The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced today that comment letters on the recently completed Charlestown Haul Road/Rail Feasibility Study are available for public review at the Charlestown branch of the Boston Public Library. As part of the feasibility study, Massport requested public comments to include as part of the permanent record to the project. Massport received forty letters from Charlestown residents, local businesses, State and City of Boston agencies, public officials, port interests, and advocacy groups. Bound copies of the letters are available, upon request, by contacting Massport's Carol Hollingsworth at 617-946-4470 or chollingsworth@massport.com.
The Haul Road/Rail Feasibility Study was funded by a grant from the Seaport Advisory Council and the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. At this time, Massport has no intention to proceed with design, permitting or construction of a haul road/rail corridor. The intent of the study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of constructing a freight corridor with rail and roadway elements along the Mystic Wharf Branch rail right-of-way, which Massport purchased in 2002. The public process included community meetings in May and June sponsored by the Charlestown Neighborhood Council, meetings with business abutters, and meetings with relevant City of Boston and State officials.
To view the Feasibility Study Executive Summary click here.