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

Environmental Impacts as a Result of the
MTA and the CA/T Project
Presented by:
Lisa Petraglia
Photo: David L.Ryan, Boston Globe
Photo: MTA
Study Purpose
To document the environmental benefits related to the completed CA/T
Project and other MTA investments
Photo: MTA
Photo: MTA
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Overview of Projects
Rt. 1A
McClellan Hwy
Leonard Zakim
Bunker Hill Bridge
Storrow Drive
Connector Tunnel
and Bridge
Other Important
Contributions
Logan Airport
ramps
Callahan & Sumner
Tunnel Ramps &Lanes
I-93 Central
Artery
•Public Safety Services for Boston
Area Highways
•Noise Abatement
•Route 146 Interchange (Turnpike
Exit 10A)
•I-90 Improvements West of
Route 128
I-90 Fort Point
Channel Tunnel
I-90 Ted Williams
Tunnel
I-90 Massachusetts
Turnpike Extension
Prior MTA - CA/T Project Studies
• 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
Î Economic Impact for the Boston Metro area
[Economic Impacts of the MTA & Related Projects, EDR Group, 2006, Vol. 1]
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Traffic Volume & Time Savings
• I-93 Central Artery
• I-90 Massachusetts
Turnpike Extension
• Harbor Crossings:
Callahan, Sumner &
Ted Williams Tunnels
• Storrow Drive and
Charles River
Crossings
• Downtown Traffic
Comparison of VHT Changes with
Original Projections
Projected in EIS Document
Average Daily VHT on Expressways
No Build 2010
Build 2010
change
Expressway Central Area
27,154
15,848
-42%
Storrow Drive at West End
2,251
1,206
-46%
Pre-Opening 1995
Post Opening
2003-2004
change
23,758
7,558
-68%
1,120
217
-81%
Actual
Average Daily VHT on Expressways
Central Artery
Storrow Drive at Leverett Circle
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Emissions Impact
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
0
-500
tons
CO
-124
-33
-216
HC
NOx
PM10
-1000
-1500
-2000
-2500
-2123
Emissions Impact Validated
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.
This result (equivalent to
166 fewer tons) is
consistent with the year
2010 HC emission reduction
improvements estimated in
the FSEIS.
Publication forthcoming Spring 2006
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Turnpike-wide Implementation of
FAST LANE
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.
Emissions Benefit from
FAST 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
Daily Peak Period Reduction
FAST LANE 's Pollution Benefit
0.0%
-5.0%
CO
Nox
VOC
-10.0%
-15.0%
-20.0%
-25.0%
-30.0%
-35.0%
-40.0%
-45.0%
-50.0%
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Re-routing Traffic Underground
• 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 businessesespecially in North End
Impact on Utilities
Network Development
• Pre-Central Artery construction required moving 29 miles of
assorted utilities & allowed for streamlining-modernizing the
network
Before
After
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Storm-water Improvements
Conduit circa 1905
• Separating sewer from
storm-water influents
• Emergency spill control
24-7 through CA’T’s
Operations Control
Complex
• “Stormceptor” allows for
total suspended solids to
be less then 20%
• Velocity dissipators at
Millers River
Stormceptor
Visual Impact
• 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.
7
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
Pedestrian Access
• 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
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Surface Parks & Open Space
•
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
New &
andImproved
ImprovedParks
Parks
New
Charlestown
North End
Parks on both sides of the
Charles River, connecting the
Esplanade to Boston Harbor
“Lost Half-Mile”
“Lost Half-Mile”
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Spectacle Island – from leaching land-fill
to BHI National Park System
• 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.
Source: masspike.com
Conclusions
After a unique and sizeable undertaking the completed CA/T project has
produced environmental benefits that have…
9 Outfitted Boston with capacity to handle current & future traffic more efficiently
9 Made the environs of the former alignment more enjoyable – quieter, cleaner,
visually unencumbered & greater privacy for abutting residences by depressing
the artery
9Effectively eliminated congestion in the downtown & with FAST LANE’s
contribution along the entire MassTurnpike – lower vehicle emissions are
contributing to building better air quality for the Metro area and all of MA
9 Invested more broadly in the city’s sewer/stormwater management apart from
the project
9Developed 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: MTA
Photo: David L.Ryan, Boston Globe
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