November 19, 2022
East Boston residents put up with a lot of inconveniences, including continuous weekend closures of the Sumner Tunnel and the noise and air pollution from nearby Logan airport.
But if you want to know what people in Eastie hate the most, just ask them about the traffic from the McClellan Highway. Truck drivers try to avoid McClellan congestion by taking side streets in East Boston like Bennington, Saratoga, and Chelsea. Curtis Street, another by-pass route, has seen its fair share of accidents — some fatal. Even on an accident-free day, locals must still contend with the increased traffic and pollution.
Isn’t it time East Boston got a break?
A possibility for relief does exist, thanks to the Committee in Support of an East Boston Haul Road, and Cargo Ventures. The Committee and Cargo Ventures devised a plan to ease these problems, and it won’t cost MassDOT or the city of Boston a dime.
A stretch of East Boston off Route 1A has been neglected for decades. It was originally home to a railroad that ran up Chelsea Creek, but it has since been abandoned, and the only thing that runs up and down the tracks these days are rats. This site was never utilized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, MassDOT, Massport, or the City of Boston. It’s a perfect example of how “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
The Marty Coughlin Bypass route would be made into a direct access point to Logan Airport for trucks from Chelsea on part of this abandoned rail bed and this latest proposal would build on a good idea. This new road has the potential to be used by all commercial traffic going into East Boston from the north, diverting hundreds of trucks and buses away from residential streets. There are even benefits for pedestrians and cyclists — offering them better access to the waterfront. There are plans for green space and a path for walking and biking.
To date, Mayor Brian Arrigo of Revere has shown strong support for the proposal by introducing a motion to repurpose surplus commonwealth property that runs parallel to Route 1A at a City Council meeting on Oct. 24. “The airport being so close to Revere means that our residents are disproportionately impacted by traffic, noise, and congestion. Having a haul road will reduce the volume of commercial vehicles on our local roadways. This project will also give our residents even more options to get outside and enjoy our nearby natural resources,” Arrigo said.
In a state where many elected officials seem immune to common sense, Arrigo’s enthusiasm for this project is a welcome change. The bypass road project would be beneficial not only to East Boston, but to the neighboring towns as well. It’s even in accordance with Democratic politicians’ environmental objectives of reducing pollution and traffic in residential neighborhoods, promoting green spaces, and access to natural resources. Now the ball is in MassDOT’s court, which must issue an invitation to bid. To learn more, visit ebhaulroad.org.
Rasheed Walters is an entrepreneur, political commentator and historian. He is a member of Project 21, and resides in Boston. Follow him on Twitter @rasheednwalters.