You mean the narrow strip of grass cut off from the rest of the city by 4-6 lanes of noxious traffic?But don't we already have an esplanade for that?
But don't we already have an esplanade for that?
BU initially owned the property down to the river's edge. The state took half of it by eminent domain to build the esplanade. Then the state decided to use most of it for Storrow Drive.yeah, but it used to be 2x as big before storrow drive stole half the real estate, messing up the overall aesthetic, reducing the scope of the amenity, and disconnecting the esplanade from the rest of the back bay neighborhood.
BU initially owned the property down to the river's edge. The state took half of it by eminent domain to build the esplanade. Then the state decided to use most of it for Storrow Drive.
ppp
The Pike + rail is wider than the FDR, plus you have to deal with ventilation. The FDR is just open on one side.
I totally agree, but if there is to be a Storrow Drive remaining for the foreseeable future, then BU should deck over it as part of their development.I know this isn’t the place for it, but Storrow Drive shouldn’t be decked over, it should just become a pedestrian path and bikeway.
That's not the portion by BU, however. BLX would only be between the Kenmore/Fenway exit and Charles Circle. Soldiers Field Rd. by BU needs to stay because there isn't any way to do direct Pike exits to Kenmore/BU without impaling oneself on side streets that can't take the loads or bad-angled intersections. Between Cambridge St. and Kenmore/Charlesgate the parkway is still going to be load-bearing for traffic that doesn't have any other plausible alternative.In the (far) future Storrow Drive should be given a major road diet and the eastbound carriageway should be removed to make room for a Blue Line extension to Kenmore. (this has been discussed at length elsewhere on aB)
Certainly not going to get my hopes up, however.
That's not the portion by BU, however. BLX would only be between the Kenmore/Fenway exit and Charles Circle. Soldiers Field Rd. by BU needs to stay because there isn't any way to do direct Pike exits to Kenmore/BU without impaling oneself on side streets that can't take the loads or bad-angled intersections. Between Cambridge St. and Kenmore/Charlesgate the parkway is still going to be load-bearing for traffic that doesn't have any other plausible alternative.
Oh come on! They have been "planning" a Blue Line extension to Charles-MGH since 1960 and there is still no start date for construction.In the (far) future Storrow Drive should be given a major road diet and the eastbound carriageway should be removed to make room for a Blue Line extension to Kenmore. (this has been discussed at length elsewhere on aB)
Certainly not going to get my hopes up, however.
But don't we already have an esplanade for that?
There's no such thing as having too many pedestrian and bike paths. There is such a thing as having too many highways.
And based on that response I assume you feel that Storrow is superfluous looking at the totality of our vehicular infrastructure?
Both of which are often at capacity even with Storrow.It directly parallels a six-lane highway in the pike (that's just a few blocks away) and a four lane highway in Memorial Drive. Of course it's superfluous.