Category: Comment Letter

Comment Letter Re: Union Square Redevelopment 15889

Comment Letter Re: Union Square Redevelopment 15889

By |

August 21, 2018

Matthew Beaton, Secretary
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Attn: MEPA Office, Analyst Alex Strysky
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114

Re: Union Square Redevelopment 15889

Dear Secretary Beaton,

WalkBoston appreciates the opportunity to comment on the proposal for Phase I of the Union Square Redevelopment in Somerville. We offer our comments on the pedestrian issues associated with this project.

Our comments focus on the general approach, open space in the initial development and the pedestrian connections between the new station and the older portions of Union Square.

The project in general
WalkBoston is excited about the generous inclusion of elements in this project that will enhance and encourage pedestrian movement throughout the area. In addition, the process leading to this proposal seems to have been handled well by the city, its residents and the proponent. We enthusiastically support the request for a Phase I waiver.

This proposal is exciting, as it marks the beginning of a larger project that will transform Union Square. The 3.5 acre site with the proposed initial buildings will be the beginning of a concentration of development around the upcoming Union Square Green Line station which it directly abuts. The buildings are intended to be the first link between the new transit station and the existing intensive uses in what is traditionally known as Union Square, which begins at the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Prospect Street and extends toward Bow Street.

Open Space
Although the initial pedestrian connections are located on only one side of Prospect Street, they will bring about extensive change to this appearance of this old industrial street. The open space lining the east side of Prospect Street is an elongated triangle, the base of which is a wide entrance to the new transit station. The triangle extends north, narrowing to become a traditional sidewalk as it nears Somerville Avenue. The promise of this space lies in the proponent’s encouraging intentions to add extensive plantings and large trees in 15,000 square feet of open, publicly accessible civic space with 500 linear feet of seating options. The design of the space could result in pedestrians being enveloped in the space and not noticing that the other side of the street is not quite as handsome – an effective way to energize the space until development occurs around it.

The space is to be available to be programmed for a variety of activities. Transit connections from the Green Line Extension as well as a dedicated bus lane on Prospect Street will lead to substantial pedestrian density and transit interactions to support the beginning of prosperity for this new development district.

Pedestrian connections
The proposal calls for two tall buildings at each end of the site: a 25-story building marking the portion of the site closest to the transit station and a 10-story building marking the end of the site at Somerville Avenue. A six-story link between the two taller buildings will include a parking garage plus residences. A total of 450 residences will be included.

The northernmost building at the corner of Somerville Avenue and Prospect Street will be primarily commercial office or lab units located above first-floor retail spaces. Retail spaces continue along Prospect Street, lining the pedestrian way between the transit station and Somerville Avenue. A unique feature is the intention of the proponent to provide 13,000 square feet of space for Arts and Creative Enterprise (ACE) space, defined as live/work units, fabrication or maker space, co-working or other arts programming. The proponent’s intention is based on encouraging a creative economy to thrive in the midst of an embryonic urban employment center. ACE space can be especially attractive to pedestrians, and enliven the ground-floor uses of the proposed new buildings.

Of particular interest to pedestrian advocates, and not fully explained in the documentation on Phase I of the project, is the intention of the developer for the space that separates the 10-story building at the north end of the site and the remainder of the structures to the south. This looks on the plan like a street, but is quite narrow. No intersection for vehicular traffic is indicated by the plan to allow a physical roadway between this street and Prospect Street; such a connection would cross the wide pedestrian spaces lining Prospect Street and would seem to be potentially annoying and disruptive to pedestrian flows along Prospect Street. This street contrasts with others intended to serve vehicles, which are clearly aligned to the rear of the proposed buildings and do not interfere with the proposed pedestrian way along Prospect Street. The proponent should clarify the purpose and potential uses of this thoroughfare.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Sincerely,

Wendy Landman
Executive Director

Letter Thanking MassDOT Secretary Pollack

Letter Thanking MassDOT Secretary Pollack

By |

Re: Thank You for MassDOT’s thoughtful I-90 process and presentation

June 29, 2018

To: Stephanie Pollack
Cc: Rep. Kevin Honan, Rep. Michael Moran, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Senator William Brownsberger, Councilor Mark Ciommo, Councilor Michelle Wu, Katherine Fichter, Jonathan Gulliver, James Gillooly, Tad Read

Secretary Pollack,

Thank you very much for presenting and responding to questions at Wednesday night’s I-90 Allston Task Force meeting, and your follow up in the Boston Globe Opinion piece. We appreciate all the thoughtful planning by you and your team that is evident in your presentation.

We’re very excited! Your announcement of the Independent Review Team to analyze the throat options is a great way to proceed. We look forward to working with Jack Wright, Ilyas Bhatti, and the rest of the team to find how the at-grade design can be best accomplished. Your help to implement near-term improvements for transit, biking, and walking in Allston is also much appreciated.

And we certainly agree how West Station and the Malvern Street busway do need rail and bus service plans to accomplish the mission of serving the needs of regional commuters and local businesses & residents, and we will work with the Focus40 and Commuter Rail Vision as the process to discuss that service. However without their physical construction there can be no service. So because of the urgent need for better transit through Allston, we hope MassDOT will work with the Task Force on the design and implementation of an ADA-compliant, two-track, interim West Station and the Malvern Street busway for inclusion in the first phase of the project.

We also hope that the review of permitting issues will look at how MassDOT can permit a project that yields improvements for all modes and all parts of the project area – and not take the perspective that the simplest permitting path is the best.

Lastly, we look forward to working with Mike O’Dowd and his team on improving the Phase One design by designing and evaluating:

  • Rail yard flip
  • Cambridge St. Bypass Road
  • Lane reduction on Cambridge St. and its intersecting streets
  • “Unchoke the Throat” improvements to Charles River paths and parkland
  • Two-track Grand Junction Bridge over Soldiers Field Road
  • Ecological restoration of the Charles River edge

Again, thank you for your thoughtful and sincere approach to finding the best way forward for this impressive project, which truly is a generational opportunity for the Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

Galen Mook, MassBike
Harry Mattison, Charles River Conservancy
Wendy Landman, WalkBoston
Tony Lechuga, LivableStreets Alliance
Jessica Robertson, Allston Resident
Hazel Ryerson, Allston Resident
Anthony D’Isidoro, Allston Civic Association
Jason Desrosier, Allston Brighton CDC
Emma Walters, Allston Village Main Streets
Frederick Salvucci

Comment Letter with proposed Task Force Agenda

Comment Letter with proposed Task Force Agenda

By |

June 25, 2018
Secretary Stephanie Pollack
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116

Dear Secretary Pollack:

Thank you for resuming meetings of the I90 Allston Task Force. The dialogue and collaboration that we look forward to having with MassDOT and the MBTA will be an important step in this project towards achieving consensus on a multi-modal project that meets the current and future needs of Allston and the region to increase economic development, quality of life, and environmental sustainability.

We hope that the issues below will be used to frame the June 27th Task Force meeting. We believe that each of the issues must be resolved and incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR). We would also like to have a regular schedule of Task Force meetings at least until the end of 2018 because of the proposed deadline for production of the FEIR by March, 2019.

Thank you.

Sincerely, The following members of the I-90 Allston Interchange Task Force:

Anthony D’Isidoro
Allston resident
Allston Civic Association

Jason Desrosiers
Manager of Community Building and Engagement
Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation

Paola Ferrer
Allston resident
Attorney

Harry Mattison
Allston resident
Board of Directors
Charles River Conservancy

Galen Mook
Allston resident
New Executive Director
MassBike

Alana Olsen
Allston resident

Jessica Robertson
Allston resident

Emma Walters
Allston resident
Executive Director
Allston Village Main Streets

Tom Francis
Interim Executive Director
MassBike

Laura Jasinsky
Executive Director
Charles River Conservancy

Wendy Landman
Executive Director
WalkBoston

Stacy Thompson
Executive Director
Liveable Streets Alliance

Cc: Mike O’Dowd, Project Manager
Sen. William Brownsberger, Second Suffolk and Middlesex District
Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Middlesex and Suffolk District
Sen. Joe Boncore, First Suffolk and Middlesex District
Sen. James Eldridge, Middlesex and Worcester District
Sen. Karen Spilka, Second Middlesex and Norfolk District
Sen. Michael Moore, Second Worcester District
Sen. Cynthia Creem, First Middlesex and Norfolk District
Rep. Carmile Gentile, 13th Middlesex District
Rep. Mary Keefe, 15th Worcester District
Rep. Frank Smizik, 15th Norfolk District
Rep. Jeffrey Roy, 10th Norfolk District
Rep. Brian Murray, 10th Worcester District
Rep. Jim O’Day, 14th Worcester District
Rep. Jennifer Benson, 37th Middlesex District
Rep. Jonathan Hecht, 29th Middlesex District
Rep. Ruth Balser, 12th Middlesex District
Rep. Kay Khan, 11th Middlesex District
Rep. Chris Walsh, 6th Middlesex District
Rep. David Linsky, 5th Middlesex District
Rep. Alice Peisch, 14th Norfolk District
Rep. Jay Livingstone, 8th Suffolk District
Rep. Michael Connolly, 26th Middlesex District
Rep. Michael Moran, 18th Suffolk District
Rep. Kevin Honan, 17th Suffolk District
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh
Mark Ciommo, Boston City Council
Michelle Wu, Boston City Council
Andreae Downs, Newton Councilor-at-large, Ward 5
Susan Albridght, Councilor-at-large, Ward 2
Alan Ciccone, Jr., Councilor-at-large Ward 1
Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Ward 1 Councilor
Neil Wishinski, Brookline Select Board
Benjamin Franco, Select Board
Nancy Heller, Select Board
Bernard Greene, Select Board
Heather Hamilton, Select Board
Cambridge Mayor McGovern
Vice Mayor Devereux
City Manager Louis DePasquale
Councilor Carlone
Councilor Zondervan
Joseph Aiello, Chair

MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board

Proposed agenda for I-90 Task Force meeting – June 27, 2018

Our preferred decisions are described below:

1.    West Station: Interim Station & Early Build

West Station should be built much sooner than the currently planned 2040, and an Interim West Station should be built during the earliest stages of the project. MassDOT should eliminate the proposed temporary railyard expansion that is part of their Phase 2 plan so that after the I-90 roads are constructed, new structures do not need to be removed to make room for West Station. The design and construction of West Station should include a commitment to full exploration of the Flip alternative, a center platform and early action on North/South walking, cycling and bus connections to the Station.

2.    Regional Mobility During Construction

There should be a commitment to continuous peak period two-track rail service on the Worcester Line during construction.  This is vital to providing regional mobility from the Worcester and Metro West regions.

3.    At-Grade Highway Replacement

MassDOT should move forward with the lower cost at-grade highway replacement alternative, saving tax and toll payers a minimum $100 million in construction costs and more costly lifetime maintenance costs that are likely to exceed the present $800,000/year. This alternative will also allow ped/bike connections to be made between Commonwealth Ave. and the riverfront.

4.    Improved Pedestrian & Cycling Public Realm

Allston Landing should be built in a community-friendly manner that reflects its proximity to neighborhoods and the Charles River and encourages sustainable mobility. Key elements of this are (1) commitments to “unchoke the throat” (improving walking and cycling with separated pathways along the Charles River and connections to the river across the corridor); (2) restoration of the river’s edge; and (3) building Wadsworth Path abutting the community.

5.   Early Action on 2-Track Grand Junction Line

The Grand Junction line will provide Worcester and Metro West commuters with direct access to jobs-rich Cambridge and Kendall Square and possibly North Station.  Regional equity, and sustainable urban mobility, requires a commitment to re-opening the Grand Junction to passenger rail as an early action item.

Comments on Proposed Mystic River Crossing and Head House Connection to Assembly Orange Line Station

Comments on Proposed Mystic River Crossing and Head House Connection to Assembly Orange Line Station

By |

May 31, 2018
Secretary and MBTA CEO Stephanie Pollack
Mass DOT

Re: Realizing the Proposed Mystic River Crossing and Head House Connection to Assembly Orange Line Station

Dear Secretary Pollack,

The undersigned organizations strongly request that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation work with the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to submit a BUILD application to fund the Proposed Mystic River Crossing and Head House Connection to Assembly Orange Line Station to USDOT by the deadline of July 19. In the event that the grant application is not feasible, we ask that MassDOT develop an alternative public‐private funding strategy.

This project would be a great candidate for this unique Federal funding program in that it has local and regional importance and support, has a recently completed basic design with cost estimates, and has private development funding that the Federal program values.

So that there is sufficient time to prepare first‐class competitive proposal, we would like to request a meeting with you or your staff as soon as possible to discuss this opportunity and help decide which agency would serve as the primary applicant. We have more than a dozen advocacy groups who have a vested interest to see this project built and are willing to assist with the grant application.

Regional transportation benefits of the proposed Mystic River crossing include:

  • Fills in a critical gap in walking or cycling to the north of Boston where the existing choices are indirect and via narrow sidewalks or on‐road along Routes 28 and 99.
  • Envisioned more than a decade ago with the first DCR feasibility study in 2008.
  • Will unlock high-capacity transit access to the Orange Line at Assembly for the residents of Everett, employees and customers to the Encore Boston Harbor Resort, Assembly Row and the Gateway Center, as well as future developments in the area.
  • Complements the recently announced Gateway City funding to design and complete the Northern Strand trail from Lynn to the Mystic River (which will terminate at the site until this bridge is constructed).
  • Will promote transit, walking and biking, thus reducing automobile trips and reducing vehicular traffic and therefore climate change impacts.
  • Will provide a much-needed connection between the adjacent communities of Somerville and Everett
  • Will complete the 20-mile Mystic Greenways network, connect dozens of North Shore cities with downtown Boston
  • Will close a critical gap in the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway, a boost for bicycle tourism for Massachusetts.
  • Unify both sides of the Mystic River DCR park system by Connecting Somerville’s recently rebuilt Sylvester Baxter Park, planned Draw 7 Park redesign and the in-progress path along the MBTA seawall to the new parks and paths along Everett’s waterfront

Please note that there is a webinar, “How to Compete for BUILD Transportation Grants – All Applicants” on Tuesday, June 5 from 2:00-4:00 PM EDT. Details: https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants/outreach https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/policy-initiatives/tiger/308656/build-vs-tiger-fact-sheet-042018-1049am.pdf

Lastly, we would like to reiterate the importance of public-private partnerships in funding this type of infrastructure. As Dante Ramos stated in his Boston Globe article from February 23, 2018:

“Even as everyone pays lip service to the need for carbon-free transportation — and even as we enjoy the fruits of past investments on the Charles River Esplanade and elsewhere — we’re treating tomorrow’s green infrastructure like an optional frill, to be funded by voluntary contributions from rich abutters.”

Three pedestrian bridges, similar in scale to this one, have been built or are in-progress along the Charles River (North Bank, South Bank, Fanny Appleton/Longfellow), totaling more than $50 million. We ask that the same investments be made in the Mystic River, a region with the highest population densities and environmental justice communities.

We look forward to hearing positively about this request and meeting your staff. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact the undersigned or any of the other organizations.

Thank you for your consideration of this important opportunity.

Alan Moore,
Co-President Friends of the Community Path, Somerville
617-455-2103, alan@pathfriends.org

Amber Christoffersen, Greenway Director
Mystic River Watershed Association
781-316-3438 amber.christoffersen@mysticriver.org

NOTES: Conceptual Design of the bridge: https://www.mass.gov/files/mystic-river-bicycle-and-pedestrian-crossing-presentation- 2-14-18.pdf

Co-Signing Organizations:
Bike to Sea
Border to Boston Rail Trail
Boston Cyclists Union
East Coast Greenway
Friends of the Community Path
Friends of the Grand Junction Path
Friends of the Mystic River
GreenRoots
A Greater Greener Boston
LivableStreets, Emerald Network
MassBike
Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission
Mystic River Watershed Association
Somerville Bicycle Committee
Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP)
WalkBoston

CC:

Luis Ramirez, MBTA
Jackie DeWolfe, MassDOT
Pete Sutton, MassDOT
Leo Roy, DCR
Dan Driscoll, DCR
Ruth Helfeld, DCR
Representative Christine Barber
Representative Mike Connolly
Senator Patricia Jehlen
Representative Denise Provost
Brad Rawson, City of Somerville
Mike Tremblay, City of Somerville
Matt McLaughlin, Somerville
Alderman Arn Franzen, City of Somerville
Tony Sousa, City of Everett
Tom Philbin, City of Everett
Jay Monty, City of Everett
John Ziemba, Mass. Gaming Commission
Joe Delaney, Mass. Gaming Commission
Robert DeSalvio, Encore Boston Harbor
Chris Gordon, Encore Boston Harbor
John Tocco, Encore Boston Harbor
Zoya Puri, Encore Boston Harbor

 

MA Vision Zero Coalition support for the Inman Square project

MA Vision Zero Coalition support for the Inman Square project

By |

May 21, 2018

To the Cambridge City Council,

We are writing to you today since we understand you will be conducting a hearing tonight that involves discussion on the removal of 4 or 5 trees from Inman Square, to facilitate the Inman Square road design for transportation safety.

The goals of the Inman Square redesign are to make the square, specifically the large intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge Streets, safer for people biking and walking — the most vulnerable road users. This is in line with the Cambridge Vision Zero policy, and is particularly timely as a  response to the dangers highlighted by the fatal crash that took the life of Amanda Phillips in June of 2016, while she was riding her bike away from Inman Square.

The Vision Zero Coalition is working to make Massachusetts safer for all road users and we believe that the proposed changes to Inman Square will make that complicated and busy intersection much safer for people walking and biking.  In addition, the plan responds to the requests of local residents and business owners to create a more attractive and connected Vellucci Plaza to better serve businesses. We believe that the plan now makes the most of the opportunity for a large re-construction project, to fix the traffic and safety operations of Inman Square, and provide an opportunity to revitalize struggling businesses in the Square.

We sincerely hope that the objections to the project stemming from the loss of 4-5 trees (which will be transplanted and/or replaced) will not delay these important safety improvements any longer.

Trees are an extremely important part of the  urban fabric and contribute to pedestrian comfort and safety, and our organizations advocate for trees as an important element of streetscape design. Trees are also important contributors to environmental benefits. As transportation is the number one contributor to greenhouse gases in Massachusetts, it is imperative that we provide people with transportation options that get them out of single occupancy vehicles. The amount of carbon that a tree can sequester is moot if we can get hundreds, even thousands, more people out of cars and onto their feet, transit and bicycles. While  Cambridge boasts one of

the highest percentages of people who travel by walking, transit and biking, that percentage could be much higher if the City is safer and more attractive for people using those modes.

While we regret the loss of four to five trees, making progress on safety,  mode shift, and the continued vitality of Inman Square outweighs that loss and we believe the project should move forward as soon as possible.  We are pleased that the designers and City staff have found a way to plant even more trees than are being removed.

We look forward to seeing the re-construction of Inman Square get underway, and to the safer, more convenient and more vibrant Square that will result.

Best regards,

Wendy Landman, WalkBoston

Stacy Thompson, LivableStreets Alliance

Becca Wolfson, Boston Cyclists Union

Members and leaders of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition