South Boston Waterfront

Sustainable Transportation Plan

Community Meeting
Tynan School
December 8, 2014

DRAFT

Please Note:
This detailed presentation of the DRAFT recommendations of the South Boston Waterfront
Sustainable Transportation Plan was made on December 8, 2014 at the Tynan School in South
Boston. The presentation was followed up with questions and discussion among the meeting
participants. At the close of the meeting, participants requested a copy of the presentation to be
able to further study the DRAFT recommendations. Please be advised that another meeting that
will present similar content will be held on December 18, 2014 at the Boston Convention &
Exhibition Center and will provide another opportunity to comment on the Plan.

DRAFT

South Boston Waterfront

Vision
TheSustainableTransportationPlanseekstorealizethefulltransformationoftheSouth
BostonWaterfronttoadistinctandvibrantneighborhoodwithintheCityofBoston.A
neighborhoodthat:
Supportsabroadcrosssectionoftheregion'seconomicdrivers:

Traditionalmaritimeandindustrialtrades

Innovativeeconomy/incubatorbusinesses

Financial,legal,andtechnologysectors

Conventionandtourismbusinessandrelatedservices

Artsandculture

ProvidesresidentialspaceandqualityoflifeforadiversityofBoston'sresidents.
Isaworldrenowned,memorable,andaccessibledestinationfortourists,conventioneers,
andothervisitors,alike.

DRAFT

South Boston Waterfront

Sustainable Transportation Plan Goals
Develop a Sustainable Transportation Plan that supports the 21st
Century South Boston Waterfront area and:
Improvesaccessandmobilityforall
Supportseconomicgrowthandvitality
Reinforcessustainablepoliciesand
programs
Enhancesthepublicrealm
Contributesenvironmentalandhealth
benefits
Investssmartlyforthefuture

DRAFT

Study Area and Impact Area

Key Corridors

FARRAGUTROAD

EastWest
NorthSouth
DayBoulevard&
Broadway
TruckRoutes
Gateways

BROADWAY

DRAFT

ThousandSquareFeet(Bldg.)

South Boston Waterfront Forecasted Development

Growth (2013 to 2035)

51MSF
55,000
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0

41MSF
24MSF

2013

2035

Additional17MSF(72%)by2035
Additional27MSF(112%)atBuildout

DRAFT

Buildout

Characterizing Future Transportation Needs

EXISTINGPEAKPERIODPERSON
TRIPSBYMODE(2013)
84,300TRIPS

+63%

(5,100Trips)

FORECASTEDPEAKPERIODPERSON
TRIPSBYMODE(BASELINE2035)*
137,500TRIPS
Bike,4%

Bike,3%

Vehicle,36%

Vehicle,46%

Walk,24%

Walk,33%

(45,800Trips)

Transit,27%

WalkandBikemodesharesestimatedbasedonBostondatafrom
AmericanCommuterSurveyReports20082012

DRAFT

*Projecteddemandsnotaccountingforplanalternatives

Transit,27%

Key Transportation Themes Emerging

Expand Access to and Capacity of Transit
Enhance Pedestrian Environment and Ensure Connectivity
Improve Operations and Safety on the Local Street Network
Improve Access to/from Regional Highway System, for Trucks
and Private Vehicles
Complete Bicycle Connections

DRAFT

Recommendations (Draft)
Transportation issues,
opportunities, and needs and
formulation of these
recommendations evolved from:
Thorough review of data
Compilation of concerns and
desired outcomes identified by
key project stakeholders
Review of practices and
innovations elsewhere
Testing and screening of many
ideas and strategies

DRAFT

Recommendations (Draft)
Organized by:
Immediate/Short-term 0 to 3 Years
Medium-term
3 to 10 Years
Long-term
10 to 20 Years
Timelines will ultimately be dependent
on priority setting and funding

DRAFT

10

Recommendations (Draft)
Addressing Needs:
Expand Community Connections
Improve Regional Access
Enhance Internal Waterfront Mobility
Implement Supportive Management
Strategies and Policies
Maintain State of Good Repair

DRAFT

11

Expand Community Connections

Transit
Pedestrian
Bicycle
Local Street Operations

DRAFT

Expand Community Connections:

Key Issues
Transit to/from South
Boston
Poor connections
between fastest growing
parts of South Boston
and Waterfront.
Services have not kept
pace with growth and
evolving demands.
Weekend/evening
services are limited.

DRAFT

13

Expand Community Connections:

Key Issues
Transit to/from South
Boston
Improved connections from
Broadway and Andrew
Stations could:
Capture the underserved
residential populations in
the vicinity of these
stations, and

South
Station

Broadway

Serve to off-load Silver

Line demands in nearterm.
Andrew

DRAFT

14

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Access to Broadway Station
Short-term
New bus (consolidated
shuttle route): Broadway to
South Station via A Street

DRAFT

15

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Access to Andrew Station
Short-term
New bus route Andrew to
Silver Line Way via D Street
Requires bus contraflow
access at Old Colony and
between W. 1st and 2nd
Streets
Broadway

Andrew

DRAFT

16

Expand Community Connections:

Key Issues
Transit to/from Back Bay
Underserved markets to the
Waterfront:
Trips from the Bay Back
Areas served by the
Orange Line from the
south, and
Green Line from the west

DRAFT

17

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Cross Town Access
Medium-term
New Bus Route:
Back Bay/Broadway/Boston
Marine Industrial Park
New Bus Route:
Ruggles to Waterfront via
Melnea Cass and South
Boston Bypass Road

DRAFT

18

Expand Community Connections:

Key Issue
Pedestrian Connections
Projected growth in walk/bike trips
(2035 AM + PM Peak Periods)

Pedestrians represent 90% of this

demand

DRAFT

19

Expand Community Connections:

Key Issues
Improve Pedestrian
Environment/Public Realm:
Gaps or inconsistencies exist
where development projects come
together.
Pedestrian routes from inland to
the water and Harborwalk are just
beginning to evolve.
Phasing of pedestrian/streetscape
improvements on critical east-west
and north-south streets important

DRAFT

20

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Seaport District Pedestrian Environment/ Public Realm
Short-term

NorthernAvenue

Northern Avenue and Seaport

Boulevard (w. of East Service Rd.)
Improve Silver Line Courthouse
Station

SeaportBoulevard

Medium to Long-term
WTCAvenue

Rehabilitate Northern Avenue Bridge

Enhance World Trade Center
Avenue/WTC Station connectivity

SummerStreet

DRAFT

21

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Fort Point District Pedestrian Environment/Public Realm
Short-term
A Street/Boston Wharf Road/Sleeper
and Thompson Place (one way pair)
connectivity
Medium to Long-term
Improve pedestrian and bicycle
connections to/from Broadway
Station
Improve vertical connections
between Summer Street and Boston
Wharf Road, Congress Street
Citys 100 Acre Plan

DRAFT

22

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Fort Point District Pedestrian Environment/Public Realm
Reopen Dorchester Avenue (Medium to Long-term)
Improves community connectivity, north/south
mobility, and channel crossings
Measurable benefit to A Street
Dorchester Ave would carry volumes in the
future comparable to Congress Street bridge
today
Reduces demand on Summer Street bridge
Plan requires right-of-way acquisition from the
U.S. Post Office

DRAFT

23

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Port District Pedestrian Environment/Public Realm
Short-term
Drydock Ave. and Cruiseport
to/from Silver Line/Seaport
District Wayfinding and
Streetscape
Medium to Long-term
Strengthen Seaport
Boulevard/ Northern
Avenue/BMIP connection
Complete Pappas Way/Harbor
connection

BlackFalcon
Cruiseport

DRAFT

24

Pedestrian/bicycle connection
E. 1st Street from Pappas Way
to Farragut Rd.

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Convention Center District Pedestrian Environment/Public
Realm
Shortterm
Improvepedestrianand
bicycleaccommodationson
SummerStreetbetweenFort
PointandLStreet
ExtendEStreettoSummer
Street
MediumtoLongterm
MakeDStreetaspecialplace
forpedestrians,bicyclists,and
transituserswithactivestreet
useandopenspace

DRAFT

25

Expand Community Connections:

Improve Access to Broadway Station (Medium-term)
Mediumterm
Enhancepedestrianandbicycle
connectionsandwayfinding to
AStreet,DStreet,and
DorchesterAvenue

Broadway

DRAFT

26

Expand Community Connections: Key Issue

Existing bicycle connections along key corridors lack definition and continuity.

DRAFT

27

Expand Community Connections:

Future Bicycle Network (Medium to Long-term)

DRAFT

28

Expand Community Connections: Key Issues

Roadway Access
South Boston streets provide
access within the South Boston
neighborhood, as well as to the
Waterfront area and Downtown.
Key Plan Objective: Maintaining
balance between vehicular
mobility and protecting the
adjacent South Boston
neighborhood from cut-through
traffic during key morning and
evening peak periods

DRAFT

29

Roadway Focus within Impact Area

DRAFT

30

Expand Community Connections: Thomas Butler

Freight Corridor (Underway/Short-term)

DRAFT

31

Expand Community Connections: Cypher Street to E

Street and E Street to Summer Street (Short-term)

DRAFT

32

Expand Community Connections: Haul Road, Pappas

Way, and Drydock Avenue Connectors (Medium-term)

DRAFT

33

Expand Community Connections: Expand Access

to South Boston Bypass Road
Examinedmultipleoptions
alongSouthBostonBypass
Road:
Leaveasis
Partialaccess
Eastboundorwestbound
fullaccess
Fullaccesstoalltraffic

Optionsarecurrentlybeing
vettedbystateandCity
agencies;discussing
demonstrationproject
Restrictedtocommercialtraffic
betweenW.ServiceRd.Extension
andtheI93FrontageRoad

DRAFT

34

Circulation Changes Analyzed

within Impact Area
RemoveDStreetCircuitBreakers
Canbeaccommodatedwith
minimalnetworklevelimpacts
Furtherreviewwarranted:
Openfortransitonly
Openforallusers(with
trafficcalmingmeasures)
AddLStreetCircuitBreakers
Resultsinsignificantdiversions
tootherlocalstreets
Trafficoperationalimprovements
onlyarerecommended

DRAFT

35

Expand Community Connections:

Safety and Operational Improvements on Local Street Network
Short to Medium-term
(Systemwide)

Improve crosswalk
visibility/striping
Improve lane
markings/turning lanes
Neckdowns and/or minor
geometric improvements
Concurrent pedestrian
phasing, where
appropriate

DRAFT

36

Pedestrian Crossing Phasing

Exclusive

Concurrent(WhereAppropriate)

Source:BostonCompleteStreets

DRAFT

37

Expand Community Connections:

Day Boulevard Safety and Operational Improvements
Recent improvements
implemented by DCR
Next Step
Complete a road safety audit
along corridor to confirm
improvements
Short to Medium-term
Localized intersection
improvements
Road Diet between L
Street and Farragut to:
Calm traffic
Improve pedestrian and
bicycle accommodation

DRAFT

38

Improve Access/Egress at Regional Bottlenecks to

Minimize Neighborhood Traffic Intrusion
MediumtoLongterm
I93Southbound
FrontageRoadSystem
Improvements
(MassDOT)
Kosciuszko
Circle/Morrissey
Boulevard
Improvements(DCR)

DRAFT

39

Improve Regional Access

Transit
Highway/Arterial Street Operations

DRAFT

Improve Regional Access: Key Issues

Transit
Increasing reliance on
transit overtaxing a
system that is at or
nearing capacity.
Transit system fails to
provide convenient
connections for many.

DRAFT

41

Remember Neighborhood Scale

DRAFT

42

Improve Regional Access: Key Issue

Waterfront is Underserved by Transit
PeakPeriodTransitCapacity/Hour

About5percentofdowntowntransitseats

SilverLineWestbound
SilverLineEastbound
CRSouthStation

SouthStation:
Accesswithone
transfer

RedLineNorthbound
RedLineSouthbound
CRNorthStation
GreenLineWestbound
GreenLineNorthbound
OrangeLineSouthbound
OrangeLineNorthbound
BlueLineWestbound
BlueLineEastbound

2,000

DRAFT

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

43

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

Improve Regional Access: Key Issue - Transit

Options Limited to Some Regions
Chelsea1%ofTrips
TransitModeShare57%

North16%ofTrips
TransitModeShare22%

BostonCore9%ofTrips
TransitModeShare28%
EastBoston1% ofTrips
TransitModeShare72%

West/Inner West20%ofTrips
TransitModeShare43%

Southwest10%of Trips
TransitModeShare23%

OtherS.Boston9%ofTrips
TransitModeShare24%

InnerSouth 7%ofTrips
TransitModeShare42%

DRAFT

Note:Basedon2013AM+PMpeakperiodtrips.

Southeast9%ofTrips
44
TransitModeShare22%

Transitaccesstothe
Waterfrontvaries
significantly andreflects
currentaccessoptions:
Strengths:
RedLine(InnerN/S)
EastBoston
Chelsea
Opportunities:
NorthSideAccess
OtherSouthBoston
South/Southeast
Southwest

Improve Regional Access: Key Issues

Highways/Arterials
Deficiencies in highway/
arterial street operations:
o Impact access to the
Waterfront, including
the working port
o Cause delays, and
o Potentially divert traffic
onto local streets.

DRAFT

45

Improve Regional Access: Themes

Improve Silver Line Operations and Capacity
Improve Access to North
Enhance Water Connections
Provide New Transit Connections
Improve Vehicular Access/Egress at Gateways

DRAFT

46

Regional Access: Improve Silver Line

Operations and Capacity
PhaseinSilverLineimprovementsasdemandgrows.Withoutactionservice
willbewellovercapacityandimpedegrowthlongterm.
ExistingandFuturePeakHourDemandandCapacity*
4,000
3,516
3,500
3,000
2,405

2,500
2,118
2,000

1,902
1,355

1,500
1,000
500

821

708
256

211

2013 2035

2013 2035

2013 2035

2013 2035

AMInbound

AMOutbound

PMInbound

PMOutbound

2035

Existing(2013)

DRAFT

Future(2035)

*Priortoanyfurthermodeshift

47

MaxCapacity

Chelsea

Regional Access:
Improve Silver Line
Operations and Capacity

East
Boston

Short-term (Underway)
Extension to Chelsea

DRAFT

48

Regional Access: Improve Silver Line

Operations and Capacity
Short-term
Operational enhancements
(signal priority at D, I-90
Emergency Ramp access in
PM, enhanced supervision,
etc.)
Supplemental bus
connections to Red Line
(previously discussed)

DRAFT

49

Regional Access: Improve Silver Line

Operations and Capacity
Medium to Long-term
Procure new fleet of single
mode, articulated buses
Silver line tunnel under D
Street with new Silver Line
Way Station
Restore SL3 service (in
conjunction with Route 7
modifications)

DRAFT

50

Regional Access: Improve Silver Line Operations

and Capacity
Long-term
Silver Line Extension
(Phase 3) to Dudley Square
with Orange (Chinatown)
and Green (Boylston) Line
Connections

DRAFT

51

Improve Access to North: Private Shuttle

Consolidation (Short-term)

DRAFT

52

Improve Access to North: Water Shuttle to

North Station (Short-term)

LovejoyWharf

North
Station

FanPierLanding

South
Station

DRAFT

53

Improve Access to North: Medium to Long-term

North
Station

Bus Priority Route

between North
Station and
Waterfront

LovejoyWharf

Water Shuttle from

World Trade
Center

FanPierLanding

South
Station

DRAFT

WorldTradeCenter

54

Enhance Water Connections: Catchment Areas

FanPierLanding
ExistingMarket:32,880
2035BaseMarket:49,370

WorldTradeCenter
ExistingMarket:36,580
2035BaseMarket:58,960

BMIP
ExistingMarket:6,210
2035BaseMarket:11,100

Note:AM+PMpeakperiodpersontrips(notincluding
otherHOVandotherSOV).

DRAFT

55

Enhance Water Connections: Medium to Long-term

DRAFT

56

Regional Access: Provide New Transit

Connections
MediumtoLong
term:
UrbanRailService:
FairmounttoSouth
Station
UrbanRailService:
BackBayWaterfront

DRAFT

57

Improve Regional Access: Issue

Traffic Growth in Study Area

DRAFT

AMPeak8:00to9:00AM
PMPeak5:00to6:00PM

58

Improve Vehicular Access/Egress at Gateways:

Downtown Seaport Boulevard (Short-term)
Make Oliver Street
between Purchase and
Atlantic at Seaport Blvd.
one-way eastbound
Adds capacity to
Purchase Street ramp
and westbound on
Seaport Blvd.
Improves truck access
Improves pedestrian
crossings

DRAFT

59

Improve Vehicular Access/Egress at Gateways: I-90

Access (Short-term)

DRAFT

60

Improve Vehicular Access/Egress at Gateways:

Downtown - Northern Avenue (Medium to Long-term)
Doing nothing is not an option
Critical pedestrian/bicycle link to
Rose Kennedy Greenway and the
Downtown
Historic structure
Need to maintain water access to
Fort Point Channel
Long-term: Accommodate
pedestrians, bicyclists, and
vehicular movements

DRAFT

61

Enhance Internal Waterfront Mobility

DRAFT

Enhance Internal Waterfront Mobility

DRAFT

63

Northern Avenue and Seaport Blvd.

Improvements (Short-term)
NorthernAvenue

SeaportBoulevard

Provides enhanced bicycle/pedestrian access

Potential to divert 400/450 (am/pm) trips from Seaport Boulevard
with the reopening of Northern Avenue bridge

DRAFT

64

Expand Community Connections: Improve Silver

Line Stations (Short-term)
F. StationWayfindingonSummerat
Stairs
G. OpenVerticalAccesstoPublic
H. StationWayfindingatSeaportLn
I. StationWayfinding(i.e.,Cross
Street)onCongress
J. ImprovePedestrianCrossingatRamp
K. ImprovePedestrianCrossingatRamp
L. BicycleAccommodationonWTCBlvd
M. ImprovePedestrianCrossingatWTC
andSummer
N. StationWayfindingatSummer
O. StationWayfindingforSLW

E
B
A

C
D

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

TMarkersonHeadhouses
BicycleAccommodationsbetween
NorthernandSeaport
BicycleAccommodationon
ThompsonPl
BicycleConnectionbetweenASt
andThompsonPl
StationWayfindingSignageon
Northern

DRAFT

G
H

I
J

K
O

I
L
MN

65

O
O

Improve Internal Mobility: Pedestrian Scale

Wayfinding (Short-term)

DRAFT

66

Enhance Internal Mobility: Provide Transit

Internal Circulator (Short to Medium-term)*
Attraction/Generator
ExistingHotel
FutureHotel

*Beingexaminedinconjunctionwithprivateshuttleconsolidation

DRAFT

67

Implement Supportive Management Strategies and

Policies
Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
o TDM Ordinance
o Mix of Land Uses
o Expanded TMA Role

Supportive Land Uses

o
o

Residential
Supporting Retail (Grocery, Banks, Service Retail, etc.)

Transportation Systems Management (TSM)

o Districtwide Parking Management Strategy
o Traffic Control Recommendations
o Coordinated Traffic Management and Enforcement

Establish the Organizational Structure and Capacity to

Implement the Plan

DRAFT

68

State of Good Repair

Study area includes 23+ miles of roadway, 12 bridges, the I-90
tunnel, three boat docks, and five transit stations with associated
infrastructure
Maintaining assets in state of good repair requires an on-going
investment in preventative maintenance and periodic rehabilitation
equal to roughly $40 million/year

DRAFT

69

Next Steps
Incorporate public and agency input on recommendations
Finalize and adopt the Plan
Development of Implementation and Finance Plan
Conceptual Design and Implementation
Performance Monitoring and Measurement

DRAFT

70

Questions/Comments

DRAFT

71