LATEST UPDATE — JUNE 30, 2021
Here's a reminder that the next MassDOT I-93 Viaduct Project virtual public meeting will take place this evening at 6 p.m.
To register for the Zoom meeting, please follow the link posted on this page: https://www.mass.gov/event/somerville-i-93-viaduct-bridge-preservation-public-hearing-2021-06-30t180000-0400-2021-06-30t200000-0400
On behalf of our legislative delegation, I want to say thank you to everyone who has been standing with us as we continue to push MassDOT for road safety improvements at the deadly intersections along Rt. 28 and Rt. 38, along with a real commitment to address the deadly impacts of sound and air pollution caused by automobile traffic on I-93.
I'm very pleased to report that MassDOT has been responding to our advocacy in recent weeks. Just last week, Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told the MassDOT Board that they would accelerate key safety improvements around Mystic Avenue (Rt. 38) and McGrath Highway (Rt. 28). For example, the fixtures for a new, signalized crosswalk have now been installed at Blakeley Avenue and McGrath Highway, the location where Marshall Mac was tragically struck down by an automobile earlier this year. The final striping for this crosswalk is scheduled to be performed this evening, and it should be operational this week. In addition, we've been making progress in our push for commitments for ADA-compliant ramps and raised crosswalks in the vicinity of the Rt. 28/38 Intersection and the Kensington Connector.
Earlier this month, I was able to organize a meeting with MassDOT Secretary Jamey Tesler to focus particularly on the issue of sound and noise mitigation along I-93. At this meeting, we were able to bring several representatives of city government and local advocacy groups to the table as well, and we also had representation from the Conservation Law Foundation — and here again, I am happy to report we are seeing signs of progress. In this meeting, the Secretary agreed to put some of MassDOT's previous concerns regarding internal policies aside and to work with us to focus on developing actionable solutions for pollution mitigation. My hope and expectation is that tonight's public meeting will offer further commitments from MassDOT to do the design, feasibility, and engineering work that is necessary to really move the ball forward with sound walls. Such a commitment in the near-term will put us in a much better position to leverage the funding allocations our legislative delegation has already secured.
Please join us this evening to get the latest updates on this effort and to continue making your voice heard in the process. It's clear that we've been making a real impact, so let's keep it up!
Yours in service,
Rep. Mike Connolly
PREVIOUS UPDATE — JUNE 14, 2021
Today, the Somerville legislative delegation submitted this six-page letter to the MassDOT Capital Investment Plan (CIP) process for FY22. Concerned residents are once again encouraged to submit comments on the draft CIP before the end of the day today. Comment on the CIP may be made via email to [email protected]. You may also explore projects included in the draft CIP and provide comments online using the CIP Comment Tool, available via mass.gov/cip.
Also today, MassDOT has announced that a second Design Public Hearing relative to the I-93 Viaduct project will be held on June 30th at 6 pm. More information about how to participate in this meeting is available here via this file and this Word document. This meeting is being scheduled after last week's public meeting ended abruptly following intense criticism of MassDOT's plans from myself and other local officials, advocates, and residents. More about this was recently posted in the LivableStreets blog entitled "MassDOT Ghosts Somerville Critics at I-93 Virtual Public Meeting."
PREVIOUS UPDATE — JUNE 8, 2021
This evening at 6 pm, MassDOT will host a Live Virtual Design Public Hearing to discuss the so-called I-93 Viaduct Preservation Project.
To participate in tonight's meeting, please use the Zoom link posted here: https://www.mass.gov/event/somerville-virtual-design-public-hearing-notice-and-comment-period-2021-06-08t180000-0400-2021-06-08t200000-0400
In addition, written comments about the I-93 project will be accepted until June 18th via email to [email protected] (put “Attention: Major Projects, Project File No. 606528” in the subject line).
Also a reminder that tonight's I-93 project meeting follows last week’s meeting relative to MassDOT's FY22 Capital Investment Plan (CIP). The public comment period for the draft CIP has been extended through June 14. Comment on the CIP may be made via email to [email protected]. You may also explore projects included in the draft CIP and provide comments online using the CIP Comment Tool, available via mass.gov/cip.
Please attend tonight's meeting, and then please be sure to submit written comments to both the CIP process and the I-93 Project process as discussed above. Thank you!
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In Dec. 2020, MassDOT told Somerville residents that urgently-needed road safety improvements would be constructed in the summer of 2022 as part of the Rt. 28/38 Intersection Safety Improvements Project. These improvements will address a “Top 200 Crash Location” where three pedestrians have been killed by automobiles in the past 2 years. However, last month, MassDOT announced the road safety project wouldn’t begin until 2023 and further revealed that an I-93 Viaduct Preservation Project would begin construction this year in the very same area. They say the goal of the I-93 project is to “preserve the life of the steel” on the I-93 automobile viaduct. At present, the I-93 project does not include any sound walls to mitigate the impact of noise pollution and the ultrafine particulate matter that has been associated with increases in cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 in the Environmental Justice communities in East Somerville and along Mystic Ave.
Fortunately, our legislative delegation has succeeded in having funding language included in recent state bond bills to better address these concerns — but for this funding to be utilized, MassDOT must include these items in their pending Capital Investment Plan (“CIP”).
Therefore, we ask MassDOT utilize at least $2 million in state bond funds for noise barriers in the vicinity of East Somerville and at least $2 million for faster improvements to the Rt. 28/38 corridor in Somerville, including dense tree cover along Mystic Avenue and Foss Park and an expanded and accelerated road safety improvement project with elements such as raised crosswalks, sidewalk-level protected bike facilities, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, and a road diet for Rt. 28 north of Broadway. We ask that MassDOT support making these investments in addition to and as part of the pending $37 million I-93 viaduct project and the $6 million road safety project as discussed above. By prioritizing the needs of people over the needs of the interstate highway, MassDOT will be able to set an example for achieving equity and justice in densely-populated Environmental Justice communities across the Commonwealth.
In addition, we wish to thank MassDOT for responding to our advocacy with a commitment to construct a signalized crosswalk at Rt. 28 and Blakeley Avenue this summer, and we encourage them to go further and make additional commitments for road safety and ADA-compliance efforts this year.
Finally, we ask that MassDOT actively support our delegation in urging the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to act on language included in another recent bond bill to install triple-glazed windows as sound mitigation at the state-funded public housing on Mystic Avenue, which is home to hundreds of families who are directly impacted by I-93 pollution. The recently adopted Environmental Justice provisions of the Climate Roadmap Law support these funding requests for pollution mitigation and expanded and accelerated road safety elements as part of MassDOT’s pending projects in the area.
Our efforts to address these concerns have recently been featured in The Boston Globe, Boston.com, the Somerville Journal, Cambridge Day, the Livable Streets blog, and elsewhere. Please join us this evening and submit written comments to help us continue advocating for policies that prioritize people's lives ahead of automobiles and highways.
PREVIOUS UPDATE — FROM JUNE 1, 2021
At 6 pm this evening, MassDOT will host a Boston-area virtual meeting to discuss their FY22 Capital Investment Plan (“CIP”). This is the document that specifies how MassDOT will make capital investments in the new fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2021. At tonight's meeting, there will be a 20 minute presentation of the draft CIP followed by an opportunity for public comment. To participate, use this Join Zoom Meeting link. In addition, written comments will be accepted until June 7th via email. Send an email to [email protected] to make written comments. You may also explore projects included in the draft CIP and provide comments online using MassDOT's CIP Comment Tool, available via mass.gov/cip.
Last week, scores of Somerville resident called in to the MassDOT Board meeting to advocate pollution mitigation (such as sound barriers along I-93) and road safety improvements in the East Somerville and Mystic Avenue area where Rt. 28 meets Rt. 38. In addition, some 250 residents attended a rally with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Mayor Curtatone, myself, and other elected officials and local advocates to highlight these concerns. Tonight's CIP meeting and the public comment process that follows is our next chance to make our voices heard.
BACKGROUND: In Dec. 2020, MassDOT presented to Somerville residents that urgently needed road safety improvements would be constructed in the summer of 2022 as part of the Rt. 28/38 Intersection Safety Improvements Project. These improvements are intended to address a “Top 200 Crash Location” where three pedestrians have been killed by automobiles in the past two years. However, last month, MassDOT announced the road safety project wouldn’t begin until 2023 and further revealed that an I-93 Viaduct Preservation Project would begin construction later this year in the very same area. They say the goal of the I-93 project is to “preserve the life of the steel” on the interstate’s automobile viaduct. At present, the I-93 project does not include any sound walls to mitigate the impact of noise pollution and the ultrafine particulate matter that has been associated with increases in cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 in the Environmental Justice communities in East Somerville and along Mystic Ave.
Fortunately, our legislative delegation has succeeded in having funding language included in recent state bond bills to better address these concerns — but for this funding to be utilized, MassDOT must include these items in their pending Capital Investment Plan (“CIP”).
Therefore, we ask MassDOT to include at least $2 million for noise barriers in the vicinity of East Somerville and at least $2 million for improvements to the Rt. 28/38 corridor in Somerville, including dense tree cover along Mystic Avenue and Foss Park and an expanded and accelerated road safety improvement project with elements such as raised crosswalks, sidewalk-level protected bike facilities, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, and a road diet for Rt. 28 north of Broadway.We ask that MassDOT support making these investments in addition to and as part of the pending $6 million road safety project and the $37 million interstate project as discussed above. By authorizing the capital investments our legislative delegation secured in the recent Transportation Bond Bill, MassDOT will be able to set an example for achieving equity and justice in densely-populated Environmental Justice communities across the Commonwealth. Finally, we ask that MassDOT actively support our delegation in urging the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to act on language included in another recent bond bill to install triple-glazed windows as sound mitigation at the state-funded public housing on Mystic Avenue, which is home to hundreds of families who are directly impacted by I-93 pollution. The recently adopted Environmental Justice provisions of the Climate Roadmap Law support these funding requests for pollution mitigation and expanded and accelerated road safety elements as part of MassDOT’s pending projects in the area.
