Getting to Kendall Square in Cambridge from the western suburbs isn’t easy. You can drive in on the Massachusetts Turnpike and take your chances with the brutal traffic in Cambridge, or you can ride all the way into Boston on either the commuter rail or the Green Line and then make your way out to Kendall from there.
A $335 million federal funding award clears a “major, major hurdle” for an infrastructure megaproject in Allston that will provide long-awaited access to the Charles River waterfront and push the state closer to a westward passenger rail expansion, a top state official said Wednesday.
The recent news that Massachusetts will receive a $335 million infrastructure grant for the Allston Multimodal Project is a massive victory for the Greater Boston economy.
The I-90 Allston Multimodal Project is more than just a road repair project. It sets Greater Boston up for the future by unlocking billions of dollars in economic growth, new jobs and new affordable housing.
Allston’s latest large-scale housing proposal would create 322 apartments in a 311,000-square-foot complex rising up to 16 stories near the future MBTA West Station transit hub.
A multi-billion-dollar effort to rebuild and straighten the Mass. Pike as it passes through Allston could help spur economic growth 35 miles away in Worcester, and that could give the state a leg up on its latest attempt at securing federal money for the project.
Boston’s next major transit hub should offer frequent commuter rail service to prevent the Allston neighborhood from being overwhelmed with traffic congestion, Metropolitan Area Planning Council said in a report on the $2 billion Allston multimodal project.
Boston Mayor Kim Janey takes office during one of the most challenging times in modern history. At the same time, this extraordinary moment can be the start of a sustained, more equitable and prosperous future for Boston if she makes two key moves.
The timeline for construction of the MBTA’s West Station in Allston is still in flux, but a Brookline developer is planning for the transit hub’s future arrival as it moves forward with permitting for a $104-million apartment tower.
State transportation officials suggested punting once again on selecting a preferred design for a massive infrastructure project in Allston stretching across multiple modes of transportation, this time until at least next year.
State and federal officials have not settled on a preferred design for a years-long megaproject in Allston, and are extending the review process to further analyze possible construction layouts and to allow more time for public feedback.
A Brookline developer is designing an Allston apartment tower to open a connection from the Packards Corner area to the MBTA’s planned West Station.
If we prioritize future improvements to our transportation system and open spaces, the choice is clear: Massachusetts should not rebuild an elevated section of the Mass. Pike.
As we brace for more than a decade of massive construction on the Mass. Pike, let’s make our whole transportation system part of the solution. The time to invest in improved service on the Worcester Line and transit on the Grand Junction right-of-way is now.
Creating a new neighborhood and economic district in Boston is achievable, under a proposal to reconstruct parts of the Massachusetts Turnpike and Soldiers Field Road in Allston.
