Casey Overpass

[Pierce]

I agree-- and it would help suppress the highway mentality of drivers on the Jamaicaway.

 

[Digital_Islandboy]

Why not an elevated green line extension on a modern concrete elevated rail bed over the streets?

Boston just spent millions getting rid of the last of its El at North Station. If they're going to put anything overhead it should be a monorail. Heavy/light rail's shadow area turns streets below it into perpetual night. Monorail would at least let light through but I doubt homes along South St. would want fast moving trains flying past their 3rd storey windows.

~D.I.

 

[gooseberry]

You have to consider that people go this route because they are going to and from places where taking the T isn't really an option because of the amount of time it would take.

 

[HenryAlan]

You have to consider that people go this route because they are going to and from places where taking the T isn't really an option because of the amount of time it would take.

Yep, which is why I'm not sure the cars would simply go elsewhere. It is the only crosstown route connecting Dot/Mattapan/Rozzie/JP/Brookline. There is no alternative option for many of these trips.

Again, I'd like to see some real data, but my own perception is that the people who use the overpass our traveling within these communities, not heading downtown. The people who use the J-Way to get downtown are starting off on the west side of Forest Hills. People on the East side use Blue Hill/Columbus to get downtown.

As for the surface roads, as I've stated, they are already quite congested, primarily due to buses and trucks. If you extended the Orange Line, thereby getting rid of most of the buses, then the surface routes might be able to handle additional car traffic.

 

[statler]

If you extended the Orange Line, thereby getting rid of most of the buses, then the surface routes might be able to handle additional car traffic.

Oh look, a simple (albeit expensive) solution to the problem...

 

[HenryAlan]

Oh look, a simple (albeit expensive) solution to the problem...

I bet it would cost less than a new bridge. The ROW is there, waiting to be used, and a 1 mile extension to Roslindale Square would be sufficient to eliminate the buses.

 

[belmont square]

The problem with that idea is that less than 1/3 of the bus trips in and out of Forest Hills are heading south on Washington Street towards Roslindale. The majority of trips in and out of Forest Hills either cross under the overpass in both directions (37, 38, 39) or on their inbound trip (16, 21, 31) and Forest Hills seems like the logical terminus for most of these routes. And the 32 alone runs almost as many trips down Hyde Park Ave as all of the Roslindale routes combined and would likely continue to connect to Forest Hills.

So, a relatively small portion of the current bus traffic would be eliminated from the area, and the elimination of the overpass could have negative impacts on the performance of the routes that remain (among which are three of the T's busiest--31, 32, and 39).

 

[Charlie_mta]

Turn the existing Casey Overpass into an elevated park, similar to the High Line project in Manhatten. That would reconnect the Emerald Necklace.

 

[palindrome]

Turn the existing Casey Overpass into an elevated park, similar to the High Line project in Manhatten. That would reconnect the Emerald Necklace.

i think its too beyond repair even for that.

 

[Shepard]

Turn the existing Casey Overpass into an elevated park, similar to the High Line project in Manhatten. That would reconnect the Emerald Necklace.

I think that's a really great idea, actually. Excellent skyline views, T access, and right between the Arboretum and Franklin Park. I honestly think this idea should be explored further.

 

[Pierce]

i think its too beyond repair even for that.

Hmmmm.... This is a bridge near my hometown, a dilapidated, earth and concrete bridge that used to carry an interurban trolley line. It has been deteriorating and overgrown for at least the 33 years I have been around. And of course a haven for teenagers--the original High Line!

 

[Charlie_mta]

Why not an elevated green line extension on a modern concrete elevated rail bed over the streets?

Centre Street is probably too narrow for a modern elevated rail line. Wide throroghfares, such as Commonwealth Ave in the BU area, would be suitable for a modern elevated of this type from Vancouver BC, which uses Blue Line size cars:

 

[Lurker]

I was actually suggesting running the Green Line over the Arbor and J-Ways. Reducing the parkways from four lanes with an emphasis on maintaining the trees of course. A reasonably quiet and elegant elevated view of the Emerald Necklace would be quite lovely.

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

http://jamaicaplaingazette.com/2011/10/07/overpass-team-narrows-choices/

Study team's narrowed the Casey replacement options to 2: low-profile overpass with no added frills, or at-grade intersection that prohibits lefts at the lights but incorporates U-turns right after the intersection to make all turns happen as rights (a la Park Drive @ Brookline Ave.). Overpass plan eliminates the multi-use path suggested on the now discarded more expensive plan because it's just too cost-prohibitive.


Given those conditions, I think at-grade's looking the better option if the surface ped crossings are still gonna be kind of mediocre with ramps or road. U'ies keep the roadway from having so many turn lanes it's too daunting to cross and parkways aren't supposed to be expressways with full-on interstate ramps in the first place. I think this could work if the U-turns are well designed.

 

[HenryAlan]

MassDOT has decided in favor of an at grade solution:

http://jamaicaplaingazette.com/2012/03/08/overpass-to-be-replaced-by-surface-street-network/

I haven't been able to decide which option I preferred from the stand point of what's best for the most people. But I do prefer this option for my own personal needs.

 

[George_Apley]

2013 to 2016?? Why on Earth does it take THREE YEARS to tear down a dilapidated bridge and widen an intersection??

 

[HenryAlan]

I made the same comment at Universal Hub. It's astonishingly confounding. Also, like I said, the grade level solution is better for me personally, but I do have some reservations about it. Six lanes is too wide for New Washington St., and a "Copley Square" sized plaza is far too big for the entrance to Forest Hills Station. I'd like to see six replaced with four, and plaza replaced with "first phase of TOD project."

 

[vanshnookenraggen]

I made the same comment at Universal Hub. It's astonishingly confounding. Also, like I said, the grade level solution is better for me personally, but I do have some reservations about it. Six lanes is too wide for New Washington St., and a "Copley Square" sized plaza is far too big for the entrance to Forest Hills Station. I'd like to see six replaced with four, and plaza replaced with "first phase of TOD project."

I think a TOD project will be more appealing after the overpass is removed.

The 6 laner could be OK if they add a wide landscaped median. This is the Arborway afterall.

 

[Lurker]

Liz Malia is working overtime to to screw over her urban constituents in favor of suburban ones. Her and Capuano seem to be harboring a 1950s love affair with anti-urban highway infrastructure.

 

[HenryAlan]

Globe story:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/jamaica_plain/2012/03/state_selects_at-grade_alterna.html

Renderings:

http://app1.massdot.state.ma.us/CaseyOverpass/downloads/alternative_renderings.pdf