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Boston Globe
18-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Congress pulls the plug on $327 million for Allston megaproject. So what's next?
This funding cut wasn't much of a surprise. The Trump administration is on the warpath to clear out any 'equity' related programs left over from President Biden. And Republicans in Congress were eager for savings to help make a bevy of tax cuts permanent in their 'Big Beautiful Bill.' So a target had been on this funding source, known as the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program, for months. Advertisement It still hurt to see what's left of this infrastructure program — nearly $2.5 billion awarded but still unspent, per national nonprofit Smart Growth America's accounting — now zeroed out entirely. Advertisement The MassDOT brass already had to make do with two-thirds of the federal grant funds they had initially hoped for — a shortfall that Governor Maura Healey highlighted in January. Now, there will be more scrambling at Ten Park Plaza. So now, it's time for a backup plan. MassDOT will take two important steps to readjust. They'll embark on an in-depth cost analysis, in part to understand recent impacts from tariffs and inflation such as steel costs. That study would be paired with an independent engineering analysis about how to maximize the project's transportation benefits with the remaining available funding sources. These are logical next steps, and now they're likely necessary for the project's survival. So what kind of funding gap are we talking about? That's still not entirely clear. When asked for a breakdown of where the $2 billion would come from, state officials offered elements from the original federal grant application, including $200 million in toll revenue and $100 million from the city of Boston. Harvard University, which owns most of the old Beacon Park Yard land that would be opened up, would kick in $90 million, while Boston University, whose campus is next door, would contribute $10 million. Harvard and the city of Boston would also provide another $100 million, to be collected from future development there. In January, Healey said she would ask the Legislature for approval to use $615 million in borrowed funds, collected through bonds based on the better-than-expected money flow from the so-called millionaires tax, also known as Fair Share funds. That only gets MassDOT halfway there. In its federal grant application, the state agency signaled it would borrow another $470 million from a federal highway loan program known as TIFIA. It's unclear, though, exactly how much would be available, though US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has pledged to increase the maximum amount in financing available to many projects. Advertisement Project advocates hope the Healey administration can pick up more of the slack — maybe through a TIFIA loan, for example, or more Fair Share funds. State officials aren't entertaining this idea right now, at least not openly. Instead, the word is out that it might be time to get more frugal. Tensions have simmered in Allston for years around just how long it's taken MassDOT to get this far in the planning. It was Governor Deval Patrick, after all, who first promised this new transit hub, dubbed West Station, alongside the turnpike realignment, 11 years ago. Back then, both projects' price tags were a fraction of what they are today. Plans got waylaid during Governor Charlie Baker's administration over the so-called 'Throat' area, a narrow band of land between the train tracks and the Charles River. MassDOT finally settled on keeping all highway lanes on the ground through the area, in part to make it easier to develop on decks above them. By the time MassDOT landed the $335 million federal grant in March of last year, Healey was governor and Joe Biden was in the White House. Healey said then that she hoped for a 2027 groundbreaking; her transportation secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt hoped environmental permitting could be done within a year. The former goal just became much tougher to achieve. The latter, now impossible. Healey hired transportation veteran Luisa Paiewonsky last year, to shepherd the Allston project (along with the hoped-for new bridges over the Cape Cod Canal). Toward that end, Paiewonsky has held monthly task force meetings to update the community and solicit feedback. Advertisement Lately, the big debate has been over layover. The plans call for four tracks to park trains at West Station, to accommodate future cross-state service, despite a promise there wouldn't be any. Allston neighbors prefer trains to be parked elsewhere, as does Mayor Michelle Wu. Harvard doesn't want layover, either, and has drawn up preliminary designs for housing to show how its land could be put to better use. All eyes are on Widett Circle, a 24-acre industrial area just south of downtown that the MBTA acquired two years ago. However, the T says it needs all the space for its own layover tracks, as soon as possible, because of an existing shortage and plans to expand the commuter rail fleet. The T plans to build the first six tracks by 2028, to support electric trains coming to the Fairmount line, and the other 20 would go in over the following seven years. MassDOT is working with the Wu administration to find a new spot that could work for layover —the public works yard next to Widett, perhaps? For now, it remains a disliked part of the state's Allston plans. Other issues remain up in the air: what to do about a temporary closing of the train bridge over the Charles, for example, and how to lessen the project's impact on the river itself. And when the task force reconvenes next week, everyone involved faces the most important of unresolved issues: how to pay for it all. Advertisement Jon Chesto can be reached at
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
From Bluffton To Boca Raton, US Communities Take On Road Safety Crisis
Both urban and rural areas were evaluated and ranked based on their successful adoption of proactive ... More policies in recent years to address the road safety crisis. Forty-three towns and cities across the country have been cited for 'standout' efforts to confront the dangers to roadway safety in their communities. Both urban and rural areas were evaluated and ranked based on their successful adoption of proactive policies in recent years to address the road safety crisis. Those are highlights of a new report released on Wednesday by Smart Growth America, a nonprofit focusing on housing and land use, transportation, and economic development, in conjunction with the National Complete Streets Coalition, an alliance of public interest organizations and transportation professionals that is a program of Smart Growth America. 'Complete Streets policies reflect the vision each community has for its future,' Heidi Simon, director of Thriving Communities at Smart Growth America, said in a statement. 'The strongest policies lead to changes that make it safer and easier for people to get where they need to go—whether they're walking, driving, biking, or taking transit.' The report, Best Complete Streets Policies 2025, details the actions taken by communities 'to develop strong and effective policies' in 2023 and 2024 using the Complete Streets Policy Framework, a strategy and blueprint for organizing a community's commitment to safety, accessibility, and equity for all. Included are details for all aspects of street development, from the planning and design phases through building and maintenance. The approach involves practical and often easy to implement changes, like sidewalks, raised crosswalks and bicycle infrastructure. 'The 2025 report demonstrates that well-designed, context-sensitive policies are being adopted in communities of all sizes,' the report said. 'Top-ranked policies came not only from major urban centers but also from places like Clyde, Ohio, a community with a population of roughly 6,000, demonstrating that no matter the size or setting, policies that produce streets that are safe and accessible for everyone are a critical step toward healthier, more connected communities.' The top-scoring communities and their scores are: Case studies from three communities that adopted 'exemplary policies and overcame unique barriers' are presented in the report. The background, challenges to adoption, highlights of the specific policy, implementation, and lessons learned are detailed. Over the past two decades more than 1,700 Complete Streets policies have been adopted across the United States, the group said, 'for communities to develop new transportation solutions.' 'We applaud communities like Clyde and San Antonio for crafting thoughtful, actionable policies that reflect their local realities and are poised to deliver real, on-the-ground improvements,' Simon added. For more information and to access the report, click here.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officials celebrate as grizzly bears are caught on camera using unique new bridge: 'It was pretty amazing to see firsthand'
KHOL 89.1FM reported that grizzly bears in Wyoming are exploring the new wildlife crossings near Wyoming Highway 22. WYDOT, Teton County, and the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust funded the four new crossings in the area for wildlife navigation around the existing intersection construction. After a rancher spotted the bear using one, project engineer Mick Farrell captured a photo as it crossed the Snake River. Designated crossings can improve wildlife conservation for Wyoming's 122 mammal species by reducing unnecessary contact with people. Seeing a healthy grizzly bear safely using the crossing was good news after four fatalities in a month. KHOL 89.1FM reported that one cub was hit by a car, and two young bears may have been killed by an adult male grizzly. Another one was euthanized after dangerous behavior in Yellowstone. Grizzlies enable healthy biodiversity, so it's a good sign to see them roaming in their space. These apex predators keep nature in balance by hunting herbivores capable of overgrazing, which also reduces foraging and habitat space for pollinators. Typical grizzly activities like digging help aerate the soil, and they disperse blueberry and buffaloberry seeds in their feces. The brown large bear that can reach up to 700 pounds is listed as threatened by the Endangered Species Act. However, conservation acts like wildlife crossings and data from tracking collars placed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department can prevent them from moving up to endangered. Wildlife crossings in other areas have already shown success. The Banff Wildlife Crossings in Canada have reduced car collisions with wildlife by 80%. Bison in the UK are also getting some space — their roaming area will increase from 123 acres to 494 acres — from government-backed construction on the nation's first-ever bison bridge. Los Angeles is also taking action by building the world's largest wildlife crossing — measuring 210 feet long — over an eight-lane freeway. According to Smart Growth America, there are as many as one to two million collisions between cars and wildlife. Consequently, people can also get hurt, as 200 human fatalities, 26,000 injuries, and as much as $8 billion in property damage result from these specific accidents, per Pew Research. Safer and separate crossings are invaluable for all species, not just grizzlies. However, it's good that these legendary bears are leading the way. Farrell said, "It was pretty amazing to see firsthand the wildlife crossings working." Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pilot project to help temporary fix safety concerns on busy Winchester road
WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56) — People came to the table at Winchester's College Park to talk about what happens on the streets, especially Boone Avenue. 'You can't pull out of your driveway because they come around that corner so quickly,' one attendee said. Residents who live along the busy road joined city leaders to hear about a $20,000 grant after the city was selected by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) along with Morehead and Bowling Green, to participate in a national project: Smart Growth America's Complete Streets Leadership Academy. The city is working with KYTC to test out temporary street improvements. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news 'Because they're not going to spend millions of dollars to redo the roadway without having something to back it up. So this is a way for us to try to do a little better, or we get to that million dollars,' one leader said. Although low-cost, short-term projects were outlined Monday evening, many residents focused on long-term issues. 'You've got fuel tankers flying,' one attendee said. Large trucks drive the road, even though they are not supposed to, according to a city ordinance, but community members say it is not getting enforced, making the area less safe and interrupting their peace. 'And when those big trucks come down through there, it will wake you up,' said roadside resident Allen Howard. Residents said a big issue is speeding, as the avenue is also Route 627. Many hope more crosswalks can be the answer to increased safety. Buffalo Trace Distillery touts over 90% recovery from April flooding Pilot project to help temporary fix safety concerns on busy Winchester road 1 in hospital after shots fired on Winburn Drive 'So start down at Maple, coming this way. If there were signified crosswalks, people would pay more attention, and I think they will slow down,' Howard said. Larry Disney has lived on the road for more than 20 years, and he echoed the need for more crosswalks along with bike paths. 'For right now, if we could get the crosswalks and have the traffic slow down, if we could police it to slow down at night,' Disney said. Those working on the project said they are looking at utilizing flex posts. Read more of the latest Kentucky news 'These flex posts are in the road; they're kind of in your way. They're not going to damage your car, but they're going to be uncomfy to hit at the same time, and so if we can put that out, it narrows that width a little bit and that will help slow speeds down in the short term,' said area resident and consulting traffic engineer Austin Obenauf. Project leaders will continue to collect feedback before testing out the possible solutions. To take a survey about Boone Ave., click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rochester emphasizes pedestrian safety to reduce fatalities
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – According to a report done by Smart Growth America, the number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States has increased by 75% over the past ten years. Over the past few weeks, Monroe County has seen an uptick in pedestrian crashes causing injury, and in one case, killing a 74-year-old woman. That fatality happened on May 23, on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford. Co-executive director of Reconnect Rochester, Cody Donahue, spoke on the roadway and the dangers it can bring. 'Monroe Avenue around the Pittsford Plaza is a very large roadway,' Donahue said. 'It's not designed with pedestrians or cyclists in mind. The roadway design does not lend itself to safe crossing, and it prioritizes cars in general.' According to Donahue, it is up to both the driver and the pedestrian to keep those in the crosswalk safe. For pedestrians, Donahue says to remember to always look both ways when crossing the street, and only cross when you are signaled too. Of course though, the driver holds the majority of the responsibility to keep those crossing the road safe. 'My biggest message to the drivers of Monroe County is to slow down, put down the phone, make sure you're not running red lights, and keep an eye out for people,' says Donahue. 'New York State law says if someone is in a crosswalk, you have to yield to them. Even if you have a green light, you have to yield to the person who is walking through the crosswalk.' To help push the importance of pedestrian safety, Reconnect Rochester host different community events throughout the year, including their 'Complete Street Makeover' and 'Downtown smART Streets'. 'It's a new initiative to paint curb extension murals,' Donahue explained. 'It creates this physical sign to the driver that you need to slow down here, that there may be pedestrians crossing.' You can learn more about Reconnect Rochester and their many safety initiatives on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
