Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements at Innovation Boulevard - Phase 1 Public Hearing

Thursday, October 11th - 7:00p
@ John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Cambridge [map]

Hosted by MassDOT

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements Project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

PROPOSAL:
The proposed project consists of the construction of a linear park that will be situated along the westerly edge of Innovation Boulevard/Galileo Galilei Way between Main Street and Binney Street. The site is along the western edge of a world class global scientific community in Kendall Square. This community is noted for the innovative research and development of technology. The intent of the project is to create a landscape that enhances the overall Kendall Square community, abutting residential neighborhoods and academic and business institutions with an attractive open space for use by residents, students, faculty, professional staff and general public. This will be accomplished by creating an outdoor landscape with plazas, sitting areas and walkways. Exhibit and display spaces are envisioned along with the use of creative lighting to enhance the landscape and overall linear park.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The City of Cambridge is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at this hearing.

Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing shall be displayed for public inspection and copying at the time and date listed above. Plans will be on display one-half hour before the hearing begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this project. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website.

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT – Highway Division, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, ATTN: Project Management Section, Project File No. 604993. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of this Public Hearing. Project inquiries may be emailed.

This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (617-973-7171), TTD/TTY (617-973-7715), fax (617-973-7311) or by email. Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting.

In case of inclement weather, hearing cancellation announcements will be posted here.