Anderson Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation Project Boston/Cambridge

Transcription

1 Anderson Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation Project Boston/Cambridge MEPA Meeting, EEA#14702 Wednesday, March 2, :30 PM Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School 100 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA Rendering by: Walt Baranowski Brown, Richardson & Rowe

2 Anderson Memorial Bridge Key Plan Anderson Memorial Bridge JFK Street Charles River Harvard Stadium North Harvard St. Weeks Pedestrian Bridge

3 Existing Bridge 100-year old three-span earth filled concrete arch 440 feet long Two 10-foot lanes each way 10-foot sidewalks on each side of the bridge Built in 1913 Context and Historic Significance of Bridge Listed on State and National Registers of Historic Places Integral component of historic Charles River Basin

4 Existing Condition

5 Cultural Resources Entire Area has Historic Significance Charles River Basin National Register Historic District Anderson Memorial Bridge Area buildings and structures JFK Memorial Park Rehabilitation must meet the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties This is is the site of the Great Bridge (opened in 1662) which was considered the first bridge of consequence built in America.

6 Bridge Alternatives Alternatives Considered: No Build New Concrete Arches New Superstructure over Rehabilitated Arches Rehabilitate Arches Preferred Alternative was Rehabilitation of Existing Arches Most Cost Effective Alternative Meets User Needs Protects Historic Resources

7 Traffic Layout Options Traffic Options Considered: Two lanes southbound on bridge and one lane northbound with: all turns allowed at JFK/Memorial Drive turn prohibitions at JFK/Memorial Drive Two lanes northbound on bridge and one lane southbound with: all turns allowed at JFK/Memorial Drive turn prohibitions at JFK/Memorial Drive Southbound left turn prohibited at JFK/Memorial Drive Closing Soldiers Field Road westbound on-ramp to Traffic (except emergency use); Note: All alternatives included 5 foot-wide bike lanes on bridge. Preferred Alternative: Two lanes northbound on bridge and one lane southbound. This alternative enhances safety, minimizes vehicular conflicts at intersections and provides cross section continuity along the North Harvard Street corridor.

8 Traffic Improvements 3 Traffic Lanes (2 northbound / 1 southbound) Addition of Bikes Lanes on bridge to match North Harvard Street Signal and Intersection Improvements Elimination of delta islands to improve pedestrian safety Prohibiting left turns at the JFK/Memorial Drive intersection will eliminate conflicts and improves safety at the intersection

9 Existing Cross Section Existing Conditions 60 Foot Bridge Width 40 Foot Roadway Width (4 lanes) 2 10 foot Wide Sidewalks (For Pedestrians and Bicyclists) Volumes 1655/1810 VPH (AM/PM) 145/222 BPH (AM/PM) 355/877 PPH (AM/PM)

10 Proposed Cross Section LOOKING NORTH Existing Conditions 60 Feet Bridge Width 40 Feet Roadway Width (4 lanes) 20 Feet for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Proposed 60 Feet Bridge Width 31.5 Feet for Vehicles (3 lanes) 28.5 Feet for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

11 Alternatives for Bike and Pedestrian Accommodations Feasibility Study Conducted by FST to evaluate Underpass Options Alternatives 1A, 1B, 3A, and 3B - concrete underpasses through the approach walls Reduces conflict between bicycles and pedestrians and vehicular traffic but has undesired effect of Adverse Effect to historical bridge and parkland (including loss of stairway in Alternatives 1A & B) Increased impacts to bank, BLSF, Riverfront Area, and potentially LUW Loss of parkland Anticipated increased cost and schedule delays

12 Underpass through Approach Wall (Boston Side)

13 Underpass through Approach Wall (Cambridge Side)

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15 Alternatives for Bike and Pedestrian Accommodations Alternatives 2 and 4 - boardwalk options Reduces conflict between bicycles and pedestrians and vehicular traffic but has undesired effect of Adverse Effect to historic district Increased impacts to River and LUW Loss of navigable waterway and increased conflict for boaters Anticipated increased cost and schedule delays

16 Boardwalk through Arch

17 Boardwalk through Arch CROSS SECTION THRU EXTERIOR ARCH

18 Alternatives for Bike and Pedestrian Accommodations No Build Alternative would not address recognized conflicts between multiple users. MassDOT made the decision to expand the project scope to include the intersections and bicycle and pedestrian improvements Preferred Alternative offers at grade improvements. Accommodates multiple uses and improves the safety of bicycle and pedestrian users Avoids increased negative impacts to resources regulated under WPA, Chapter 91, ACOE, and USCG Avoids an Adverse Effect to historic bridge and district Is consistent with MassDOT s principals of Context Sensitive Design Has significantly less negative impacts to the adjacent parkland and the Charles River and associated resource areas

19 MEMORIAL DR Proposed Improvements Memorial Drive/JFK Street N JFK STREET CHARLES RIVER WELD BOAT HOUSE Prohibit left turns Both Memorial Drive left turns JFK Street southbound left turns North Harvard northbound lefts Modify bridge cross section to include bike lanes, 1 southbound travel lane, and 2 northbound travel lanes Implement concurrent pedestrian phasing and LPI, rather than exclusive phasing used today Modify traffic signal timing and phasing and upgrade equipment

20 Proposed Improvements Soldiers Field Road/North Harvard Street NORTH HARVARD ST OFF-RAMP ON-RAMP ON-RAMP OFF-RAMP SOLDIERS FIELD RD N CHARLES RIVER Modify bridge cross section to include bike lanes, 1 southbound lane, and 2 northbound lanes Add turn lane from Soldiers Field Road eastbound off-ramp onto North Harvard St northbound Improve corner radius and eliminate raised Delta islands for enhanced pedestrian mobility Modify signal timing, phasing, and upgrade traffic signal to include leading pedestrian intervals

21 Proposed Improvements Soldiers Field Road/North Harvard Street

22 Proposed Improvements Soldiers Field Road/North Harvard Street

23 Improved Pedestrian Access Existing Proposed

24 Stormwater Improvements Existing roadway drainage directly discharges to the Charles River Opportunity to improve water quality and minimize impacts of stormwater runoff Address objectives of: MassDOT Impaired Waterbodies Program Lower the Charles River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan DEP Stormwater Management Standards

25 Stormwater Management (Best Management Practices/BMP s) JFK Street PART PLAN CAMBRIDGE SIDE WELD WELD BOATHOUSE BOATHOUSE Proposed Outlet and Stone Apron Deep Sump Catch Basins with hoods Deep Sump Manholes with hoods Subsurface Infiltration System Leaching structures Replace outfall New pipe, outlet treatment & stone apron

26 Landscape Restoration Landscape Benefits Restore park landscape after bridge rehabilitation in manner consistent with goals of DCR s Master Plan for the Charles River Basin.

27 Trees in Cambridge

28 Trees in Boston

29 Landscape Restoration N Plant new deciduous shade trees to replace trees that need to be removed in order to rehabilitate bridge. Protect trees to remain. Aerate soil. Plant new trees along path. Replace paths damaged during construction. Plant new trees to one side of bridge. Protect Plane Trees along Memorial Drive. Protect 3 Lindens near boathouse

30 MEPA ENF Thresholds Tree removal - more than 5 trees with a diameter at breast height of 14 inches or more State permits required and impacts to Riverfront Area that exceed 0.5 acres

31 Charles River Charles River Environmental Impacts PROJECT LIMIT OF WORK TEMP & PERM IMPACTS, TYP PLAN PROJECT LIMITS

32 LEGEND: PERM ALT. TEMP ALT. LUW TEMP ALT. BLSF Environmental Impacts TEMP ALT. 25 RFA Charles River Charles River PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS (BOSTON SIDE)

33 LEGEND: PERM ALT. Environmental Impacts TEMP ALT. LUW TEMP ALT. 25 RFA TEMP ALT. BLSF WELD BOATHOUSE Charles River PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS (CAMBRIDGE SIDE)

34 LEGEND: PERM ALT. TEMP ALT. LUW 25 FT RFA TEMP ALT. BLSF OWH (EL. 2.2) BLSF (EL. 4.0) 100 FT RFA TEMP ALT. 25 RFA

35 Summary of Environmental Impacts Permanent Alterations required for: Protection of bridge abutment Outlet and stone apron for outfall Temporary Alterations: LUW required for restoration of stone along riverbank 25 RFA required for loam and seeding BLSF resetting and supplementing displaced and missing riverfront stones

36 List of Anticipated Permits MA Wetlands Protection Act Order of Conditions (Boston and Cambridge) Section 106 Federal Historic Review MWRA 8(m) Permit ACOE Category 2 Programmatic General Permit Required because the outfall consists of new construction below ordinary high water MA DCR Construction Access Permit

37 Summary of Project Benefits Rehabilitate deteriorated historic bridge structure Improve traffic intersections Provide bike lanes across bridge and improve bike and pedestrian movement along river corridor Stormwater Improvements Landscaping and park restoration of impacted areas consistent with the Charles River Basin Master Plan

38 Project Contact Information Tracy Osimboni, MassDOT Highway Division Project Manager: Stephanie Boundy, Public Outreach Coordinator:

39 MEPA PROCESS Comments due to MEPA on Friday, March 4, Secretary Certificate issued on March 11, Written comments on the ENF should be sent to: Secretary Richard K. Sullivan, Jr. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Attn: MEPA Office Deidre Buckley, EEA No Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA Written comments on the ENF should be sent to: MassDOT, Highway Division Environmental Services Attn: Beth Suedmeyer 10 Park Plaza, Room 4260 Boston, MA Secretary s Certificate

40 Discussion