Joint Comment Letter Re: I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Notice of Project Change

Joint Comment Letter Re: I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Notice of Project Change

Sep. 12, 2022

Secretary Bethany A. Card
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Attn: MEPA Office
Alexander Strysky, EEA #15278
100 Cambridge St., #900, Boston MA 02114

Re: I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Notice of Project Change

Dear Secretary Card:

Thank you for inviting public review and comment on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Notice of Project Change for the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project (AMP).

We would like to thank MassDOT for advancing the Modified At-Grade option for the I-90 Interchange th Multimodal Project. The modified at-grade option allows for, and advances, many of the items that the I-90 Taskforce and broader community have been advocating for. We believe that the project is now poised to move forward with strong public support because it includes:

  • Putting I-90, Soldiers Field Road (SFR), and MBTA commuter rail tracks all at-grade.
  • West Station as a truly multi-modal transit hub with rail, bus, walking, and biking connections.
  • Opportunities to improve the Charles Riverbank including stormwater management, bank stabilization, reestablishment of native species, and more,
  • Separated walking and biking paths, specifically upgrading the Paul Dudley White Path to a dual path with separate pedestrian and bike paths from River Street through the path under the Boston University Bridge, and eliminating the boardwalk under the BU bridge, which has a narrow and dangerous blind corner.
  • Enhanced community connections via the People’s Pike buffer park and Agganis Way Connector. The Agganis Connector and the People’s Pike buffer park are essential to repairing neighborhood connectivity so badly disrupted by the original construction of the turnpike and Cambridge Street Bridge over a half century ago.
  • The reconstruction of Grand Junction bridge over SFR with a two-track bridge, which provides improved clearance over SFR. This requires a workable profile and design for the replacement of the nearly hundred-year-old, structurally-deficient rail structure over the river, including pedestrian and bike facilities connecting the Cambridge and Boston Esplanades.
  • Readiness for air rights development within Beacon Park Yard, with an explicit plan to work with Harvard, and other stakeholders, to provide for air rights platforms to be constructed at the same time as the AMP.
  • Additionally, we would like to thank MassDOT for including the rebuilding of the Franklin Street pedestrian bridge as an early action item, and the full reconstruction of the Cambridge Street overpass within the unified project. Reconstruction of the Cambridge Street overpass would allow for street connection to West Station, lower profiles, and much better ped/bike connections.

There are several project components that we look forward to seeing explicitly included as part of the preferred alternative in the next environmental filing:

  • Commitment to include construction of the People’s Pike and Agganis Way connector as part of the project.
  • Coordination with Harvard and other stakeholders to ensure investments in the air rights deck to allow decking to be constructed at the same time as I-90.
  • Provision of temporary bike and pedestrian safety improvements along Cambridge Street during pre-construction.
  • Preparation of preliminary design of the Grand Junction bridge across the Charles River to Cambridge. It is crucial that the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project include preliminary design and feasibility of this bridge, including transit and dual pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, in order to ensure that this project happens in the future. It is a critical transportation, GHG reduction, and economic need for the region.
  • A more thorough analysis and explanation of the layup yard and intrusion of this element which would disturb the urban fabric, and disrupt the 15 minute or better frequency of regional rail service required to support a regionally significant West Station. The concept of a mid-day layup at Allston was proposed in the South Station expansion final EIS, but subject to environmental analysis to be carried out in the Allston document, which has not occurred.
  • A more detailed study of the Paul Dudley White Path and its relationship to the riverbank and watersheet to find a design solution that maximizes the safety and experience of cyclists and pedestrians without increasing interference and hazards to boaters.
  • A more detailed study/design of the boardwalk and riverbank edge.
  • The project design should not preclude future lane reduction.

We thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the NPC, and we look forward to continuing the conversation with our state partners in the review process and beyond.

Board of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association

Coalition for a Just Allston Brighton

Magazine Beach Partners

Alba Oliver, Allston resident

Alex Shames, Brighton resident

Anna Leslie, Director, Allston Brighton Health Collaborative

Anthony D’Isidoro, President, Allston Civic Association

Becca Wolfson, Executive Director, Boston Cyclists Union

Cheryl Pavlik, Brighton resident

Deb Pasternak, Chapter Director, Massachusetts Sierra Club

Douglas Arcand, Allston resident

Erika Johnson, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Allston Resident

Fred Salvucci, Brighton resident & I90 Taskforce member

Fred Yalouris, Cambridge Community representative on the I90 Taskforce

Galen Mook, Executive Director, Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, Allston resident & I90 Taskforce member

Harry Mattison, Allston resident & I90 Taskforce member

Jack Wofford, Cambridgeport resident

Jarred Johnson, Executive Director, TransitMatters

Jay & Rita Arcand, Allston business & property owners

Jessica Robertson, Allston resident and I-90 Task Force Member

Jo-Ann Barbour, Director, Charlesview Inc.

Laura Jasinski, Executive Director, Charles River Conservancy

Staci Rubin, Vice President, Environmental Justice, Conservation Law Foundation

Stacy Thompson, Executive Director, LivableStreets Alliance

Tina Chan, Allston resident

Yongxing Wang, Brighton resident

Wendy Landman, Senior Policy Advisor, WalkBoston

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