Longwood residents could face new bus fee
A long-planned project to connect the spokes of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system may require private financial support from the universities and hospitals connected to the Longwood Medical Area.
Construction could begin as early as 2015 on the so-called Urban Ring ? a chain of five new bus routes linking outlying neighborhoods and inner suburbs of Boston ? to enable riders to go cross-town without heading into the city center to transfer.
But the project is not likely to be built without financial contributions from Harvard University, Boston University and the Longwood-area hospitals, which the proposed new lines would serve, say officials in the state?s Executive Office of Transportation. The Urban Ring is seen as vital to expansion of the Longwood-area life sciences sector.
A 2007 estimate priced construction at $2 billion and annual operating costs at $30 million. Project planners are applying for federal funds that could cover up to half the construction costs.
One proposal would cover part of the cost by levying a 10 percent surcharge on commercial parking spaces around the Longwood area and assessing institutions $100 for each private, nonresidential parking space they maintain. Combined, the parking taxes and fees could raise $44 million annually, enough to service $555 million in debt, according to a Boston Redevelopment Authority analysis obtained by the Boston Business Journal.
The analysis was undertaken for the Executive Office of Transportation on request, said BRA spokeswoman Jessica Shumaker. State officials cautioned that parking fees and taxes are among several ideas now under discussion, and the state has not asked institutions for any specific contributions.
Three-quarters of the estimated construction costs are slated for a $1.5 billion bus tunnel under the Longwood area.
Without the tunnel, the Urban Ring service may not be viable because roadways in Longwood are too narrow and congested, said Wendy P. Stern, the state?s undersecretary of planning and program development.
Stern said the federal government is likely to kick in less than half of the project?s estimated $2 billion cost.
?We have not figured out specific percentages,? Stern said, ?but the point that we really have to get into ... is what?s not able to be financed by the state as the local share has to be financed elsewhere.?
Most of the proposed route, which includes Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Chelsea, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, the Fenway, Allston and Brighton, would be served by buses on a dedicated right-of-way.
The three Urban Ring routes serving the Longwood Medical Area are expected to carry 135,000 passengers daily, said Ned Codd, manager of plan development at the Executive Office of Transportation. The three routes connect Sullivan Square to Ruggles Station via Cambridge; Harvard Square to the University of Massachusetts-Boston via Allston-Brighton; and Kenmore Square to Chelsea via South Boston and East Boston.
The Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization represents the medical schools and hospitals in the Longwood area. Sarah Hamilton, the group?s executive director, said it is too early to say whether institutions in the area are willing to financially support the Urban Ring.
?Of course everyone?s interested in trying to be collaborative,? she said.
The current proposed route through Allston to Cambridge would connect Harvard University?s Cambridge campus with its planned campus expansion in Allston and its medical school and teaching hospitals in the Longwood area.
?We?re on board with being a member of the process,? said university spokesman Joe Wrinn. He declined to say whether the university is considering a financial contribution. The Allston expansion plans can go forward with or without improved public transit service, he said.
However, better public transportation is essential to any expansion of the life sciences economy centered in the Longwood area, said Arthur Mombourquette, vice president of support services at Brigham and Women?s Hospital.
?If we?re going to grow we need to get more people here,? he said. ?And I think it?s unreasonable to expect that we?re going to be able to pump more vehicle traffic in here.?
As it is currently proposed, the Urban Ring would also support a transit hub proposed by Boston University at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and the BU Bridge. The proposed transit hub is part of the school?s plan to revitalize its campus center.
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/08/25/story4.html?b=1219636800^1688521
A long-planned project to connect the spokes of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system may require private financial support from the universities and hospitals connected to the Longwood Medical Area.
Construction could begin as early as 2015 on the so-called Urban Ring ? a chain of five new bus routes linking outlying neighborhoods and inner suburbs of Boston ? to enable riders to go cross-town without heading into the city center to transfer.
But the project is not likely to be built without financial contributions from Harvard University, Boston University and the Longwood-area hospitals, which the proposed new lines would serve, say officials in the state?s Executive Office of Transportation. The Urban Ring is seen as vital to expansion of the Longwood-area life sciences sector.
A 2007 estimate priced construction at $2 billion and annual operating costs at $30 million. Project planners are applying for federal funds that could cover up to half the construction costs.
One proposal would cover part of the cost by levying a 10 percent surcharge on commercial parking spaces around the Longwood area and assessing institutions $100 for each private, nonresidential parking space they maintain. Combined, the parking taxes and fees could raise $44 million annually, enough to service $555 million in debt, according to a Boston Redevelopment Authority analysis obtained by the Boston Business Journal.
The analysis was undertaken for the Executive Office of Transportation on request, said BRA spokeswoman Jessica Shumaker. State officials cautioned that parking fees and taxes are among several ideas now under discussion, and the state has not asked institutions for any specific contributions.
Three-quarters of the estimated construction costs are slated for a $1.5 billion bus tunnel under the Longwood area.
Without the tunnel, the Urban Ring service may not be viable because roadways in Longwood are too narrow and congested, said Wendy P. Stern, the state?s undersecretary of planning and program development.
Stern said the federal government is likely to kick in less than half of the project?s estimated $2 billion cost.
?We have not figured out specific percentages,? Stern said, ?but the point that we really have to get into ... is what?s not able to be financed by the state as the local share has to be financed elsewhere.?
Most of the proposed route, which includes Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Chelsea, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, the Fenway, Allston and Brighton, would be served by buses on a dedicated right-of-way.
The three Urban Ring routes serving the Longwood Medical Area are expected to carry 135,000 passengers daily, said Ned Codd, manager of plan development at the Executive Office of Transportation. The three routes connect Sullivan Square to Ruggles Station via Cambridge; Harvard Square to the University of Massachusetts-Boston via Allston-Brighton; and Kenmore Square to Chelsea via South Boston and East Boston.
The Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization represents the medical schools and hospitals in the Longwood area. Sarah Hamilton, the group?s executive director, said it is too early to say whether institutions in the area are willing to financially support the Urban Ring.
?Of course everyone?s interested in trying to be collaborative,? she said.
The current proposed route through Allston to Cambridge would connect Harvard University?s Cambridge campus with its planned campus expansion in Allston and its medical school and teaching hospitals in the Longwood area.
?We?re on board with being a member of the process,? said university spokesman Joe Wrinn. He declined to say whether the university is considering a financial contribution. The Allston expansion plans can go forward with or without improved public transit service, he said.
However, better public transportation is essential to any expansion of the life sciences economy centered in the Longwood area, said Arthur Mombourquette, vice president of support services at Brigham and Women?s Hospital.
?If we?re going to grow we need to get more people here,? he said. ?And I think it?s unreasonable to expect that we?re going to be able to pump more vehicle traffic in here.?
As it is currently proposed, the Urban Ring would also support a transit hub proposed by Boston University at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and the BU Bridge. The proposed transit hub is part of the school?s plan to revitalize its campus center.
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/08/25/story4.html?b=1219636800^1688521
