Route 16/Quinobequin Road Trail Connection Alternatives March 2020 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Route 16/Quinobequin Road Trail Connection Alternatives March 2020

Alternative A: Quinobequin At-Grade Crossing

Alternative A: Quinobequin At-Grade Crossing

Alternative A: Quinobequin At-Grade Crossing

Alternative B: I-95 Ramp Underpass

Alternative B: I-95 Ramp Underpass

Alternative C: I-95 Underpass Along Charles River

Alternative C: I-95 Underpass Along Charles River OPTION 1 I-95 Connection from Quinobequin Road At the end of the utility access road, the trail Existing utility access road would parallel the I-95 highway embankment from ramp to I-95 ends after 300’ toward the Cochituate Aqueduct stone bridge.

Alternative C: I-95 Underpass Along Charles River Existing Stone Bridge ALL OPTIONS (Cochituate Aqueduct) ends at I-95 OPTION 1 I-95 Bridge To I-95 Connection from utility underpass access road under stone bridge View from opposite side of Charles River 2 N O I T P O Trail would continue under the I-95 bridge Connection Connection from that passes over the Charles River. from existing existing Charles River Cochituate Trail Link Trail OPTION 3

Alternative C: Stone Bridge to I-95 Underpass I-95 Bridge View from stone View from opposite side of bridge Charles River Bringing trail under I-95 bridge would require a cantilevered boardwalk. Challenges: vertical clearance, permitting, lighting, comfort Example (right): Paul Dudley White Bike Path under the BU Bridge Source: Google Streetview 2015

Alternative D: Route 16/Quinobequin Reconstruction Option 1: Remove I-95 S on- and off-ramps from Quinobequin Road ¼ mile between interchanges Note: Ramp removal requires Interchange Modification Report (IMR) to be submitted to FHWA.

Alternative D: Route 16/Quinobequin Reconstruction Option 2: Reconstruct intersection without removing ramps + Alternative A OR + Alternative B Recommendation: Conduct Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) to screen geometric and traffic control options for Route 16/Quinobequin/Walnut intersection

Alternatives Matrix (Preliminary) Undesirable Desirable Alignment Ease of Safety Route Navigability Quality of Experience Cost Ease of Permitting Option Construction Alternative A Moderate Moderate Moderate Low Moderate Easy At-Grade Crossing • Exposure to conflicts • 90 degree turn for • Potential • Requires seeking gap in with vehicles bikes environmental traffic to cross • Multiple crossings permitting needs along Charles River Alternative B High Easy High Moderate Moderate Difficult Ramp Underpass • Limited exposure to • Continuous facility on • If lighting provided for • Potential • Potential challenge to conflicts with same side of the road security environmental maintain sufficient vehicles • Potential to open access to permitting needs along vertical clearance, recreational land along the Charles River drainage, and ADA- river compliant grades Alternative C High Moderate High High Difficult Difficult I-95 Underpass • Limited exposure to • Circuitous connection • If lighting provided for • Potential • Potential challenge to conflicts with • Unpaved trail security environmental maintain ADA-compliant vehicles connection in Options • Potential to open access to permitting challenges grades and sufficient 2 and 3 deter biking recreational land along for construction over vertical clearance Charles River Charles River Alternative D More Easy High High Difficult More information Intersection • Potential to improve • More complex information needed • Potential to create more Reconstruction ped and bike permitting process comfortable connection needed (Not including connectivity from Route 16 (High potential if ramp removal) throughout ramps removed) intersection area