McGrath Boulevard Project Development Public Meeting #2 May 28 th, 2015 East Somerville Community School

McGrath Boulevard Project Development Public Meeting #2 May 28 th, 2015 East Somerville Community School

Agenda Introductions Project Context Current Construction McGrath Boulevard Project Development Next Steps

Project Partners

Project Team Engineering Consultant Lead Public Involvement Working Group

McGrath Boulevard Working Group Membership

Project Area - General

Examined issues in Route 28 corridor Assessed potential to remove McCarthy Overpass Evaluated multi-modal transportation potential

Complete Streets Intuitive Wayfinding Community Improvement Open Space Traffic Diversions Washington St. Connectivity Potential Queuing Completed planning study Recommendations 6-lane Boulevard 4-lane Boulevard

Current Construction

Current Conditions Gilman Street Bridge Project Reduced to two lanes between Medford St and Broadway Southbound queues backup from Pearl Street past Broadway during weekday morning peak hour 10-15% decrease in peak hour volumes at Broadway, Pearl, and Medford intersections

Current Conditions Gilman Street Bridge Project: Description The previous slide showed two existing condition photographs shot along the McGrath Highway. The photographs show queues backing up from Pearl Street past Broadway during the weekday morning peak hours.

Somerville Avenue Punch Through

Somerville Avenue Punch Through - Description The previous slide showed an image of the Somerville Avenue punch through. As part of the interim improvements at the intersection of Medford Street and Somerville Avenue, upgrades to traffic signals and bicycle facilities will be provided. The southbound off-ramp from McGrath Highway that connects to Medford Street will be permanently closed as well as the northbound McGrath Highway underpass that links the intersection with Linwood Street. A new roadway connection will be created south of the McGrath northbound overpass allowing vehicles traveling from Somerville Avenue and Medford Street to directly access the overpass.

Step 1: Modifications to the traffic signals at Washington St. and Somerville Ave. Step 2: Resurfacing of Medford Street Step 3: Installation of new pavement markings Step 4: Closure of Somerville Avenue off-ramp in Fall 2015

McGrath Boulevard Project Progress

Improve safety for all modes of transportation Calm traffic Provide east to west connections Improve/create pedestrian and bicycle conditions Take full advantage of benefits conferred by GLX

Fully, and without bias, investigate whether a 4-lane cross-section is possible. Know fully the impacts of changes in Somerville on abutting communities. Not an either/or issue. We may come to a 5-lane cross section or some other hybrid solution.

Convened by MassDOT Inform and advise the agency with local knowledge Help the agency team develop a preferred alternative to take into the environmental process Help develop design details for future discussion in the preliminary design process

Project Meetings to Date Public Information Meeting 7/19/14 City of Somerville 8/7/14 City of Cambridge 9/11/14 Green Line Extension 10/17/14 Working Group 11/19/14 Working Group 2/5/15 Congressman Capuano Briefing 2/26/15 LivableStreets Briefing 4/13/15 Working Group 4/16/15

Where We Are

Project Development Timeline

Project Development Timeline: Description The previous slide showed an image of the project development timeline for the McGrath Boulevard Project. The project is currently in traffic operations and analysis portion of project development. Throughout the summer of 2015, the project team will continue working to develop a conceptual design for the McGrath Highway. By fall of 2015, the project team will be working on permitting as part of the project development phase.

TRAFFIC STUDY

Traffic Study Intersections Grounding Project Boulevard Project Expanded Study Area

Traffic Study Intersections: Description The previous slide showed the different intersections that are being analyzed as part of the larger traffic study of the McGrath Boulevard Project. The initial Grounding McGrath Study looked at the intersections highlighted in red. The current Project Development Phase originally expanded the Grounding McGrath Study intersections to include the intersections highlighted in blue. As part of the current Project Development Phase, the project team has further expanded the intersection analysis to include the intersections highlighted in purple.

2014 Existing Traffic Volumes

No Significant Change Broadway Washington Street Increase along McGrath Highway

Future Traffic Projections Builds off existing counts Projects out 25 years (2040) Accounts for Development and Transportation projects

Future Trips Future Mode Share

CTPS Process Regional Travel Demand Model Demographic & Land Use Data Transportation Infrastructure Extensive Model Model Outputs

Local Development 1a. Green Line Extension: Magoun Square 1b. Green Line Extension: Gilman Square 1c. Green Line Extension: Ball Square 2. Sullivan Square 3. River Green 4. Assembly Square 5. Beacon Street 6. Boynton Yards 7. Brickbottom/Inner Belt 8. East Somerville Gateway 9. Fabrication District 10. Union Square 11. North Point 12. Wynn Casino

Transportation Improvements 1. Green Line Extension/ Union Square 2. Rutherford Avenue/ Sullivan Square

Components of the Future Projections Contd. Vehicle traffic growth between 2014 and 2034: Peak hour traffic increases between 5% and 23% depending on exact location Traffic along the McGrath corridor increases on average by 15%

2040 CTPS Model

AM Traffic Volumes - Existing and Future

PM Traffic Volumes - Existing and Future

Ped, Bike, Transit Modes

Mode Choice

Mode Shift Goals GreenDOT Design a multi-modal transportation system Promote healthy transportation + livable communities City of Somerville Increase active and alternative transportation options 10% Bicycle Mode Share by 2020 50% of New Trips via Transit, Bike, or Walking

Transit Mode

Bus Routes and Stops

Subway Routes

Green Line Extension Ridership Projections Based on FTA constraints Daily ridership - approximately 38,000 Majority switch from bus to train 9,000 new transit trips per day

Pedestrian Mode

2014 Existing Pedestrian Peak Hour Volumes

2014 Pedestrian Facilities

Somerville Walks

Somerville Walks: Description The previous slide showed a map of existing walking routes as well as proposed walking routes in Somerville. The map was created in partnership with WalkBoston, the City of Somerville, Groundwork Somerville, and Shape Up Somerville. Black dots along a walking route represent a quarter mile or a 5 minute walk from the next black dot.

Somerville Walks McGrath Highway Current Crossings Washington Street Adjacent Desire Lines Somerville Avenue Medford Street/Gore Street

Somerville Walks McGrath Highway: Description The previous slide showed an image of the Somerville Walks map focusing on the McGrath Highway corridor. The McGrath Highway is highlighted in yellow. There is currently only one pedestrian crossing across the McGrath Highway.

Highway Capacity Manual 2010 Walkability Checklist Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) Pedestrian Environmental Quality Index Developed in San Francisco Pedestrian Performance Measures

Pedestrian Performance measures Bicycle and Pedestrian Level-of-Service Performance Measures and Standards for Congestion Management Systems, Linda B. Dixon Transportation Research Record 1538 Considers facilities, conflicts, amenities, vehicle traffic, maintenance, & multimodal connections

Bicycle Mode

2014 Existing Bicycle Peak Hour Volumes

Bicycle Network

Bicycle Network: Description The previous slide showed the City of Somerville s bicycle network. The bicycle network map outlines streets with sharrows and bike lanes as well as planned sharrows and planned bike lanes. The bicycle network map also outlines locations of existing and proposed Hubway stations.

Bike Lanes/Sharrows Bike Lanes Bike Lanes Bike Lanes Bike Lane & Cycletracks

Bicycle Network McGrath Highway: Description The previous slide showed the City of Somerville s bicycle network focusing on the McGrath Highway and East Somerville area. While McGrath Highway does not currently have any bicycle accommodations there are adjacent facilities along Somerville Avenue, Washington Street, and Medford Street. As part of the McGrath Boulevard Project, separated bike facilities will be implemented along the McGrath Highway.

Hubway Stations

Highway Capacity Manual 2010 Level of Stress Mineta Transportation Institute

60 percent of people are interested but concerned 33 percent of people will simply not ride 7 percent are enthused and confident 1 percent or less are strong and fearless

Level of Traffic Stress Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity, Maaza C. Mekuria, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE, Peter G. Furth, Ph.D. and Hilary Nixon, Ph.D. Considers facilities, traffic mix and speed, right-turn treatments, & crossings

2014 Bicycle Analysis: Levels of Traffic Stress Source: Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity Maaza C. Mekuria, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE, Peter G. Furth, Ph.D. and Hilary Nixon, Ph.D.

The previous slide showed an image of the four different types of level of traffic stress for cyclist. Level of stress one is suitable for a relaxing bike ride with little cyclist attention required. Level of stress two is suitable for most adults but more demanding Level of stress three has a higher traffic stress but still acceptable for most current cyclist Level of stress four is the most stressful cycling condtions

Measure of Effectiveness (MOE)

Increase connectivity of entire corridor (up & down, side-to-side) Use Complete Streets guidelines to create inviting bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure Coordinate with abutting projects Create new, evenly distributed green space and landscaped boulevard Separate active transportation and vehicles to the fullest extent practical

Goals to MOEs

Goals to MOEs: Description The previous slide showed an image of the project s MOEs developed as part of the initial Grounding McGrath Study. The goals of the MOEs are to improve access and mobility, promote connectivity, improve and balance functionality, and provide accountability. The MOEs guiding principle is to improve safety, access, and connections for all modes of travel using context sensitive design.

2040 Build Traffic Projections

McGrath Boulevard

McGrath Boulevard: Description The previous slide showed an aerial view of the McGrath Highway corridor. The call out is one of the boulevard designs options from the initial Grounding McGrath Planning Study.

Rutherford Avenue

Build Scenarios 6 Lane without Rutherford Improvements (same analysis was done for a 4 lane scenario)

Build Scenarios: Description The previous slide showed a diagram of one of the possible build scenarios for McGrath Highway. This concept includes a six lane, at-grade crosssection along McGrath Highway without improvements made to Rutherford Avenue.

Build Scenarios Contd. 6 Lane with Rutherford Improvements (same analysis was done for a 4 lane scenario)

Build Scenarios Contd. : Description The previous slide showed a diagram of one of the possible build scenarios for McGrath Highway. This concept includes a six lane, at-grade crosssection along McGrath Highway with improvements made to Rutherford Avenue.

Vehicular Diversions

6 Lane with Rutherford AM - Diversions

6 Lane with Rutherford AM Diversion: Description The previous slide showed traffic diversions based on a six lane McGrath Boulevard alternative with Rutherford Avenue modifications during the AM peak hour. The green lines represent positive or increased traffic volumes. The red lines represent negative or decreased volumes.

6 Lane with Rutherford PM - Diversions

6 Lane with Rutherford PM Diversion: Description The previous slide showed traffic diversions based on a six lane McGrath Boulevard alternative with Rutherford Avenue modifications. The green lines represent positive or increased traffic volumes. The red lines represent negative or decreased volumes.

Diversion Summary Percentage of peak hour traffic diverted: 11% - 6 Lanes with Rutherford Ave. improvements 24% - 6 Lanes without Rutherford Ave. improvements 30% - 4 Lanes with Rutherford Ave. improvements 34% - 4 Lanes without Rutherford Ave. improvements

Broadway I-93 Charlestown School Street Beacon Street Somerville Avenue

McGrath and Rutherford Corridors are connected Capacity reductions on one side shifts traffic to the other Capacity reductions on both sides squeeze vehicles into adjoining streets What do local streets impacts look like? What do those impacts mean for corridor configurations? What do those impacts mean for all modes?

Current Working Group Task

Connectivity Working Group Activity Cross-Sections

Connectivity What connections are a priority? What are the most desired routes? Pedestrian Bicycle Vehicle

Cross-Sections What is a cross-section?

6 Lane Alternative 4 Lane Alternative

Working Group Activity Breakout Exercise

Working Group Activity Connectivity Results

Working Group Activity Cross-Section Results

Group Activity Takeaways (Results)

Washington Street Prospect Hill to Cross Street

Typical Sections Common Themes Create a Greenway with a Comm Ave type configuration Provide Bike Lanes Both Sides of corridor (at least one two-way) Need for Parking On-Street (west side) Need to provide turning lanes at McGrath/Medford Street intersection Dismissed pedestrian and bicycle use in the middle of the corridor

NEXT STEPS

Next Steps Contd. Refine and analyze each build scenario Pedestrian & Bicycle Operations Vehicle Operations Ideas from Working Group Cross-section exercise Quantify Impacts of Diversions Next Working Group meeting July 2015

Questions/Discussions