3:00 PM, State Transportation Building, Conference Room 4, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
Steve Olanoff, Chair (Westwood) called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM. Members and guests attending the meeting introduced themselves. (For attendance list, see page 6)
On December 20, the MPO approved TIP Amendment 3, as well as a work program for Part 2 of an HOV Lane study. MPO staff presented Part I of the HOV study on screening regional highways for possible preferential lane implementation, conducted for the MPO. Staff recently reported to the MPO on Community Transportation Technical Study program studies where specific local traffic problems were analyzed and solutions were recommended to the city or town. These studies are part of the presentation today.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes. The December 12, 2012, minutes were approved unanimously, with one abstention.
The goal of this project is to expand South Station. The project includes planning and engineering work. The expanded South Station would be beneficial for rail service both in and outside the MPO region.The project will include planning for an expanded number of tracks, platforms, and waiting areas. The scope of the project will include creation of railroad layover storage. It will also include enhanced streetscape design and the development of commercial and residential space over the existing South Station. The project will partner with South Station and the South Boston neighborhood to provide for best outcomes.
M. Ciborowski described the project area with a graphic. He then discussed the projects main issues:
South Station is congested and needs added rail capacity to meet expected growth
South Station and the area need to be served by a sustainable roadway
The plan should provide for re-opening Dorchester Avenue and creating a Harborwalk extension
The plan envisions track expansion to the east of existing tracks. The largest obstacle to be addressed in the project is the removal of the USPS Post Office along the Fort Point Channel to allow for that.
South Station was opened in 1899 with 28 tracks. Gradually, the USPS bought much of the area where the current Post Office facility exists. Now there are 13 tracks. After years of neglect, the station was almost demolished in the late 1970s but the MBTA bought South Station and undertook a major redevelopment. Demand for rail service has grown to the point where there is major expansion needed today. To that end, the MassDOT was awarded a Federal Rail Administration-funded High Speed Passenger Inter City Rail Grant which includes planning and environmental and engineering work for this project.
The study activity includes:
Civic engagement
Looking at transportation issues and rail operational analysis
Environmental impact analysis and review
Preliminary engineering and architectural designs
Review and analysis of joint development
Cost and scheduling
Analysis of the relocation of the USPS General Mail Facility (GMF)
Activity that has been conducted over the past six months includes:
Open houses
Working with Amtrak and the MBTA to understand issues
Review of traffic and passenger counts in the area for baseline traffic survey purposes
Environmental analysis; an Environmental Notification Form will be filed later this year
Looking at layouts and egress analysis
Reviewing other major US city rail facilities, including those undergoing development activities
Reviewing the replacement site facilities for the USPS
Examining potential alternatives for midday layover facilities
The project personnel are working closely with Amtrak and BRA and other major partners to make sure all the needs of all involved are met.
The status of air rights includes the 40 story Heinz Development tower which currently has its environmental and FAA permits. The existing faηade of South Station will remain. The planning completion date for the project is June 2015. This will include three components: planning, environment and 30% design.
Conceptual preliminary artistic drawings of the project were presented depicting the completed project. Items noted in the drawing included the potential development area along the Fort Point Channel and the streetscape along a newly reopened Dorchester Avenue, which reconnects South Boston and the Financial District.
More information on the project is available at the MassDOT website, MassDOT.gov.
John Businger expressed concern over what he viewed as a lack of attention paid to the North-South Rail Link by the South Station Expansion Project. He asked why it is not included in the analysis in light of the support of many residents and leaders?
Several members felt that current planning should address the Rail Link more directly. In addition, they questioned the projected costs of the Rail Link and felt they were too high. Barry Steinberg questioned why the Rail Link was not depicted on the site map and questioned whether care was being made not to build barriers that would block the future development of the Rail Link. He suggested that the plans include a drawn line to indicate the proposed alignment of the Rail Link.
M. Ciborowski responded that even though the scope of the project does not include the North-South Rail Link, nothing is being done from a planning perspective that would preclude the possibility of building a North-South Rail Link in the future.
J. Businger questioned the states coordination with the Northeast Corridor project and whether Massachusetts officials were advocating strongly enough for the future needs of rail transportation in the Northeast. Several members said that they would like to see more forward vision in the states planning for rail and expressed fears that Massachusetts is missing opportunities while other regions are planning large scale rail projects. They underscored the view that there is a need for a direct rail connection through Boston to points north.
M. Ciborowski replied that Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration have been extensively involved in the review of the South Station project which is considered a keystone of the Northeast Corridor.
M. Ciborowski reiterated that even though the scope of this project does not include the North-South Rail Link, nothing is being done to preclude its possibility in the future. He replied that project planning is careful not to produce products that would preclude future possible construction of the North-South Rail Link.
M. Ciborowski explained that the project is seeking to accommodate the largest number of trains in the design. In addition to sites in the immediate South Station area, Beacon Park is among those areas being reviewed as a possible layover area.
Some concerns were expressed about potential flooding and the rise in sea level.
M. Ciborowski said that these concerns are being discussed with the appropriate state and federal agencies.
In response to a question from Laura Weiner, M. Ciborowski said that the timeline for the completion of the plan for development will be June, 2015.
In response to a question posed by Frank DeMasi on the alignment of routes and the location of refueling and layover considerations, M. Ciborowski said that ideas regarding the location of station support facilities and operational design factors such as these are still in the infancy stages and that many options are still being considered. Some of the issues still being examined relate to finding a refueling and layover area, the relocation of USPS facility and the alignment of tracks approaching South Station.
Seth Asante described the recent Community Technical Assistance studies conducted in four municipalities. The theme of the studies often relates to safety and operations, bicycle and pedestrian issues, livability issues and other traffic operations issues.
In Winchester, travel modeling was used to determine the best lane channelization and to determine how land use changes impact the traffic in downtown.
In Revere, mitigation of traffic congestion on Crescent Avenue was the main objective. In this study, local lane channelizing and traffic signal analysis was reviewed. MPO staff proposed short-term improvements in channeling, painting and signage, which were implemented. A long-term recommendation proposed converting Winthrop Avenue into a two-way street, signalizing an intersection, and expanding lane width with replacement of a bus stop.
Traffic mitigation concerns in the Swampscott study addressed poor traffic circulation at the intersection of Monument Ave, Burrill St. and Route 129. The intersection is adjacent to Linscott Park. Monument Avenue is a National Historical District which makes major changes subject to considerable additional review. Short-term improvements in painting and signage were implemented as a result of the study. Long-term recommendations included the installation of a roundabout and signalization and lane channelization.
In Danvers, different types of pedestrian crossing signals were reviewed for effectiveness in alerting traffic at intersections with rail-trail crossings. An improved type of flashing signal will be installed at the rail-trail crossing.
There was none.
The Membership Committee met in January, but will present new wording prior to the February meeting. A vote to accept any changes will be done at the following meeting. The documents will be circulated prior to the meetings.
There was none.
There were none.
A motion to adjourn was made and seconded at 4:25 PM. The motion carried.
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BLANK CELL |
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MassDOT* |
Calli Cenizal |
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MassDOT - Office of Transportation Planning* |
Mathew Ciborowski |
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MassDOT - Aeronautics Division* |
Steven Rawding |
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BRA* |
John Read |
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Joint Legislative Transportation Committee |
Amanda Richard (Sen. McGee) |
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MassRides |
Catherine Paquette |
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Arlington* |
Laura Wiener |
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Boston* |
Tom Kadzis |
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Canton |
William Friel |
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Lexington* |
Richard Canale |
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Marlborough |
Walter Bonin |
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Millis |
Dom D'Eramo |
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Wellesley |
Frank DeMasi |
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Westwood |
Steve Olanoff |
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American Council of Engineering Companies |
Thomas Daley |
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Association for Public Transportation |
Barry M Steinberg |
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Boston Society of Civil Engineers |
Topher Smith |
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Eastern Massachusetts Freight Rail Coalition |
Jenna Bernabe |
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Massachusetts Bus Association |
Chris Anzuoni |
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MassBike |
Chris Porter; P. Armstrong |
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MoveMassachusetts |
John Seward |
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National Corridors Initiative |
John Businger |
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Riverside Neighborhood Association |
Marilyn Wellons |
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WalkBoston |
John McQueen |
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Guests |
BLANK CELL |
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Ed Lowney |
BLANK CELL |
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CTPS Staff |
BLANK CELL |
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Pam Wolfe |
Efi Pagitsas |
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David Fargen |
Seth Asante |
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Dan Amstutz |
BLANK CELL |
(* Non-voting members)