Mayor Menino Steps Into the Fray

Storrow Drive is once again in the news with the recent announcement by Mayor Menino that it is one of the areas in the city that they will study. He has called for a grand vision for the area - specifically the connection into the park from Beacon Street (the Fiedler footbridge) that is close to the Public Garden.

This is great news for those of us who have advocated for the project to be about more than just transportation. How the city engages the public and works with the state will be key - lots has been done and it is unclear if the city has come up with something new or just an iteration of one of the many schemes that were being discussed by the advisory group before their work was shelved.

Keep posted for next steps.
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DCR to Begin Interim Tunnel Repairs in April

DCr has announced that it plans to begin interim tunnel repairs starting in April and continuing throughout 2008 at an estimated cost of between 8 - 10 million dollars. To date they have not shared plans for interim traffic during construction including how the work will impact the Esplanade.

With only eight weeks before construction it is fair to say that the public should demand a meeting be held within the next two weeks. The joint transportation and landscape advisory committee, that dedicated so much of its time to working with DCR on DEIR altenatives, has not been reconvened, despite promises by DCR to do so.

At 10 million dollars the interim repairs will cost half of what the full tunnel rehabilitation was originally budgeted, making it imperative that the extent of the proposed repairs be presented. DCR has refused to take the proposal for a temporary road in the park off the table!

Funding Included in Environmental Bond Bill for DCR bridges

On Friday, December 21st a 1.4 billion dollar environmental bond bill was announced by EOEEA Secretary Ian Bowles. Included in the bill is 250 million dollars for the design and construction of DCR bridges including those in the Charles River Basin.

To read the entire bond bill proposal go to: www.envirobond.org.

2890-7011 For the design, maintenance, reconstruction, repair, and rehabilitation of vehicle bridges under the control of the department of conservation and recreation; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds may be allocated through an interagency service agreement to the department of highways; provided further, that the agreement shall specify that a spending plan shall be filed each year with the commissioner of conservation and recreation providing a schedule of outlays from this item; provided further, that the agreement shall specify that a report shall be filed by the department of highways and the department of conservation and recreation to the joint committee on transportation and the joint committee on environment, natural resources, and agriculture by September 30 of each year detailing the status of work undertaken through this line item for the previous fiscal year; provided further, that all work funded by this item undertaken by the department of highways under any interagency service agreement shall be carried out according to standards developed by the department of conservation and recreation to protect the scenic and historic integrity of the bridges under its control; and provided further, that final design of the bridges shall be subject to the review and approval of the commissioner of the department of conservation and recreation .......................................................................................................... $250,000,000

Storrow Drive and the Transportation Bond Bill

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.

Esplanade Landmark Petition Preliminary Hearing

At their meeting on Tuesday November 27th, the Boston Landmarks Commission was formally presented with a petition endorsed by over 800 supporters, to designate the Charles River Esplanade as a Boston Landmark.

The meeting included a formal presentation on the Esplanade’s history by Linda Cox. After Linda’s presentation the commissioner’s accepted testimony by elected officials, public agencies, organizations and the general public.

A representative of DCR read the following comments:

DCR recognizes the Charles River Esplanade as an important cultural asset that contributes to the beauty and the overall quality of life for the citizens of Boston and the entire Commonwealth. The community’s efforts to designate the property as a Landmark reflect a broad public interest in raising awareness of the Esplanade’s history and significance.

DCR has long enjoyed a positive and productive working relationship with the Commission by consulting regularly on projects affecting DCR’s historic properties within Boston. We at DCR understand the process for designation and will continue to work with the Boston Landmarks Commission staff to adequately address both the on-going preservation of the Esplanade and the practical challenges of managing a complex, actively used facility.

Highlights from other testimony included:

A request from City Councilor Michael Ross that because of the urgency of the situation
the Commissioner’s expedite the land marking process. An unprecedented ten city
councilor’s signed the petition supporting designation.

Representative Walz focusing on interim tunnel repairs and the need to have regulatory oversight on what happens during the next eight months as DCR competes that work. For example, where is the staging area going? Will there be impacts on the functional use of the park?

Sandy Steele highlighting TEA’s contribution to the park and its value to city residents and people from the greater city and region. Who uses the park was of great interest to the Commissioner’s and they requested follow up information about this topic which TEA is formulating from our user survey..

The Commission agreed to proceed to the next step in the process, which is the development of a study report, with a second hearing to be scheduled when that review is completed. They were very supportive of the Esplanade.

You should consider writing an individual letter to the commission in support of them expediting the land marking process.

Petition filed to Designate Espanade as a Boston Landmark

A petition has been submitted to the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate the Charles River Esplanade as a Boston Landmark. With over 800 signatures, the petition initiates the process of review by the commission to determine eligibility. A public hearing has tentatively be scheduled for November 27th.

To read more go to:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/15/advocates_seek_landmark_status_for_esplanade/