Hi there! MassDOT’s I-90 Allston multimodal project is reaching an important decision point and we wanted to let you know where CRWA stands on the three alternatives currently under consideration: I-90 and Soldiers Field Road (SFR) at-grade, I-90 on an elevated viaduct (as it is now), or SFR on a viaduct (all designs assume the same existing 12 lanes of roadway—4 for SFR, 8 for I-90).  We agree with many stakeholders that an at-grade design could offer the most benefits. But “the devil is in the details” and the at-grade version currently under consideration is not the answer: it requires part of SFR to be built on new fill in the Charles River (see rendering). Filling in the Charles River in order to build a roadway should not—and likely cannot—be permitted, which is why Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides stated in a June letter that “any alternative that contains impacts on the Charles River, even temporary, is not only difficult to permit, but should be discounted in favor of alternatives with no temporary or permanent impact.”  We can do better than filling the Charles to accommodate a vast expanse of roadway and sticking pedestrians and cyclists on a boardwalk in the river because the expanse of roadway doesn’t leave any room for people. We agree with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), who wrote in August 2020 that “[t]he significant capital costs involved in this project should give us pause to evaluate whether spending potentially over a billion dollars reconstructing an eight-lane Turnpike and a four-lane parkway along the Charles River and through an urban neighborhood is the best investment for the region.”  Reducing the number of traffic lanes would allow for an at-grade version of the project without intruding into the Charles River, creating enough space along the river for cyclists and pedestrians as well as river bank restoration. Building less roadway would also create more opportunities for stormwater management and climate resilience measures, reduce harmful emissions and heat island effect, and improve connectivity options between the neighborhood and the Charles River. There is also some good news. We are encouraged that MassDOT is now incorporating restoration of the river bank into all of the design alternatives. By restoring natural ecological functions to the river’s edge, living shorelines enhance biodiversity, reduce flooding, and improve water quality. MassDOT has also started to bring climate resilience into the conversation, something that is critical to analyzing each of the alternatives. CRWA will continue pushing MassDOT to build a project that is climate resilient and that protects and restores the Charles River.  MassDOT is accepting public comments on the three alternatives until October 30. Comments can be emailed to I-90Allston@state.ma.us. If you agree with us that adding fill to the Charles in order to accommodate expansive roadway is a bad idea, a short but sweet “Don’t fill in the Charles! Reduce the lanes.” will get the message across.   CRWA will be submitting detailed written comments to MassDOT, stay tuned! Sincerely, Emily Norton Executive Director

Charles River Watershed Association | www.crwa.org

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