Objectives
Study Objective
Provide better multimodal connectivity between Fall River
neighborhoods and its waterfront
Enhance multimodal access to the future South Coast Rail
Balance local and regional mobility
Improve and enhance safety conditions
Increase opportunities for economic development and land use
Minimize potential impacts to the environment and community
NoAlt. 2
Alt. 1 Alt. 2
Alt. 3
Build
Mod.
Draft Recommended Alternatives
Alternative 2
Alternative 2 Modified
Draft Recommended Alternatives
How Alternatives 2 and 2 Modified Meet Objectives
Multimodal Connectivity
3 new and one improved east-west connections
Provide sidewalks and shared-use paths along all roadways
Improve north-south pedestrian/bicycle connectivity (e.g. Veterans
Memorial Bridge to Battleship Cove/Heritage State Park)
Access to South Coast Rail
Direct access for pedestrians, bicyclist and vehicles to Fall River Depot
SRTA Bus Routes could include a new stop at Fall River Depot
Local & Regional Mobility
New east-west roads connect Fall River to the waterfront and provide
direct access to Route 79
Brightman Street converted to two-way road with direct Route 79 access
Draft Recommended Alternatives
How Alternatives 2 and 2 Modified Meet Objectives
Safety Conditions
Introduce ADA compliant crossings at all intersections
High Crash Locations are removed or improved
Economic Development and Land Use
Support highest levels of new development
Development supported by these alternatives could provide the highest
levels of new jobs, housing units and income
Minimize Impacts to Environment and Community
No disproportionate impacts to Environmental Justice communities
No increase in emissions
Provide land for the landscaping and best management practices
Task 5 - Recommendations
Next Steps
Remaining Study Steps
Draft Final Report
30-Day Public Comment Period
Revised Final Report
Next Steps
Project Development and Design Guide Process:
Step I: Problem/Need Opportunity Identification (1 to 3 months)
Step II: Planning (3 to 24 months)
Step III: Project Initiation (1 to 4 months)
Step IV: Environmental/Design/ROW Process (3 to 48+ months)
Step V: Programming (3 to 12+ months)
Step VI: Procurement (1 to 12 months)
Step VII: Construction (3 to 60+ months)
Step VIII: Project Assessment (1 month)
Next Steps
Step I: Problem/Need Opportunity Identification
Project Need Form (PNF)
Outcome: determination whether the project:
Requires further planning, or
 Is ready to move forward into the design phase, or
Should be dismissed from further consideration
Next Steps
Step II: Planning
Current Corridor Study will likely suffice
Outcome:
Consensus on the project definition, or
Recommendation to delay the project, or
Dismiss it from further consideration
Next Steps
Step III: Project Initiation
Project Initiation Form (PIF)
Identification of likely funding sources
Next Steps
Step IV: Environmental Permitting/Design/ROW Process
Public Outreach
Environmental Documentation and Permitting
MEPA - Environmental Impact Report or Environmental Notification Form
NEPA –Environmental Assessment or Categorical Exclusion
Project Design
ROW Confirmation/Acquisition
Next Steps
Step V: Programming
Project inclusion into Regional TIP
Funding Source
Next Steps
Step VI: Procurement
Construction bids
Contractor selection
Next Steps
Step VII: Construction
Public Participation
Construction Management and Monitoring
Next Steps
Step VIII: Project Assessment
Constituent input into project development process
Constituent review of project design elements
Follow-up on punch list items
Next Steps
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
I-195 / Route 79 Interchange Design-Build Project (Accelerated Bridge Program)
Design and Construction
Project Completion
Route 79 / Davol Street Corridor Project (Conventional Delivery Method)
Corridor Planning Study
Project Initiation
Environmental/Design/ROW
Programming
Construction Procurement
Construction
Project Completion
Steps I & II
Step
III
Step IV
Step V
Step
VI
Steps VII & VIII
Next Steps
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
I-195 / Route 79 Interchange Design-Build Project (Accelerated Bridge Program)
Design and Construction
Project Completion
Route 79 / Davol Street Corridor Project (Design-Build Delivery Method)
Corridor Planning Study
Project Initiation
Env./25% Des./ROW
Programming
D- B Contract Procurement
Design and Construction
Project Completion
Steps I & II
Step
III
Step IV
Step V
Step VI
Steps VII & VIII
2020
To Be Addressed in Project Development
Coordination
SRPEDD: adding project to the Regional Transportation Plan
(RTP)
City of Fall River: development master plan
FHWA: National Highway System (NHS) designation
MEMA: evacuation route implications
To Be Addressed in Project Development
Considerations for Alternatives Refinement
Roadway cross section
Extent of west side access road
Replacing on-street parking with structured parking
Roadway elevation in consideration of climate change and impacts
to adjacent parcels
Questions
Questions or Comments?
www.mass.gov/massdot/route79