Rick Dimino

One of the most promising places to expand Greater Boston’s economy is in Allston. In a former rail yard along the Charles River there is more than 40 acres of developable land – a rare large site that could become the place for new housing, jobs and modern transportation infrastructure.

The I-90 Allston Multimodal Project offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to realign the Massachusetts Turnpike, reconnect neighborhoods and unlock economic benefits for the commonwealth. Unfortunately, one year after securing a major federal infrastructure grant that endorsed the project, there are still some obstacles that jeopardize this plan. But it is still possible to fully appreciate this opportunity and get the project done right.

For more than a decade, an unusually broad and united coalition of stakeholders has worked together to help the project reach its potential. Community activists, business leaders, environmental organizations, transportation advocates and elected officials all endorsed a plan that works for Allston.

An Approaching Deadline

This plan would remove the crumbling elevated Turnpike viaduct, straighten the turnpike to improve safety and create a new network of local streets, protected bike paths and improved public access to the Charles River. This forward-thinking plan helped secure a $334 million federal grant last year from the former Biden administration infrastructure program.

This specific federal grant does come with some expectations. Massachusetts and the city of Boston agreed to obligate those dollars and begin construction by fall 2026. This timeline reflects a reasonable goal: The federal government wanted to put their funding to work quickly, and Massachusetts wanted to maximize federal funds for a large state project. So the commonwealth and MassDOT need to move swiftly and avoid unnecessary delays that would jeopardize this financial agreement and broader partnership.

Unfortunately, over the past year, the project has stalled due to design disputes – primarily over the debate regarding setting aside some land in Allston for mid-day commuter rail layover space that holds trains.

The layover proposal runs counter to the interests of neighborhood groups, Harvard University and many transportation planners who believe this new neighborhood in Allston should prioritize new housing, commercial development and public amenities rather than train layover space. This debate is also slowing down the project schedule because it impacts the state and federal environmental permitting process.

 We Should Prioritize Long-Term Benefits

Setting aside the tight federal timeline, the decisions on what to put in this area will define Allston’s future for the next few generations.

The choice to store trains instead of building affordable housing or creating a mixed-use neighborhood reduces the potential benefit of the entire project. It also puts at risk the support of the broad coalition that worked on this project for years.

Design and land-use decisions should prioritize the local transportation and neighborhood needs, but also see the economic benefits that could benefit the entire regional economy.

There is also a chance to recognize the transformative potential of the Grand Junction rail corridor, which could connect commuters in Allston directly to Kendall Square and eventually to North Station. Enabling frequent transit service along this route would create a powerful connection between transit riders on the Framingham-Worcester commuter line and some of the state’s most dynamic job centers.

That kind of linkage that expands housing options for workers, encourages transit use and is the type of infrastructure investment Greater Boston needs to thrive. The decisions on the Grand Junction connections also relate to economic potential in Allston.

Rail Layover Could Be Placed Elsewhere

MassDOT should be able to find space for train storage, layover and maintenance facilities because they are necessary to support a modern, robust regional rail system.

There may be other locations – including Widett Circle and Readville in Boston – that offer more appropriate sites for mid-day rail layover. The commonwealth should accelerate a comprehensive plan for rail facilities that evaluates system-wide needs while viewing Allston as vibrant neighborhood that is not the best place for train layover.

Beyond the transportation benefits, the entire Allston project is a chance to prove that Massachusetts can still deliver bold, transformative infrastructure projects. Certainly, the federal timeline is a challenge and the project is complex, but this is still a chance to create a new neighborhood in a special place.

This opportunity does not come along very often. Allston can become a national model for integrated city-building – where smart infrastructure, equitable development and regional mobility come together and encourage people to live, work and invest in Greater Boston.

Now is the moment to focus again on the big-picture vision. The broad coalition that supports this project still exists. The federal funding is still available. The economic benefits are achievable with the with correct design plans.

What we need now is a recommitment to the larger goals of moving this project forward in the most appropriate manner. Allston can become the next growth engine of Greater Boston – and we should not squander this opportunity.

Rick Dimino is president emeritus of A Better City and a member of the MassDOT board of directors.