Recommendations to remove the overpass and create a boulevard have surfaced in discussions about land use planning around the Green Line Extension stations (the overpass will be close to the Brickbottom-Washington Street station). As pjmorgan says, it's a barrier outside Union Sq that is both isolating and hazardous for non-car modes of getting around. The incident of the overpass debris this week was timely; many of us recommended removal of the overpass in our comments last week on MassDOT's Green Line plan called the Draft EIR.
The City's comments mention removal of the overpass: "Station design needs to acknowledge other transportation projects - Although we recognize that planning and engineering has to acknowledge current constraints, accommodation needs to be made for changes to the existing landscape. The City is currently working with the Commonwealth to lower McGrath Highway and create a boulevard. If possible, the Green Line Extension should accommodate this beneficial change." http://www.somervillestep.org/files/DEIR_SomervilleOSPCD_010810.pdf
STEP also recommended it in its comments, and has done so at every opportunity in the past couple of years when news of the deterioration of the overpass became public: "Track, station, and Green Line corridor area designs must provide full roadway and community access to Brickbottom, Inner Belt, and Lechmere Station through reconstruction of Route 28 as a neighborhood and local business friendly boulevard. Improved connectivity to both sides of Route 28 is crucial." http://www.somervillestep.org/2009/11/steps_speaking.html
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Date: 2010-01-16 07:21 pm (UTC)surfaced in discussions about land use planning around the Green Line Extension stations (the overpass will be close to the Brickbottom-Washington Street station). As pjmorgan says, it's a barrier outside Union Sq that is both isolating and hazardous for non-car modes of getting around. The incident of the overpass debris this week was timely; many of us recommended removal of the overpass in our comments last week on MassDOT's Green Line plan called the Draft EIR.
The City's comments mention removal of the overpass: "Station design needs to acknowledge other transportation projects - Although we recognize that planning and engineering has to acknowledge current constraints, accommodation needs to be made for changes to the existing landscape. The City is currently working with the Commonwealth to lower McGrath Highway and create a boulevard. If possible, the Green Line Extension should accommodate this beneficial change."
http://www.somervillestep.org/files/DEIR_SomervilleOSPCD_010810.pdf
STEP also recommended it in its comments, and has done so at every opportunity in the past couple of years when news of the deterioration of the overpass became public: "Track, station, and Green Line corridor area designs must provide full roadway and community access to Brickbottom, Inner Belt, and Lechmere Station through reconstruction of Route 28 as a neighborhood and local business friendly boulevard. Improved connectivity to both sides of Route 28 is crucial."
http://www.somervillestep.org/2009/11/steps_speaking.html