Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Concepts Meeting May 30, 2012 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Concepts Meeting May 30, 2012 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Concepts Meeting May 30, 2012 presented by Boston Transportation Department with Howard/Stein-Hudson Crosby | Schlessinger | Smallridge Toole Design Group GLC Development Resources Boston Transportation

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SLIDE 1

Boston Transportation Department

Melnea Cass Boulevard

Design Concepts Meeting May 30, 2012 presented by Boston Transportation Department

with

Howard/Stein-Hudson Crosby | Schlessinger | Smallridge Toole Design Group GLC Development Resources

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SLIDE 2

Boston Transportation Department

Part 1 – Presentation 6:00 – 6:30 PM

Introduction/Process What we have learned BRT lanes as part of the project Design concepts by area

Part 1 – Presentation 6:00 – 6:30 PM

Introduction/Process What we have learned BRT lanes as part of the project Design concepts by area

Part 2 – Discussion of Design Concepts – 6:30 – 7:15 PM

  • Breakout Groups

Part 2 – Discussion of Design Concepts – 6:30 – 7:15 PM

  • Breakout Groups

Part 3 – Breakout Group Reports/Q & A – 7:15 – 8:00 PM

  • Group representatives give summaries of

breakout group discussion

  • Questions and answers

Part 3 – Breakout Group Reports/Q & A – 7:15 – 8:00 PM

  • Group representatives give summaries of

breakout group discussion

  • Questions and answers

Agenda

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SLIDE 3

Boston Transportation Department

Melnea Cass Boulevard Clean-Up

  • April 27, 2012:
  • BTD, BRA, and

consultant team

  • Trash removed
  • Greenery trimmed
  • Old signs replaced
  • Signal lights repainted
  • Review of tree health

corridor-wide

  • Will continue to seek

early action steps

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SLIDE 4

Boston Transportation Department

Project Area

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SLIDE 5

Boston Transportation Department

Project Tim eline

  • Initial Public Meeting – 10/11/2011
  • Introducing the project
  • Community Visioning Meeting – 12/14/2011
  • Envisioning success
  • Design Objectives Meeting – 3/15/2012
  • Turning the vision into concepts
  • Sharing Initial Concepts – 5/30/2012
  • Wide median – by section
  • Narrow median – by section
  • Discuss pros/cons of options
  • Consensus on Preferred Option – Summer 2012
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SLIDE 6

Boston Transportation Department

W hat W e Heard From You - Vision

  • Safe, clean and beautiful
  • Well-maintained – snow and

litter consistently removed

  • All parcels owned and cared for
  • Safe for cyclists and pedestrians
  • Providing safe, effective transit

service

  • Moving calmed vehicular traffic

effectively

  • Fully integrated with its

surrounding neighborhood

  • A catalyst for neighborhood

economic development

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SLIDE 7

Boston Transportation Department

W hat W e Heard From You – Design Direction

  • Transportation should work well for all modes:
  • Safe, efficient,

calmed traffic

  • Lower speeds
  • Good bicycle and

pedestrian connections

  • Effective transit:
  • Center BRT preferred
  • Improve current bus

service

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SLIDE 8

Boston Transportation Department

W hat W e Heard From You – Design Direction

  • Heightened safety for

non-vehicle users – safe crossings

  • Walking/cycling connections
  • Use greenery to soften

BRT stations

  • Use greenery to reduce

speeds

  • Native, low maintenance

plants and trees

  • Soften the Boulevard – reduce “highway feel”
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SLIDE 9

Boston Transportation Department

W hat W e Heard From You – Design Direction

  • Fully integrate with cross streets and the neighborhood
  • Provide a gateway to

Dudley Square

  • Design buildings for active

street life

  • Safe and family-friendly
  • Design that invites people

to use neighborhood businesses

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SLIDE 10

Boston Transportation Department

Existing MBTA Routes

8 1 8 47 19 19 47 CT3 47

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SLIDE 11

Boston Transportation Department

  • Frequent Service
  • Widely-spaced Stops
  • High-capacity Vehicles
  • Real-time Information
  • Priority Traffic Signal Control
  • Dedicated Lanes
  • Emergency vehicle access

BRT ( Bus Rapid Transit)

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SLIDE 12

Boston Transportation Department

  • Safe pedestrian access
  • Easy loading/unloading
  • Comfort and security

BRT Stations

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SLIDE 13

Boston Transportation Department

Center Bus Lanes Curbside Bus Lanes Bus Lanes One Side

  • Bus stops next to curb for passenger

loading/unloading

  • Parking conflicts
  • Intersection conflicts
  • Passengers exit bus onto island and

curb stations

  • Parking access issues
  • Intersection challenges

TRAVEL LANES STATION STATION TRAVEL LANES TRAVEL LANES TRAVEL LANES STATION STATION STATION STATION TRAVEL LANES TRAVEL LANES

BRT Alternatives

TRAVEL LANES

  • Urban Ring Phase 2 Locally Preferred Alternative
  • Reviewed by the Roxbury community

including RSMPOC

  • Typically most efficient design for BRT
  • Passengers exit onto median island station
  • Better access for new development

and curbside parking

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SLIDE 14

Boston Transportation Department

Center Bus Lanes

  • Urban Ring Phase 2 Locally Preferred Alternative
  • Reviewed by the Roxbury community including

RSMPOC

  • Typically most efficient design for BRT
  • Passengers exit onto median island station
  • Better access for new development

and curbside parking

Preferred BRT Alternative

TRAVEL LANES STATION STATION TRAVEL LANES TRAVEL LANES

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SLIDE 15

Boston Transportation Department

BRT Features on Melnea Cass Boulevard

  • Accommodate future transit plans
  • Enhance local bus service
  • Give transit priority at signals
  • Provide safe and easily accessible transit stops
  • Reduce exhaust emissions
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SLIDE 16

Boston Transportation Department

Tools for BRT and Benefits

  • Bus signal priority
  • 28 buses removed from regular travel lanes

(Routes CT3, 1, 8, 19, 47) during PM peak hour

  • Improved trip times on buses along corridor
  • Existing: 7 min. from Ruggles Station to

Crosstown Center

  • Urban Ring RDEIS (2008): 4 min. from Ruggles

Station to Crosstown Center

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SLIDE 17

Boston Transportation Department

Existing MBTA Routes

8 1 8 47 19 19 47 CT3 47

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SLIDE 18

Boston Transportation Department

Existing MBTA Routes and Stops

8 1 8 47 19 19 47 CT3 47

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SLIDE 19

Boston Transportation Department

Proposed MBTA Routes and Stops

8 8 47 19 19 47 CT3 1 47

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SLIDE 20

Boston Transportation Department

Com plete Streets Com ponents

Exclusive Transit Lanes

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SLIDE 21

Boston Transportation Department

Com plete Streets Com ponents

Travel/ Parking Lanes Travel/ Parking Lanes Exclusive Transit Lanes

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SLIDE 22

Boston Transportation Department

Com plete Streets Com ponents

Travel/ Parking Lanes Travel/ Parking Lanes Exclusive Transit Lanes Bikes

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SLIDE 23

Boston Transportation Department

Com plete Streets Com ponents

Bikes Travel/ Parking Lanes Travel/ Parking Lanes Exclusive Transit Lanes Pedestrians Pedestrians

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SLIDE 24

Boston Transportation Department

Urban Design Fram ew ork

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SLIDE 25

Boston Transportation Department

Urban Design Areas

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SLIDE 26

Boston Transportation Department

Tw o Approaches to Road Layout

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SLIDE 27

Boston Transportation Department

Benefits and Challenges

Option Benefits Challenges Tree-lined center medians

  • 2 extra rows of trees
  • Additional shade
  • Pedestrian islands
  • Breaks up pavement
  • Median lighting
  • Net tree gain
  • Narrower greenscape

buffer

  • Longer crosswalks

Minimal median treatments

  • Shorter crosswalks
  • Wider greenscape buffer
  • Saves more mature

trees

  • Pedestrian islands at

stations only

  • Trees at edges only
  • No median lighting
  • Perception of more

pavement

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SLIDE 28

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 1 – Colum bus Ave to Shaw m ut Ave

NORTH SIDE

  • Residential neighborhood

setback behind park land

  • Separated ped/bike

SOUTH SIDE

  • Residential neighborhood

setback behind park land

  • Separated ped/bike

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Intersection of Melnea Cass

and Tremont

  • Open space
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SLIDE 29

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 - Tree-lined Center Medians Perspective – Area 1

  • Slip lane removed at Tremont Street
  • Improved ‘City Street’ entrance to Melnea Cass Boulevard
  • Planted medians doubles as pedestrian islands
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SLIDE 30

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 1 – At Trem ont I ntersection

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SLIDE 31

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Plan Close-up - Area 1

  • Open space for paths, gardens, and

park land on north side

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SLIDE 32

Boston Transportation Department

Lower Roxbury Community Arts Center

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Open Space – Area 1

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SLIDE 33

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 2 – Shaw m ut Ave to Harrison Ave

NORTH SIDE

  • Future building edge /

destination

  • Ped/bike use?

SOUTH SIDE

  • Future building edge /

destination

  • Sidewalk

OPPORTUNITIES

  • New development to front

Melnea Cass Boulevard and Washington Street

  • Gateway connections to

Dudley Square

  • Innovative transportation

solutions

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SLIDE 34

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 - Tree-lined Center Medians Perspective – Area 2

  • Tree-lined transit corridor – helps to humanize scale
  • Planted medians doubles as pedestrian islands
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SLIDE 35

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 2 – At W ashington Street

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SLIDE 36

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 3 – Harrison Ave to Albany Street

NORTH SIDE

  • Building setback behind

landscaped zone

  • Strong double row of trees at

road edge

  • Separated ped/bike use

SOUTH SIDE

  • Fenced parking / open areas -

future development sites

  • Single tree edge
  • Sidewalk

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Strengthen pedestrian

connections across Melnea Cass Boulevard

  • Keep separated ped/bike
  • n north side
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SLIDE 37

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Perspective – Area 3

  • Tree-lined transit corridor – helps to humanize scale
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SLIDE 38

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 - Tree-lined Center Medians Area 3 – Albany Street Looking W est

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SLIDE 39

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 4 – Albany St to Massachusetts Ave

NORTH SIDE

  • Building setback behind

landscaped zone

  • Single tree edge
  • Separated ped/bike use

SOUTH SIDE

  • Fenced parking -

area / yards

  • Single tree edge
  • Sidewalk

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Strengthen gateway at

Mass Ave

  • South bay harbor trail as

designed on north side

  • Improved median treatment
  • Off-Street Parking at

Crosstown Development

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SLIDE 40

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Perspective at Mass Ave – Area 4

  • Off-street parking and a tree-lined median
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SLIDE 41

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 4 – At Mass. Ave.

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SLIDE 42

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians Area 4 – At Mass. Ave.

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SLIDE 43

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 1 – Colum bus Ave to Shaw m ut Ave

NORTH SIDE

  • Residential neighborhood

setback behind park land

  • Separated ped/bike

SOUTH SIDE

  • Residential neighborhood

setback behind park land

  • Separated ped/bike

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Intersection of Melnea

Cass Boulevard and Tremont Street

  • Open space
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SLIDE 44

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Perspective – Area 1

  • Existing trees saved between Columbus and Tremont
  • Bike path and sidewalk possible on both sides
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SLIDE 45

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Perspective at Trem ont St – Area 1

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SLIDE 46

Boston Transportation Department

NORTH SIDE

  • Future building edge /

destination

  • Ped/bike use?

SOUTH SIDE

  • Future building edge /

destination

  • Sidewalk

OPPORTUNITIES

  • New development to front

Melnea Cass Boulevard and Washington Street

  • Gateway connections to

Dudley Square

  • Innovative transportation

solutions

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 2 – Shaw m ut Ave to Harrison Ave

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SLIDE 47

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Perspective – Area 2

  • Greater number of existing trees saved along south side
  • Shortened crossing with pedestrian island
  • Widened tree-lined edges
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SLIDE 48

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 2 – At W ashington Street

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SLIDE 49

Boston Transportation Department

  • Possible decorative fencing option for median separation

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 2 – Exam ples

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SLIDE 50

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 3 – Harrison Ave to Albany Street

NORTH SIDE

  • Building setback behind

landscaped zone

  • Strong double row of trees at

road edge

  • Separated ped/bike use

SOUTH SIDE

  • Fenced parking / open areas -

future development sites

  • Single tree edge
  • Sidewalk

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Strengthen pedestrian

connections across Melnea Cass Boulevard

  • Keep separated ped/bike
  • n north side
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SLIDE 51

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Perspective – Area 3

  • Greater number of trees saved along south side
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SLIDE 52

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 3 – At Albany Looking W est

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SLIDE 53

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 4 – Albany St to Massachusetts Ave

NORTH SIDE

  • Building setback behind

landscaped zone

  • Single tree edge
  • Separated ped/bike use

SOUTH SIDE

  • Fenced parking -

area / yards

  • Single tree edge
  • Sidewalk

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Strengthen gateway at

Mass Ave

  • South Bay Harbor Trail as

designed on north side

  • Improved median treatment
  • Off-street Parking at

Crosstown Development

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SLIDE 54

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Perspective - Area 4

  • Off-street parking and a tree-lined median
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SLIDE 55

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 4 – At Mass. Ave.

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SLIDE 56

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent Area 4 – At Mass. Ave.

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SLIDE 57

Boston Transportation Department

Option 1 – Tree-lined Center Medians at W ashington Street

  • Sidewalks – 14 feet
  • South Bay Harbor Trail – 10 feet
  • Transit reservation – 40 feet
  • Eastbound lanes – 32 feet
  • Westbound lanes – 23 feet
  • Total crossing distance – 95 feet
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SLIDE 58

Boston Transportation Department

Option 2 – Minim al Median Treatm ent at W ashington Street

  • Sidewalks – 14 feet
  • South Bay Harbor Trail –

10 feet

  • Transit reservation – 36 feet
  • Eastbound lanes – 32 feet
  • Westbound lanes – 23 feet
  • Total crossing distance –

91 feet

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SLIDE 59

Boston Transportation Department

Center Transit Com parison: Coolidge Corner

  • Sidewalks – 15 feet
  • Transit reservation – 57 feet
  • Eastbound lanes – 22 feet
  • Westbound lanes – 32 feet

Coolidge Corner Coolidge Corner

  • Total crossing distance –

111 feet

  • Melnea Cass crossing

distance – 91-95 feet

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SLIDE 60

Boston Transportation Department

Center Transit Com parison: Huntington Avenue

  • Sidewalks – 10-14 feet
  • Transit reservation – 33 feet
  • Southbound lanes – 23 feet
  • Northbound lanes – 32 feet

Huntington Avenue at MFA Huntington Avenue at MFA

  • Total crossing distance –

126 feet

  • Melnea Cass crossing

distance – 91-95 feet

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SLIDE 61

Boston Transportation Department

Benefits and Challenges

Option Benefits Challenges Tree-lined center medians

  • 2 extra rows of trees
  • Additional shade
  • Pedestrian islands
  • Breaks up pavement
  • Median lighting
  • Net tree gain
  • Narrower greenscape

buffer

  • Longer crosswalks

Minimal median treatment

  • Shorter crosswalks
  • Wider greenscape buffer
  • Saves more mature

trees

  • Pedestrian islands at

stations only

  • Trees at edges only
  • No median lighting
  • Perception of more

pavement

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SLIDE 62

Boston Transportation Department

Breakout Sessions

Thinking about Design Concepts

  • Thoughts on the design concepts:
  • Which option do you prefer and why?
  • Are there elements of each that you would mix and match to

form a hybrid option?

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SLIDE 63

Boston Transportation Department

Breakout Sessions – 3 0 m in.

  • Break into small groups (number on handout)
  • Discussion in small groups
  • Each group should nominate a speaker to present a

summary of its discussion

  • Moderator will board comments/questions
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SLIDE 64

Boston Transportation Department

Next Steps

  • Review feedback from tonight’s meeting
  • Continue to develop/refine design concepts based
  • n project goals and community feedback
  • Hold the next community meeting in mid-

summer/early fall