Storrow Drive is a historic parkway that is currently managed and maintained by DCR. A key initiative of the current administration is the transfer of these functions to the highway department. This transfer has been successfully opposed by park advocates and environmental organizations in the past and is viewed as detrimental to maintaining the integrity of the metropolitan park system which was designed to include parks and reservations connected by gracefully designed parkways.
The following language exists in the current transportation bill regarding this issue. We are working to be certain it does not negatively impact the planning and construction of the Storrow Drive project.
Section 13 of the bill, states that MassHighway may expend funds made available through an interdepartmental services agreement with DCR for "the maintenance, design, construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of roadways, boulevards, bridges and related appurtenances under the care, custody and control of" DCR. This is not limited to the bond funds authorized by the bill.
The section also states that it does not authorize the transfer of any interest in the DCR land.
In addition, the bill seeks to exempt from MEPA, c. 91, and c. 131, sec. 40 "bridge projects of the department of highways for the repair, reconstruction, replacement or demolition of existing state highway bridges and other bridges, including the immediate roadway approaches necessary to connect the bridges to the existing adjacent highway system, in which the design is substantially the functional equivalent of, and in similar alignment to, the structure to be reconstructed or replaced. This includes all DCR bridges, including the Storrow Drive Tunnel which is classified as a bridge.
The bill seeks a similar exemption for MBTA bridge projects. This is sections 23 and 25 of the bill.
Thus, the Longfellow Bridge project would be exempt from MEPA and c. 91. Similarly, the BU Bridge and the Craigie Dam Bridge/Draw Bridge projects would be exempt from review. Plus, since the Storrow Drive tunnel is actually classified as a bridge, it, too, would be exempt from review.
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