I had the privilege of attending the Nov. 21 public meeting on the Casey Overpass and was impressed with the thorough design exploration and well-reasoned alternatives. There is no doubt in my mind that, on access and livability criteria alone, the at-grade solution is far superior to a replacement bridge. When you add in the premium cost of building and maintaining a new bridge, the decision becomes obvious.
We must acknowledge, however, the legitimate concern of those who fear that a six-lane roadway touching down in the heart of the neighborhood will be out of scale. The helpful perspective sketches promise green lawns and mature trees lining the travel ways. If well-established and maintained, these lawns and trees will in time mitigate the visual impact of wide boulevards and reestablish the park character of this missing link in the Emerald Necklace. To deliver on that promise MassDOT should substantially increase the budget for street trees above what is normally set aside. This will ensure better tree specimens, proper planting conditions and extended care. In this way they can deliver on the promise and ensure that this long-lost part of the Emerald Necklace will remain green for years to come.
Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of the Emerald Necklace, firmly believed that one could balance the needs of transportation and parks and weave them together seamlessly. MassDOT is attempting to do this for the Casey Overpass area and should be commended.
Herb Nolan
Wellesley
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Thank you goes to Herb
Nolan, highly respected landscape architect and parks advocate, for attending
and weighing in on the Casey Overpass issue. However, I strongly question some of his statements.
What was presented was not
thorough or even a design. These
are concepts plans to help MassDOT deside whether to design a bridge or
no-bridge. Many elements including
numbers of trees and actual alignment are subject to change in the design
phase.
It was not thorough because
they did not do a concept plan with the goal of actually improving traffic
patterns at Forest Hills. This is
why the traffic moves comparably with the 2 plans presented. If Mr. Nolan wants to recall Olmsted’s
visions, a bridge certainly allows for a more seamless flow of traffic. The bridge also builds on his concept
of separating modes.
The park advocates including
the Emerald Necklace Conservancy were opposed to a new bridge at Forest Hills
before ever looking at the swath of asphalt that MassDOT has presented with no
bridge. Their view is based
entirely on the notion that viaduct bridges are bad, never once considering its
benefit here. How can anyone say
that this sea of asphalt improves access or livability. The bridge option was actually shown to
create more open space.
Both options allow for
fabulous reconnections for the Emerald Necklace and planting of many new
trees. I certainly support Mr.
Nolan’s call for a higher commitment for the trees from MassDOT. There has been a very low survival rate
of new trees planted along JP’s parkways over the last few years.
This decision should be
based on how all modes of traffic flow here, not the park amenities. The parks will be improved with either
plan. The bridge option allows the
best flow for cars, bikes, and pedestrians to and from the parks and
neighborhoods.
Jeffrey Ferris
Ferris Wheels Bike Shop,
Jamaica Plain