Rick Dimino
A new phase is beginning for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure package. States are in fierce competition for the largest grant awards that would support multi-billion-dollar projects. This is the rare opportunity for Massachusetts to win federal dollars for investments here in the commonwealth, or alternatively we could see major projects take place in other parts of the country.
Now that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation submitted its official applications to the federal government, there should be a continued, focused effort to show that major infrastructure investments should take place in this region. This is an easy case to make, based on the broad coalition of political support and vision for the future.
Last month, MassDOT presented two different projects in a newly created competitive grant program, where the federal government could agree to pay 60 percent of large projects that deliver regional economic benefits. These grants are in addition to the increased funding that is already promised to the commonwealth as a result of Biden’s infrastructure package, expected to be $9 billion over the next five years. The Biden administration even also allowing states to reallocate their traditional funding federal funds, so this can be a chance to complete a project at significant discount to Massachusetts taxpayers.
MassDOT is seeking $1.3 billion for upgrades to the Cape Cod bridges and $1.2 billion for the Allston I-90 Multimodal Project. Both of these projects are critically important to these two regions of the commonwealth, and based on their size and complexity are difficult for the state to advance alone.
Economic Benefits Compelling
In Allston, the project would replace the structurally deficient viaduct and improve the highway to create a safe, vibrant, multimodal network that works for drivers, bicycle riders, pedestrians and the surrounding neighborhood. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed on as an official co-sponsor of this application, which helps to show its importance to the future of this area. However, this is not just a project for Boston and Cambridge: It would benefit commuters all throughout the corridor from Boston to Worcester. This project involves railway enhancements that would create a new urban interchange at West Station serving local bus and shuttle routes, and eventually connections to Kendall Square and points to the west.
The economic benefits of the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project should speak loudly to federal, state and municipal officials. A Better City commissioned an independent study – to be released in the coming weeks – on the potential economic benefits for this region and it shows the return of investment from future tax revenue and new jobs to be massive. By taking down the elevated highway and replacing the roads at ground level, the project will free up some 75 acres for new ground and air-rights development in one of the largest remaining underdeveloped areas of Boston. The area surrounding the project site is a pivot point in the connectivity of the region’s life sciences sector and a key to its continued global leadership.
This political support is essential, but not enough to ensure victory.
Some of this land is owned by Harvard University, which is pledging over $50 million towards West Station and is committed to additional investments in infrastructure and utilities that will create a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Also, the project delivers significant environmental and equity benefits by reuniting two parts of an environmental justice population that has been divided for more than two generations by the original, elevated Massachusetts Turnpike lanes.
Influential Leaders Are United
Equally important to the Allston project’s merits is the broad coalition of community leaders united in support of it. In addition to Mayor Wu, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley are endorsing this application. They join an extensive group of elected officials at the state and municipal levels of government, business leaders, community activists and transportation and environmental advocacy organizations who continue to improve the design plans of this project.
This political support is essential, but not enough to ensure victory. In the month ahead, these leaders in Massachusetts can boost the application with a marketing plan that helps to show the shared vision of the multimodal design plans will help transform this area and bring transportation, environmental, and economic benefits that last for generations. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg should be invited to walk underneath the eight-lane elevated highway and imagine better access to the Charles River and a new transit hub. Efforts should also be made to help the public better understand the future potential for this area.
The vibrant, welcoming area of the Rose Kennedy Greenway parks in downtown Boston became possible because the business community, elected officials and community leaders worked together to secure federal infrastructures support. It is hard to now imagine Boston without this open space. Through the federal applications for grant funding, a similar opportunity is possible in Allston and we could also dramatically enhance access to Cape Cod. Over the next few months as the federal government deliberates on every grant application, leaders in the Boston area must continue to work together through our political coalitions and with a united voice to make the case that this sustained success is possible again in Allston and that the commonwealth is the ideal place for investment.
Rick Dimino is CEO of A Better City.
