March Madness Alert.
By Arshag A. Mazmanian
The next Citizens Advisory Committee (“CAC”) meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2008, 4:00-6:00 PM, in the BRA boardroom, 9th floor, Boston City Hall. Since the last CAC meeting on December 10, 2007 (reported on in my “A CraZy Scheme” Urban Ring installment), the Executive Office of Transportation (“EOT”) has been busy working on preferred alternatives for Segment B of Phase 2 that it had deferred because of complexities associated with the Charles River crossing as well as the traffic riveted problems of the Longwood Medical Area (“LMA”).
EOT gave a Powerpoint Presentation to the CAC Alternatives Subcommittee on February 7, 2008, which may be downloaded via the Urban Ring website at www.theurbanring.com by clicking on “Reference Material” and then clicking on “Current Materials” and scrolling down to “CAC Alternatives Subcommittee Feb. 7, 2008” and then clicking on “Presentation.”
If the entire “Presentation” is too time consuming for visitors to this Blog, for those who are familiar with and use for commuting the portion of the Phase 2 route(s) in Segment B (Cambridge to Ruggles Station via the Charles River crossing at the BU Bridge, Commonwealth Avenue, Mountfort Street, Beacon Street, Park Drive, the Fenway and the LMA), I recommend the following slides in the “Presentation”:
#s 21-23 and 25 (Cambridgeport
#s 27-31 (Charles River crossing/BU Bridge area)
#s 34-39 (LMA/Fenway)
#s 41-43 (Allston/Harvard)
particularly the multi-color maps designating the various Bus Rapid Transit (“BRT”) alternate routes for Phase 2 in Segment B.
Interested visitors to this Blog have plenty of time to examine these slides with care in considering how they may be impacted by the various alternatives for Segment B’s BRT routes for its 60-foot long articulated buses. Keep in mind any limitations that may be imposed at the BU Bridge/Commonwealth Avenue/Mountfort Street/Carlton Street area impacting upon a key access to Storrow Drive (inbound) via University Road.
I plan a number of comments on this installment to address issues that should be considered. (Comments of others are welcome.) To be forewarned is to be forearmed as it should be pointed out that the membership of the CAC is primarily institutional (BU, MIT, Harvard, LMA), governmental and development-oriented, with very limited residential neighborhood and commuter representation.
EOT can be expected at the March 10th CAC meeting to focus on the Segment B alternatives presented to the CAC Alternatives Subcommittee. A “next step” may be EOT’s designation of its Local Preferred Alternatives for all Segments of Phase 2. This may be followed later in March by EOT sponsored separate public meetings for each Segment. At some point prior to May 31, 2008, the CAC will consider and provide its recommendations to EOT. (Keep in mind that the CAC’s role is advisory only, and at that primarily institutional.)
EOT is scheduled to file its RDEIR/DEIS with State/Federal authorities by May 31, 2008. While there will be a public written comment period following such filing, it may be preferable to provide comments in advance thereof at CAC and EOT public meetings.
This is a fast track requiring prompt attention and action (including political) by those who may be impacted by EOT’S decisions.
More to come.
