Boston Flora

Tag: MassDot

  • Saturday, May 13, 2:00 pm – Free Tour of Charlesgate Park

    This past November, MassDOT held a public announcement that funding had been secured for two bridge projects the Bowker Overpass. While the designs are not yet ready for public comment, the Charlesgate Alliance, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and the Esplanade Association have partnered to advocate for the greenest possible outcomes for these transformational projects.

    Promised outcomes include removing the offramp over the Muddy River at Charlesgate East and Commonwealth Avenue and, in collaboration with our partners at the Esplanade Association, daylighting the terminus of the Muddy River as it enters the Charles. These two MassDOT improvements will act as bookends as we work to improve the heart of the park between the Mass. Turnpike and Beacon Street. Join us on a free tour of Charlesgate Park about the vision for its future on Saturday, May 13 at 2:00 pm.

    Register  here so that we can get a head count and tell you if a rain cancellation occurs.

    Tours start in The Grove area of the park (just in from the NW corner of Beacon St. and Charlesgate East), where we planted new trees last June. Look for buds on the maple trees! Allow two hours for the complete tour. Below is an image of the area circa 1954, for reference.

  • Reconnect Parkland Through Storrow Project

    MassDOT has opened a public conversation about the reconstruction of Storrow Drive near Kenmore Square where it intersects with the Bowker Overpass.

    They have developed an approach that offers the exciting prospect of moving Storrow further back from the River and consolidating parkland. Planners are converging on Options 3A or 3B in this slide deck. Worth noting: The project does not include, but will be done so as not to foreclose, the daylighting of the Muddy River’s entrance to the Charles.

    A lot of thinking has been to identify these options, but a lot of design and engineering work remains to be done in collaboration with neighbors and the larger public. A meeting was held to start the conversation with representatives of neighborhood groups and abutting institutions — much more conversation to come.

    The project is likely to begin construction in roughly 2023. To learn more about this project, contact State Senator Will Brownsberger at http://willbrownsberger.com, or call his office at 617-722-1280.

  • Tuesday, September 10, 6:30 pm – Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay Annual Meeting

    The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 10, beginning at 6:30 pm at the Algonquin Club, 217 Commonwealth Avenue (between Exeter and Fairfield Streets)  in Boston.  At this meeting, members will elect the slate of officers and directors and present the community service awards.  The guest speaker will be Richard A. Davey, MassDOT Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (pictured below).  His topic will be Transportation’s Impact on the Back Bay’s Future.  A reception will follow the meeting, which is free and open to the public. To respond, for information on joining, or for more details, call 617-247-3961, or visit www.nabbonline.com.

    http://www.wbur.org/files/2010/03/davey.jpg

  • Tree Removals on the Esplanade

    If you have walked through the Esplanade lately you may have noticed that trees have been removed, or have been marked for removal, on either side of the Charles Circle Pedestrian Bridge. These tree removals are part of the rehabilitation of the historic and iconic Longfellow Bridge and construction of a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian bridge across Storrow Drive to the Esplanade.

    The Esplanade Association participated in the Longfellow Bridge Task Force and lobbied for this new ADA compliant pedestrian bridge. On either side, the new Pedestrian Bridge will include new tree plantings and newly landscaped areas. If you have any questions regarding this construction work please call MassDOT at 617-519-9892, or email address, longfellowbridge@state.ma.us or contact The Esplanade Association at 617-227-0365, or email address, info@esplanadeassociation.org.  Image of proposed footbridge courtesy of Beacon Hill Times.

    http://beaconhilltimes.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/BHT13.jpg