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BRA unveils plan to redesign Dorchester’s Mt. Vernon Street to support multimodal transportation and alleviate traffic concerns

Mar 13, 2015

New design embraces Boston Complete Streets principles

The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), consultants from McMahon Associates and Crosby Schlessinger Smallridge LLC, and other stakeholder city agencies held a community meeting Tuesday evening to unveil the preliminary design for Mt. Vernon Street on Columbia Point in Dorchester. This represents another milestone in the evolution of this important street, which is in need of a significant infrastructure upgrades. With new construction, including the Edward M. Kennedy Institute scheduled to open later this month, appearing along this stretch of roadway, the community and the city have worked together on a forward-looking streetscape design for the once blank urban canvas.

The newly redesigned Mt. Vernon Street will feature improved accommodation for bicycling, walking and automobile traffic, as well as new landscaping. As a result of meetings held in March, May, and November 2014, BRA planners and consultants designed a functional, yet beautiful street, balancing community needs with exemplary streetscape elements that reflect Boston’s Complete Streets Guidelines.

Key features of the multimodal design include a protected bike lane at the sidewalk level near the curb, as well as wider sidewalks for pedestrians. Located between the protected bike lane and sidewalk is a landscape and furnishing zone. By separating facilities for people who walk or bike from traveling vehicles, the design of Mount Vernon Street provides a safer experience for all users.

“Investing in protected bike lanes is crucial to elevating Boston as a cycling city on a global scale,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “The Mount Vernon Street plan creates safe avenues for multimodal transportation and beautifies the streetscape so that it’s much more welcoming for residents and visitors."

Following the public meeting, BRA Senior Urban Designer Corey Zehngebot expressed enthusiasm about the strategic vision embraced by community members, institutions, and businesses on Columbia Point.

“This planning process allowed us to bring together diverse stakeholders and to understand both the challenges and opportunities associated with Mount Vernon Street” said Corey. “The design was reworked several times to reflect comments from the community, but the end result truly sets the bar for excellence in streetscape design.”

The existing pedestrian environment of Columbia Point is not conducive to the type of urban vitality and neighborhood interactions that residents desire. Moreover, the peninsula itself is disconnected from greater Dorchester by Interstate 93, though it has excellent access to the Harborwalk.

A survey of existing conditions and an extensive traffic analysis revealed a key insight. The potential of Mt. Vernon Street was constrained by points of congestion at Kosciuszko Circle, the Interstate 93 access ramps, and Morrissey Boulevard. Consequently, the design includes 4 vehicular travel lanes at Morrissey Boulevard where vehicular traffic is heaviest. Where traffic volumes are significantly lighter, the travel lanes are reduced to two, one in each direction. At many points throughout the street, a third, turning lane is included. The improved layout will allow Mt. Vernon Street’s traffic to move more efficiently.

Upon completion of 25% design, development of the final 100% design will be overseen by the Boston Public Works Department (DPW) in collaboration with Boston Transportation Department (BTD), the Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC), the Parks Department, the State of MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the BRA. During the 100% design phase, detailed engineering drawings are prepared for construction.

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BRA unveils plan to redesign Dorchester’s Mt. Vernon Street to support multimodal transportation and alleviate traffic concerns

Mar 13, 2015

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