Problem:  The Boston Central Artery, the stretch of Interstate 93 
which runs through central Boston, is badly overcrowded.  In 
addition, it cuts the city in half, disrupting vehicle and 
pedestrian traffic in the downtown area.  

Proposed Solution:  The plan is to replace the current Central 
Artery with a wider, underground highway.  The area above the new 
road will become an open space cutting through the city, with 
parks and some limited residential and commercial development.  
Transit connections will be improved.  Funding will come from the 
state and the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Act.

Evaluation:  The project is still in the planning stages.  The 
project will clearly improve traffic capacity, as well as provide 
employment over the six years of construction.  Problems are also 
developing.  After objections from Cambridge, one of the 
entry/exit points had to be redesigned, increasing the cost of 
construction.  The utilities which run under the downtown area 
must be dug up and relocated.  The proximity to Boston Harbor 
necessitates environmental planning and special disposal for 
polluted harbor mud.  In addition, some theories of road use 
predict that the larger highway will simply increase demand and 
thus produce no overall improvement in the traffic situation.  The 
overall economic cost of the current situation, however, is such 
that the traffic alleviation plan is necessary.

Contacts:

Citation:  "Cities and Highways:  Starting All Over."  Governing 
Magazine, Volume 5, July 1992, pp. 56-61.

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