LAST FALL, the Baker administration achieved a major breakthrough on the $1.7 billion I-90 Allston project, embracing the idea of rebuilding the Turnpike, Soldiers Field Road, and commuter rail tracks all at ground level as they run through a narrow strip of land called the throat, which is sandwiched between Boston University and the Charles River.
The big squeeze, as some have called it, was accomplished by shaving 4 feet from the various transportation elements — two feet from the four lanes of Soldiers Field Road (making the roadway width 10.5 feet rather than 11 feet) and two feet from the four commuter rail tracks.
But since the throat decision was made, the project has gone into silent mode. State officials said they expected to file a notice of project change with environmental regulators by the end of 2021, laying out the new design elements. Several times, however, the timeline has been extended.
It turns out the parties have moved on to new challenges. The throat is only a small portion of a much larger project, which would straighten the Turnpike as it moves through Allston, opening up a huge tract of land for a new neighborhood of Boston being developed by Harvard University. The new neighborhood is expected to be accompanied by a new MBTA bus and commuter rail station.
State transportation officials have started meeting with representatives of the city of Boston and Harvard to discuss financing options. Participants describe the talks as productive, with officials from Boston and Harvard acknowledging they have to contribute significant dollars to the project. One participant said the talks are in the early stages, with both sides trying to find common ground on the parameters of the overall project and where their responsibilities begin and end.
The approach used with the Green Line extension into Somerville and Medford is also being followed in Allston. With the $2.3 billion Green Line project, Somerville and Cambridge pledged a total of $75 million to make the financial numbers work. Both communities are getting their money back now that the project is coming in under budget. In Allston, the financial contributions being sought from Boston and Harvard are likely to be much higher because their benefit from the project is expected to be greater.
“It is a stated guiding principle of MassDOT that stakeholders will need to contribute funding for the multi-modal project,” a state official said. “We are encouraged by the parties’ willingness to take part in meaningful financing and funding discussions. MassDOT recognizes that the realignment of I-90 creates a multi-generational development opportunity for Harvard and the city of Boston and looks forward to understanding more about the plans for the re-development.”
City officials say the talks are in the early stages. Harvard officials declined comment. State officials say the federal environmental permitting process is expected to be completed by this fall.
State transportation officials are planning to seek federal funding for the Allston I-90 project, attempting to tap into the billions of dollars in discretionary money expected to be available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law includes a pot of money that seems particularly well suited for the Allston project; funds have been set aside for projects that knit together communities severed by highways built long ago.