Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen announced plans to invest $35 million in traffic, roadway, and public transit improvements around the Longwood Medical Area (LMA) at the annual meeting of the Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization (MASCO). Some of the initiatives Cohen outlined are $12 million to make Yawkey Station a full-service commuter rail station, $5 million to enhance the Longwood and Fenway stations on the D line, $5.6 million for traffic management improvements, and $12.5 million for improvements to roadways and pedestrian walkways. The community will have the opportunity to review plans and provide input.
Some projects are already under way. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is currently conducting a $400,000 traffic improvement survey in the Longwood and Fenway areas. The State’s Executive Office of Transportation will use an additional $500,000 to study and create a preliminary design of a commuter rail and bus station with parking in North Allston.
The Transportation Department is also reviewing phase two of the Urban Ring project, which aims to connect the “spokes” of the public transit system that radiate from downtown Boston, making it easier for certain communities, including the LMA, to access MBTA service. Initially only surface bus routes were proposed in Longwood, but MASCO has helped obtain federal funding to study the possibility of a tunnel between Park Drive in the Kenmore neighborhood and Ruggles.
Cohen cautioned that aging infrastructure, a backlog of already-approved projects, and debt may hamper the planning process for new projects, but emphasized the importance of earmarking funds dedicated to the maintenance and growth of the state’s transportation systems.
