As development projects continue to be permitted and constructed on or near Boston’s waterfront, concerns about traffic and transportation have intensified. Providing good transportation access to and from the waterfront is key to supporting new development. This first came to broad public attention in 2000 when state Environmental Secretary Bob Durand convened a South Boston Transportation Summit. In his December 2000 decision on the South Boston Municipal Harbor Plan, Secretary Durand established some key principles for review of new waterfront projects:

• Need for a unified transportation strategy that implements the goals of the city of Boston’s transportation study, in a manner which makes efficient use of transportation investments and which favors non-polluting forms of transportation over private automobile use; and
• Ensure that transportation demand is in balance with capacity, both in the short term and the long term. If demand exceeds capacity, project proponents may choose to reduce demand by reducing density, delaying development, changing the mix of land uses, or taking steps to increase the capacity of public and quasi-public transit services.

In the decade since the Transportation Summit, not only have waterfront development projects begun to move forward, but projects such as the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center expansion are now proposed at a significantly larger scale than originally contemplated. Recent state approval of up to three casinos in the commonwealth, including one in eastern Massachusetts, will no doubt have significant transportation implications. Waterfront neighborhoods such as Dorchester, Charlestown and East Boston are experiencing renewed development interest.

Since the 2000 South Boston Transportation Summit, the MBTA Silver Line Waterfront transit route has come on line, as have the Seaport Access Road and numerous road and grid improvements. As part of a comprehensive transportation planning process, increased emphasis on development of a robust water transportation system during the next decade makes sense. The Menino administration has already begun to incorporate water transportation into its transportation plans by successfully securing federal funds to purchase two water ferries for use between the South Boston and East Boston neighborhoods.  Last month, a new dock was installed by The Fallon Co. at the Fan Pier that has capacity for larger ferries.  Planning continues by the Massachusetts Port Authority for an expanded dock facility at the World Trade Center.

Looking Ahead

In the months ahead, we urge the following:

• City and state officials should convene another transportation summit, with particular emphasis on expanding water transportation to improve access for residents, workers and visitors. Similar to the 2000 South Boston Transportation Summit, transportation and environmental officials, planners from Boston and other waterfront communities, Massport, MBTA, Mass. Seaport Advisory Council, Mass. Ferry Transportation Compact, boat operators, property owners, ferry users and stakeholders should come together to discuss the challenges and opportunities for expansion of the water transportation system;
• As part of the environmental permitting process, large regional projects, such as the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center expansion and a new casino in either East Boston or Everett, should be required to provide an annual water transportation subsidy for the term of the project. To date, various other waterfront projects have been required to contribute to water transportation;
• Promote water transportation as a major transportation option, not as an afterthought. In the past few years, water transportation services between Boston and the North and South Shores have increased, providing commuters and visitors more opportunities to travel on Boston Harbor.  These new and expanded services should be better promoted;
• Develop an integrated information and signage system so that residents and visitors can more easily obtain information on water transportation options operated by the MBTA and by local municipalities.

In the long term, continued efforts to promote and enhance water transportation will further Boston’s stature as one of the premier waterfront cities in North America. n

Vivien Li is president of The Boston Harbor Association, www.tbha.org.
Email: vli@tbha.org