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Presented by:Lisa Petraglia

Photo: David L.Ryan, Boston GlobePhoto: MTA

Environmental Impacts as a Result of the MTA and the CA/T Project

Study PurposeTo document the environmental benefits related to the completed CA/T

Project and other MTA investments

Photo: MTA Photo: MTA

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I-93 Central Artery

Leonard Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge

Storrow Drive Connector Tunnel and Bridge

I-90 Fort Point Channel Tunnel

I-90 Ted Williams Tunnel

I-90 Massachusetts Turnpike Extension

Callahan & Sumner Tunnel Ramps &Lanes

Logan Airport ramps

Rt. 1A McClellan Hwy

Overview of Projects

Other Important Contributions

•Public Safety Services for Boston Area Highways

•Noise Abatement

•Route 146 Interchange (Turnpike Exit 10A)

•I-90 Improvements West of Route 128

• Transportation facility changes and land-use impacts (turnpike extensions, CA/T)

[ An Analysis of the MTA: Its Impact on MA & A Comparative Analysis, Donahue Institute, 1996

On Top of the Big Dig: Economic Analysis of Urban Parks Created by Boston CA/T Project, Tajima, 2002, Tufts Univ.

Real Estate Impacts of the MTA & the CA/T Project, EDR Group, 2006, Vol. 2]• Transportation Performance Improvements

Economic Impact for the Boston Metro area

[Economic Impacts of the MTA & Related Projects, EDR Group, 2006, Vol. 1]

Prior MTA - CA/T Project Studies

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• I-93 Central Artery• I-90 Massachusetts

Turnpike Extension• Harbor Crossings:

Callahan, Sumner & Ted Williams Tunnels

• Storrow Drive and Charles River Crossings

• Downtown Traffic

Traffic Volume & Time Savings

Comparison of VHT Changes with Original Projections

-81%2171,120Storrow Drive at Leverett Circle

-68%7,55823,758Central Artery

changePost Opening

2003-2004Pre-Opening 1995Average Daily VHT on Expressways

Actual

-46%1,2062,251Storrow Drive at West End

-42%15,84827,154Expressway Central Area

changeBuild 2010No Build 2010Average Daily VHT on Expressways

Projected in EIS Document

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Emissions Impact• FSEIS study projected impact with and without CA/T for 2010

• The improved traffic flow reduces congestion and idling/acceleration events that lead to increases in mobile source emissions

• Better allocation between local streets and highway/tunnels also helped to reduce emissions

Emissions Impact

-2123

-124 -33 -216

-2500

-2000

-1500

-1000

-500

0

CO HC NOx PM10

tons

Emissions Impact• For 2005 VOC emissions in the CA/T study area are

lower by 14% as a result of the improvements –based on a recent analysis* by Central Artery/Tunnel Project staff & Central Transportation Planning staff.

Emissions Impact Validated

Publication forthcoming Spring 2006

This result (equivalent to 166 fewer tons) is consistent with the year 2010 HC emission reduction improvements estimated in the FSEIS.

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Since 1999 -• Current adoption rate of 68 % (responsible for 55 % of the

average hourly toll transactions)• Recent evaluation of the Allston/Brighton Toll Plaza has

improved peak period avg. speed up to the allowable speed limit.

Turnpike-wide Implementation of FAST LANE

Emissions Benefit fromFAST LANE

• For the Allston/Brighton Interchange emission rates during the peak hour period are lower as a result of FAST LANE when compared to manned lane transactions

FAST LANE 's Pollution Benefit

-50.0%-45.0%-40.0%-35.0%-30.0%-25.0%-20.0%-15.0%-10.0%-5.0%0.0%

CO Nox VOC

Dai

ly P

eak

Per

iod

Red

uctio

n

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• Eliminates traffic-related noise and making proximal neighborhoods 25 -33 % quieter depending on time of day

• Greater subjective benefit of less noise pollution to residents and businesses-especially in North End

Re-routing Traffic Underground

• Pre-Central Artery construction required moving 29 miles of assorted utilities & allowed for streamlining-modernizing the network

Impact on Utilities Network Development

Before After

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• Separating sewer from storm-water influents

• Emergency spill control 24-7 through CA’T’sOperations Control Complex

• “Stormceptor” allows for total suspended solids to be less then 20%

• Velocity dissipators at Millers River

Storm-water Improvements

Conduit circa 1905 Stormceptor

• Removal of highway has made proximal neighborhoods more livable and enjoyable

• There is a privacy gain for residents as well as a better view across the cityscape

• Commercial & residential property in the vicinity has already begun to appreciate due to highway demolition & anticipated RFK Greenway –documented at almost $1 bil.

Visual Impact

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Re-knitting Neighborhoods and Entry Points

•Neighborhoods previously isolated from rest of the city such as the Seaport District and North End are once again connected

•The rest of the city will be more open to entry from these neighborhoods as well as the harbor

• Elevated highway was a physical and psychological barrier, discouraging pedestrians to walk through

• Areas between neighborhoods will be easily walkable• The Freedom Trail, which draws approx. 3 million visitors per year will no

longer be disconnected

Pedestrian Access

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• Plans for 320 additional acres of parks & landscaped spaces from Charlestown to South Bay to East Boston to the Boston Harbor Islands

• Parks Include:

– 21 acres of parks and streetscape above the Central Artery thru downtown Boston envisioned as the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway;

– The Paul Revere Park in Charlestown near the Charles River Dam opened in July 1999;

– The 2.5 acre Nashua Street Park along the Charles River near Leverett Circle & the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital is complete;

– North Point Park along the New Charles River Basin will open in the summer of 2006;

– 18-acre Bremen Street Park in East Boston will open in the summer of 2006

Surface Parks & Open Space

New & Improved ParksNew and Improved Parks

Charlestown North End

“Lost Half-Mile”

Parks on both sides of the Charles River, connecting the Esplanade to Boston Harbor

“Lost Half-Mile”

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• 121 acres of park, beaches, trails, landscaping and visitor center with new docking facility for Boston Harbor Ferry – made possible with approx. 3.5 mil cy of clay-dirt-gravel excavated from the project & $180 million.

Spectacle Island – from leaching land-fill to BHI National Park System

Source: masspike.com

Conclusions

After a unique and sizeable undertaking the completed CA/T project has produced environmental benefits that have…

Outfitted Boston with capacity to handle current & future traffic more efficiently

Made the environs of the former alignment more enjoyable – quieter, cleaner, visually unencumbered & greater privacy for abutting residences by depressing the artery

Effectively eliminated congestion in the downtown & with FAST LANE’scontribution along the entire MassTurnpike – lower vehicle emissions are contributing to building better air quality for the Metro area and all of MA

Invested more broadly in the city’s sewer/stormwater management apart from the project

Developed or improved parks & habitats for Boston’s residents & visitors to enjoy – including re-use of capped land-fills.

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Prepared for:Massachusetts Turnpike Authority

Presented by:Lisa Petraglia

Photo: David L.Ryan, Boston GlobePhoto: MTA