Tonight’s 8 Greenway Designs Tonight s 8 Greenway Designs Commonwealth Ave. Summer St / L St Ch Charlesgate l Dartmouth St. Route 9 Crossing Route 9 Crossing World Series Path Arborway
2008 Charlesgate Connection Northeastern University’s Civil Engineering Transportation Design Capstone Northeastern University’s Civil Engineering Transportation Design Capstone h h ’ ’ l l Bicycling Around the Back Bay “The BaBBs” M Matt Volovski V l ki Kelly Chronley Josh Barnett Tony Coward
Creating a Connection Between Creating a Connection Between the Charles River Esplanade the Charles River Esplanade the Charles River Esplanade the Charles River Esplanade And And The Back Bay Fens The Back Bay Fens
The Charles River Esplanade The Charles River Esplanade The Charles River Esplanade The Charles River Esplanade
The Back Bay Fens The Back Bay Fens The Back Bay Fens The Back Bay Fens
Connect: Connect: The Charles River Esplanade The Charles River Esplanade
With: With: The Back Bay Fens The Back Bay Fens
Through: Through: g The Charlesgate Connection The Charlesgate Connection
Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Utilized by a Wide Array of Users Utilized by a Wide Array of Users Commuters Commuters Commuters Commuters Recreationalists Recreationalists Recreationalists Recreationalists ► Harvard University with ► Connects the beautiful Harvard University with Connects the beautiful Harvard Medical Harvard Medical Charles River and Fens Parks Charles River and Fens Parks ► Boston University with Boston ► Provides access to Olmsted’s Boston University with Boston Provides access to Olmsted’s University Medical University Medical Park Park ► MIT University with Longwood ► Discovers the Lost Park MIT University with Longwood Discovers the Lost Park Medical Area and Jamaica Plain Medical Area and Jamaica Plain ► Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital with Longwood Medical Area with Longwood Medical Area and Jamaica Plain and Jamaica Plain and Jamaica Plain and Jamaica Plain ► Downtown to Fenway/Jamaica Downtown to Fenway/Jamaica Plain Plain
Previous Proposals Previous Proposals Previous Proposals Previous Proposals ► Emerald Necklace Master Plan (1989) ► Emerald Necklace Master Plan (1989) Emerald Necklace Master Plan (1989) Emerald Necklace Master Plan (1989) ► Muddy River Delta Proposal (1996) Muddy River Delta Proposal (1996) ► Charlesgate Interchange Park Charrette (1998) ► Charlesgate Interchange Park Charrette (1998) Charlesgate Interchange Park Charrette (1998) Charlesgate Interchange Park Charrette (1998) ► The Emerald Necklace Greenway Plan (2001) The Emerald Necklace Greenway Plan (2001) ► The MDC Charlesgate Connection Plan (2002) ► The MDC Charlesgate Connection Plan (2002) The MDC Charlesgate Connection Plan (2002) The MDC Charlesgate Connection Plan (2002) ► The Boston Bicycle Summit (2007) The Boston Bicycle Summit (2007)
Our Design Our Design General Overview General Overview General Specifications General Specifications General Specifications General Specifications ► Accommodates: Accommodates: � Pedestrian Pedestrian Pedestrian Pedestrian � Cyclists Cyclists � Handicapped Handicapped ► 12 foot width 12 foot width ► Buffered from traffic Buffered from traffic
Bowker Overpass Bowker Overpass Bowker Overpass Bowker Overpass The Objective: The Objective: To get between the Bowker/Boylston intersection and Commonwealth Ave. To get between the Bowker/Boylston intersection and Commonwealth Ave. � Currently the sidewalks on the Bowker Overpass are inadequate, only 6’ Currently the sidewalks on the Bowker Overpass are inadequate, only 6’ wide and un wide and un- -buffered from traffic. buffered from traffic. The Obstacles: The Obstacles: � The Massachusetts Turnpike The Massachusetts Turnpike � The railroad tracks The railroad tracks h h l l d d k k � The Bowker Overpass The Bowker Overpass The Need: The Need: The Need: The Need: � Additional width on the overpass Additional width on the overpass � The structure can not support a cantilevered pedestrian bridge The structure can not support a cantilevered pedestrian bridge � A free A free- -standing pedestrian bridge over the Mass. Pike and railway would standing pedestrian bridge over the Mass. Pike and railway would be Long (> 200’) and costly be Long (> 200’) and costly
Northbound Lanes Northbound Lanes Northbound Lanes Northbound Lanes ► Currently there are 3 southbound Currently there are 3 southbound lanes and 3 northbound lanes lanes and 3 northbound lanes l l d 3 d 3 hb hb d l d l ► 3 southbound lanes are critical to 3 southbound lanes are critical to the functionality of the intersection the functionality of the intersection ► 3 northbound lanes only serve the 3 3 3 northbound lanes only serve the thb thb d l d l l l th th function of 2 lanes: function of 2 lanes: � Only 2 lanes of traffic ever enter the Only 2 lanes of traffic ever enter the northbound lanes northbound lanes o t bou d a es o t bou d a es � Creates additional movements and Creates additional movements and conflicts for drivers conflicts for drivers ► Elimination of 1 NB lane would Elimination of 1 NB lane would increase driving safety while i increase driving safety while i d i i d i i f t f t hil hil providing space for a pathway. providing space for a pathway.
Off Off-ramp vs. On Off Off ramp vs. On ramp vs. On-ramp ramp vs. On ramp ramp ramp Which Side of Which Side of the Overpass is the Overpass is Best Suited for Best Suited for the Path? the Path?
Northbound Off Northbound Off- -ramp ramp F F Feasibility Feasibility ibilit ibilit ► Single narrow sidewalk Single narrow sidewalk ► Not ADA compliant Not ADA compliant � Would be very difficult to gain compliance Would be very difficult to gain compliance ► 2 lanes 2 lanes � Both are necessary for queue storage Both are necessary for queue storage ► Ramp structure can not support cantilever Ramp structure can not support cantilever
Southbound Onramp Southbound Onramp F F Feasibility Feasibility ibilit ibilit ► Single narrow sidewalk ► Single narrow sidewalk Single narrow sidewalk Single narrow sidewalk ► Not ADA compliant Not ADA compliant � Currently there is a ramp Currently there is a ramp that can be upgraded for that can be upgraded for pg pg compliancy compliancy ► 2 lanes 2 lanes � Both are not necessary Both are not necessary � Two lanes merge down to Two lanes merge down to one before entering the one before entering the overpass overpass ► Ramp structure can be ► Ramp structure can be Ramp structure can be Ramp structure can be altered altered
Moving The Median Moving The Median g
Moving The Median Moving The Median g Proposed Conditions Existing Conditions This is a rendering of what the southbound lanes of This is an image taken from the Bowker/Boylston the Bowker Overpass will look like. Intersection looking at the southbound lanes of the Intersection looking at the southbound lanes of the Bowker Overpass.
Southbound Onramp Southbound Onramp Alt Alternatives Considered Alternatives Considered Alt ti ti C C id id d d ► (A) (A) Requires crossing Requires crossing Charlesgate West traffic Charlesgate West traffic twice twice twice twice ► (B) (B) Not enough width Not enough width ► (C) (C) Not enough clearance Not enough clearance ► (D1 2 3) ► (D1, 2, 3) (D1 2 3) Th (D1, 2, 3) The final Th The final fi fi l l three alternatives were three alternatives were paths that crossed over the paths that crossed over the on on- -ramp at different ramp at different l l locations. locations. ti ti
The Selected Design The Selected Design The Selected Design The Selected Design ► The Onramp Crossing ► The Onramp Crossing The Onramp Crossing The Onramp Crossing Features: Features: � Signaled crossing Signaled crossing g g g g � 125’ from intersection 125’ from intersection providing room for 10 cars providing room for 10 cars in a queue in a queue in a queue in a queue � Separate ADA ramp to Separate ADA ramp to Charlesgate West and Charlesgate West and g Newbury St. Newbury St.
New Path Down from the Bowker New Path Down from the Bowker Onramp to Commonwealth Ave. EB Onramp to Commonwealth Ave. EB
ADA Compliance ADA Compliance ADA Compliance ADA Compliance ► Connects Overpass to the corner of Charlesgate West and Newbury Connects Overpass to the corner of Charlesgate West and Newbury Street. Street. ► Ideal Crossing Location Because: Ideal Crossing Location Because: � Clear sightline down Charlesgate West Clear sightline down Charlesgate West � Short crossing distance (25’) Short crossing distance (25’) � Motorists will be slowing to round the corner Motorists will be slowing to round the corner Motorists will be slowing to round the corner Motorists will be slowing to round the corner ADA Features: ADA Features: � 1/12 slope 1/12 slope � Landings every Landings every g g y y 30 linear feet 30 linear feet
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