Study Basics
Welcome to the Urban Ring
The Urban Ring is a proposed major new bus rapid transit (BRT) system that would run in a roughly circular corridor serving employment centers, residential neighborhoods, and major educational and medical institutions in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford and Somerville. The Urban Ring would provide improved transit access by connecting residents to jobs and by providing more direct connections with the MBTA’s existing radial rapid transit and commuter rail systems throughout the corridor. The Urban Ring service and the connections it provides would improve transit travel times and system efficiency, create additional transit capacity, and reduce crowding in the central subway system. The Urban Ring strongly supports opportunities for transit oriented development and smart growth development.
What's New?
The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) filed a Notice of Project Change (NPC) for the Urban Ring Phase 2 project on June 30, 2009. The NPC will appear in The Environmental Monitor on July 8, 2009.
EOT has requested that that the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) allow an extended 30-day public comment period on the NPC (to begin upon publication of The Environmental Monitor). Comments will be accepted until August 7, 2009.
The filing clarifies EOT’s approach to implementing the Urban Ring Phase 2 project in response to the March 6, 2009 Certificate issued by Secretary Ian Bowles on the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR).
The NPC includes the following elements:
Please click here to download a copy of the NPC document. Please click here to download a copy of the NPC cover letter submitted to EOEEA Secretary Bowles.
Copies of the NPC are available for review at all of the following community libraries:
To request a copy of the NPC on compact disk (CD) please contact Regan Checchio, Regina Villa Associates, at 617-357-5772 x14 or by email.
Written comments should be sent by August 7, 2009 to:
Secretary Ian Bowles
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114
Attention: MEPA Office, EEA #12565, Richard Bourre, Assistant Director
Fax – 617-626-1181 (please send follow-up copy by mail)
Email – Richard.Bourre@state.ma.us
The Urban Ring is a proposed major new bus rapid transit (BRT) system that would run in a roughly circular corridor serving employment centers, residential neighborhoods, and major educational and medical institutions in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford and Somerville. The Urban Ring would provide improved transit access by connecting residents to jobs and by providing more direct connections with the MBTA’s existing radial rapid transit and commuter rail systems throughout the corridor. The Urban Ring service and the connections it provides would improve transit travel times and system efficiency, create additional transit capacity, and reduce crowding in the central subway system. The Urban Ring strongly supports opportunities for transit oriented development and smart growth development.
The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) filed a Notice of Project Change (NPC) for the Urban Ring Phase 2 project on June 30, 2009. The NPC will appear in The Environmental Monitor on July 8, 2009.
EOT has requested that that the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) allow an extended 30-day public comment period on the NPC (to begin upon publication of The Environmental Monitor). Comments will be accepted until August 7, 2009.
The filing clarifies EOT’s approach to implementing the Urban Ring Phase 2 project in response to the March 6, 2009 Certificate issued by Secretary Ian Bowles on the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR).
The NPC includes the following elements:
- Alignment Changes to the Locally Preferred Alternative: Identifies portions of the locally preferred alternative (LPA) alignment where EOT is proposing a change, the resolution of alignment options or further evaluation of a potential alignment change.
- Implementation Plan: Describes EOT’s approach to phasing, environmental review and implementation for the Urban Ring Phase 2 project.
- Special Review Procedure: Proposes changes to the MEPA Special Review Procedure (SRP) governing the project.
- Response to Comments: Responds to comments reviewers raised on the RDEIR/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
Please click here to download a copy of the NPC document. Please click here to download a copy of the NPC cover letter submitted to EOEEA Secretary Bowles.
Copies of the NPC are available for review at all of the following community libraries:
- State Transportation Library of Massachusetts, 10 Park Plaza 2nd Floor, Boston
- Boston Public Library,Honan-Allston Branch,300 North Harvard Street
- Boston Public Library, East Boston Branch, 276 Meridian Street
- Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Avenue
To request a copy of the NPC on compact disk (CD) please contact Regan Checchio, Regina Villa Associates, at 617-357-5772 x14 or by email.
Written comments should be sent by August 7, 2009 to:
Secretary Ian Bowles
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114
Attention: MEPA Office, EEA #12565, Richard Bourre, Assistant Director
Fax – 617-626-1181 (please send follow-up copy by mail)
Email – Richard.Bourre@state.ma.us
