2. InfrastructureRECONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS IN HARTFORD
RETHINKING URBAN HIGHWAYS &
at a Crossroads:
Amy Kohn, AICP
Senior Planner & Associate
Goody Clancy
amy.kohn@goodyclancy.com
Jennifer Carrier, PE
Director of Transportation Planning
Capitol Region Council of Government
jcarrier@crcog.org
David Spillane, AICP, RIBA
Principal / Director of Planning and Urban Design
Goody Clancy
david.spillane@goodyclancy.com
3. Rethinking Urban Highways…
in New England
• New Haven’s Route 34
• Providence’s I - 195
• Boston’s Big Dig
• Somerville MA’s
McGrath Highway
McGrath Highway Overpass
Photo courtesy of ibbb-walkshop
4. San Francisco: Embarcadero Freeway
Freeway spur with modest traffic volumes becomes attractive
surface boulevard
• Served as a spur
connecting to Bay
Bridge
• Created barrier
between city and
waterfront
• Demolished in 1991
and replaced with an
attractive surface
boulevard
• Freeway carried
approximately 60,000
vehicles per day;
replacement boulevard
carries approximately
26,000 vehicles
5. Big Dig: Boston Central Artery
High-volume freeway serving economic heart of the region
becomes surface boulevard and tunnel
• Like I-84, carries regional through traffic
and downtown traffic
• I-93 viaduct was long seen as a barrier
between downtown, the waterfront and
neighborhoods
• Approximately 190,000 vehicles per day
before project
• Project increased roadway capacity
through tunnel and surface boulevard
• Highway in tunnel; surface boulevard
carries local traffic
• More than 20-year construction period
• Overall project cost $14.6 billion; state
paid approximately $6 billion
6. Seattle: Alaskan Way Viaduct
Highway viaduct replaced by tunnel, opening access to
the waterfront
• Carries primarily through
traffic; does not provide
local access
• Creates physical barrier
between city and
waterfront
• Approximately 100,000
vehicles per day
• Current proposal: replace
with a 4-lane bored
tunnel that can
accommodate 80,000-
85,000 vehicles per day
for approximately $4.2
billion (state and local
funds) and surface streets
21. How the Study Got Started
• Citizen group formed in response to 2006
ConnDOT Viaduct Study recommending in-
kind replacement of structure
• City of Hartford asks ConnDOT to engage
in a planning process; ConnDOT agrees to
participate and CRCOG agrees to manage
study
• ConnDOT advances short-term repair
project
• I-84 Viaduct study begins exploration of
long-term options
22. Study Process
• 3-Phase Technical Study
• Public Meetings and
Events/Newsletters
• Coordination with Other
City/Regional/State Initiatives
23. Study Goals and Assumptions
• Consider urban design,
economic development and
transportation issues
associated with replacement of
the I-84 Viaduct in Hartford
• Identify and evaluate a range
of replacement alternatives;
do not identify a preferred
alternative
• Foster public discussion and
awareness of project issues
• Establish a starting point for
future ConnDOT studies
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35. Relocated Rail Line
I-84 East and West
FUTURE HIGHWAY SECTION
Existing Rail Line
I-84 East
I-84 West
EXISTING HIGHWAY SECTION
36. Relocated Rail Line
Roadway At-grade
I-84 East
I-84 West and West
I-84 East
FUTURE HIGHWAY SECTION
Existing Rail Line
Viaduct Structure
I-84 East
I-84 West
EXISTING HIGHWAY SECTION
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43. Since Study
Completion…
Capitol Region Long Range
Transportation Plan Issued:
Interstate 84 Viaduct
Replacement project
identified as an “Unfunded
Need”
However…
44. Since Study Completion…
• Interstate 84 Value Pricing Pilot Study
Initiated
• Interstate 84 Viaduct Environmental Impact
Statement
• Interstate 84 Management (Civil and
Structural Engineering Support; Alternatives
Development)
• New Haven – Hartford – Springfield (NHHS)
Rail Viaduct In Final Design
• Alternatives Analysis Initiated for NHHS Rail
Viaduct
• Ctfastrak Construction Underway
45. Since Study Completion…
• APA’s Planning Magazine – featured
article on the Viaduct Study
• CNU New England – Viaduct Study
awarded a 2011 Urbansim Award
• City of Hartford – Viaduct Study
honored for innovative analysis of
alternatives and advancement of
One City, One Plan
• The Hartford Preservation Alliance -
Viaduct Study recognized for
neighborhood revitalization aspects
