Mary Ellen Welch Greenway - Winthrop Extension Feasibility Study

Request for Proposals

RFP Released By Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway (Friends of the East Boston Greenway)

RFP Released Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

Proposals Due Friday, May 29th, 2020 at midnight (11:59 PM EST)

Online Q+A Session Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 at 4 PM EST (Register here)

RFQ Questions Due Friday, May 15th, 2020 at midnight (11:59 PM EST)

Project Awarded June 2020

Project Duration Late June 2020 to January 2021

Project Funding $85,000

Primary Contact Michelle Moon Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway eastiegreenway@gmail.com

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents 2

Introduction 2

Project Background 3

Project Goals 4

MEW Greenway - Winthrop Extension Description 5

Preferred Route Alignment 6

Related Projects 7

Scope of Work + Timeline 8

Final Deliverable 8

Scope of Work 9

Project Support from the Friends 12

Submission Requirements 13

Proposal Documents 13

Submitting the Proposal 13

Process Section + Criteria 14

Evaluation Criteria 14

Appendix 15

Appendix A: Context Maps 15

Appendix B: Existing Mary Ellen Welch Greenway Section Photos 17

Appendix C: Preferred Route Alignment Section Photos 18

Appendix D: History of the East Boston Greenway 19

Appendix E: Greenway Extensions Committee Members 20

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Introduction The Mary Ellen Welch Greenway (formerly the East Boston Greenway) is a recreational open space in

East Boston that runs from the historic Jeffries Point Waterfront through the neighborhood towards

Constitution Beach and beyond. Residents of all ages use it for running, jogging, walking, biking, and

strolling while taking in the historical and ecological beauty of various points along its length.

The existing Mary Ellen Welch Greenway (MEWG) has several owners and maintainers, including the

City of Boston’s Parks Department, Massport, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation

(DCR). The Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway (formerly Friends of East Boston Greenway), an

organization of residents, stewards its use and serves as the stewardship body.

The vision for the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway is still growing. The Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch

Greenway (FoMEWG) are working on extending the Greenway further to the north to Revere and east

to Winthrop, allowing more people to enjoy this amenity and access the open space and safe, beautiful,

low-stress corridor for active transportation that it affords. There are several proposed extensions to the

existing Mary Ellen Welch Greenway. Four proposed extensions include:

1. Winthrop Extension: Mary Ellen Welch Greenway to Winthrop

2. Revere Extension: Constitution Beach to Revere

3. Chelsea Creek: Chelsea St to Revere Beach Parkway

4. Chelsea Spur: Wood Island Station to Chelsea

The extensions to Winthrop, Revere, and Chelsea will create a regional greenway network that connects

Lynn, Everett, and Malden. With the greenway extensions, residents and visitors alike will be able to

walk and bike to beaches, wetlands, and destinations throughout these nearby but currently

disconnected communities, while also gaining new levels of access to East Boston (and beyond).

Project Background The vision to create a “Winthrop Greenway” has existed for a couple of decades. There has been a

strong interest from East Boston and Winthrop residents, the Greenway Council, Bike Winthrop, the

Winthrop Transportation Advisory Committee, and Friends of Belle Isle Marsh to extend the Greenway

to Winthrop through an off-road multi-use path. In the State 2019 budget, an earmark was included and

approved for a Feasibility Study for a greenway extension to the Belle Isle Marsh Trails and Boardwalks

in Winthrop from the Orient Heights MBTA Blue Line station.

The MBTA has previously issued a report, finding it is feasible to connect the Mary Ellen Welch

Greenway under the Saratoga Street Bridge from Constitution Beach to Orient Heights Station in the

area of the Winthrop Busway. The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) will help inform the

conceptual alignment of the MEWG extension along Bennington Street through the PLAN: East Boston

process.

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This past winter, the Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway created a Greenway Extensions

Committee that includes representatives Bike Winthrop, Friends of Belle Isle Marsh, Greenway Council

members, and residents to work on supporting greenway extensions to Winthrop, Revere, and Chelsea.

Project Goals There are several primary goals of this project to be completed by the consultant with the support of the

Greenway Extensions Committee.

1. Understand the feasibility of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway - Winthrop Extension preferred

route and alternative routes

2. Understand technical and environmental constraints along the route alignment, including

permit requirements/timeframe, high-level cost, agency/owner engagement, coordination with

other projects, and alternatives analysis of various route alignments.

3. Gain support for this project from community members

4. Connect greenways in East Boston, Winthrop, Revere, and Greater Boston to create a safe route

to access greenways, the MBTA, and waterfront

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Mary Ellen Welch Greenway - Winthrop Extension Description The vision of the Winthrop extension is to connect the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway (MEWG) from its

future connection into Orient Heights Station in East Boston to the Belle Isle Marsh Ecology Park in

Winthrop. By connecting to the Winthrop trails, the Greenway will be extended for miles, connecting to

Short Beach in Revere and numerous entry points in Winthrop, fulfilling a connection that has been

envisioned for decades. Additionally, the Winthrop extension will provide a safe, pleasant, and

convenient off-street pedestrian and bike commute between Winthrop and the MBTA. The Friends of

the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway (FoMEWG) has worked with the regional planning office (MAPC), the

Greenway Council, Bike Winthrop, and Friends of Belle Isle to envision an extension connecting to

Winthrop, Belle Isle Marsh Ecology Park, and Kilmartin Trail. Several groups at various times have looked

at the possible route alignment over the past couple of decades, including the Friends of Belle Isle

Marsh.

The preferred greenway extension route alignment starts at the Orient Heights MBTA Station by the

Winthrop Busway, connecting to the extension being built by HYM from Constitution Beach, to the

MBTA Parking lots, through Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, and across the inlet to Belle Island

Terrace/Morton Street in Winthrop via an envisioned bike and pedestrian bridge. There are alternative

alignments that may include Bayswater Street, Saratoga Street, and/or Barnes Street.

For this Feasibility Study, the consultant team will focus on the preferred route alignment (as outlined in

the table below) as well as alternative route alignment options for the greenway extension in additional

the environmental and climate change considerations for the routes.

Winthrop Greenway sign installed for future Greenway.

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Preferred Route Alignment

Site Photo Owner Description

1. ORIENT HEIGHTS STATION, PARKING LOT + MAINTENANCE FACILITY

MBTA

The Orient Heights MBTA Blue Line Station is located between two arterial roads, Bennington and Saratoga Streets. There is an MBTA parking lot and an MBTA car maintenance facility.

2. BELLE ISLE MARSH RESERVATION

DCR The southern portion of Belle Isle Marsh currently has an informal walking path. This path can be accessed through CVS parking lot.

3. BELLE ISLE MARSH INLET

Belle Isle Marsh is a tidal saltwater marsh. Some boats use this inlet to access the docks now. To cross from East Boston to Winthrop would require building a new bridge. There was an old rail bridge that was previously located here.

4. BELLE ISLE TERRACE / MORTON STREET

Town of Winthrop

Morton Street is a low-traffic residential street that directly abuts Belle Isle Marsh. On the eastern end of Morton Street, there is an entrance to the Belle Isle Marsh Ecology Park (Town of Winthrop) that connects to the Kilmartin Trail, which would be the endpoint of this feasibility study.

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Related Projects Mary Ellen Welch Greenway: Revere Extension (Boston) An extension of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway to Revere is also actively being discussed. The two

greenway extensions will need to be connected at Orient Heights Station. The developer of Suffolk

Downs, HYM Investment Group, has committed to building the Greenway connection from Constitution

Beach via Bennington and Walley Street as a part of the mitigation package for the Suffolk Downs

Development. Coordination between the consultants and the community will be beneficial to ensure

that extensions link together seamlessly for walkers and bikers.

Main Street / MA-145 (Winthrop) The Town of Winthrop has commissioned a feasibility study for a complete overhaul of the intersection

at Main Street/MA-145 and Pleasant Street, which acts as the premier gateway to the town. With no

bike accommodations, minimal lane markings, narrow sidewalks without buffers, high-speed traffic, and

a right turn slip lane, the current configuration of the intersection is antiquated and dangerous to all

road users, particularly those on bikes or foot. This intersection is also the highest crash location for the

town of Winthrop and lacks pedestrian crossing signals.

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Scope of Work + Timeline The tables below are a summary of the final deliverable as well as the tasks and deliverables for each

task as part of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway - Winthrop Extension Feasibility Study. The work

outlined below may happen concurrently.

Final Deliverable

MARY ELLEN WELCH GREENWAY - WINTHROP EXTENSION FEASIBILITY PLAN

Summary: The Feasibility Study will focus on the greenway extension from Orient Heights Station Belle Isle Marsh Ecology Park in Winthrop that includes the feasibility of the preferred route alignment and alternative route alignment(s) and environmental considerations.

The Feasibility Study Report should include the following at a minimum: Feasibility Study Report Sections

● Conditions + Environmental Constraints ○ Existing conditions for the preferred and alternative route alignments and items

to consider in the planning and design process (e.g., slope, erosion and drainage, flooding, sea level rise, impact on Belle Isle Marsh, boat access, etc.)

○ Technical and environmental constraints along the route alignment, including climate change and coastal flooding

● Community Outreach + Survey Summary ○ Documentation of the community outreach process and survey

● Feasibility of Greenway Route Alignment(s), Greenway Path, and Amenities ○ Feasibility of the preferred route alignment ○ Feasibility of alternative route alignment(s) and/or combinations of alignments ○ Summary of design considerations, such as surface type(s), landscaping, signage,

and other amenities ● Permitting

○ Summary of phasing, constraints, and anticipated Federal, State, and Local permitting requirements and time frame

● Costs ○ Cost estimates broken down by project section and list of funding sources for

the preferred and alternative route options ○ List and description of potential funding sources

● Summary of Next Steps ○ Outline a list of next steps to advance the project from planning into design

phases, including permitting requirements Maps + Diagrams

● Create two (2) maps for the project area using available GIS data from cities, state agencies, public domain, and other sources.

● Three (3) to four (4) renderings/perspectives to illustrate the greenway concept at key points along the route

● Three (3) to four (4) cross-sections drawings Similar Greenway Projects

● Summary of greenway projects/examples of greenways with similar conditions

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Scope of Work

TASKS + DELIVERABLES June - January 2021

1.1 Existing Conditions Analysis + Environmental Review

Tasks ● Conduct site visit to perform an initial investigation to observe general site conditions,

potential pathway alignments, traffic patterns, traffic management, MBTA station area, utilities, and other relevant features

● Review of environmental conditions (e.g., geology, hydrology, topography, wetlands, flood plains)

● Conduct environmental and cultural resource reviews (e.g., reports, aerial photos, maps, climate change projections for this area, etc.).

● Identify local, state, and federal permitting requirements. Deliverables

● Summary of environmental conditions ● Summary resource review ● List about permitting requirements, a summary each permit with key details, and list of

next steps

1.2 Property Owner Outreach

Tasks ● Conduct meetings, interviews, or site walks with key property owners, including MBTA,

DCR, City of Boston, and the Town of Winthrop staff. This can be done virtually by phone or video.

Deliverables ● 5-10 Stakeholder Interviews ● 2-4 focus groups / project updates with key stakeholders ● Raw notes (for internal use) ● Summary of interview findings

1.3 Feasibility, Evaluation, and Summary of Route Alignment(s)

Tasks ● Explore and evaluate site conditions and feasibility of the preferred and alternative route

alignment(s) which may include on-road options Deliverables

● Summary of preferred route alignment and Alternative route alignment(s) and/or combinations of alignments

● Summary of the pros and cons of each route alignment ● Provide rough cost estimates for each of the proposed route alignment options for design

and construction

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1.4 Base Map with Route Alignment + Diagrams

Tasks ● Create a set of both technical and outreach-oriented maps for the project area using

available GIS data from cities, state agencies, public domain, and other sources at an appropriate scale for this study area.

● Technical map(s) that includes property lines, topographic lines, flooding risk, and other relevant features.

● Outreach-oriented illustrated map(s) that shows the route alignment for use in promotional materials.

● Create diagrams to show the greenway concept ● 3 - 4 Renderings/perspectives to illustrate greenway concept at key points along the

route ● 3 - 4 cross-section drawings

Deliverables ● Draft and final maps: technical map(s) with preferred and alternative route alignment(s) ● Draft and final maps: outreach-oriented illustrated map(s) with preferred and alternative

route alignment(s) ● Draft and final diagrams: 3 - 4 Renderings, 3 - 4 Cross-section diagrams

1.5 Community Survey

Tasks ● Create one (1) community survey about the route alignment and user experience (e.g., path

materials, etc.). This survey should be an online and paper survey. The FoMEWG staff will support developing this survey.

Deliverables ● Draft and final survey ● Raw survey data in Excel ● Summary and charts survey responses

1.6 Community Meetings / Engagement Opportunities

Tasks ● Present at community meetings in Boston and Winthrop. The FoMEWG staff will assist with

coordinating these meetings and creating agendas. The Greenway Extensions Committee members are also able to present at communities as well. Below is a list of existing community groups who will be engaged in the process.

● Greenway Council meeting (Meetings are the fourth Thursday of each month) ● Bike Winthrop Meeting /Winthrop Transportation Advisory Committee ● East Boston neighborhood association meetings ● Community-wide meeting / drop-in session, if possible

● Prepare presentation and community outreach materials, sent in advance to the Greenway Coordinator for review at least 48 hours in advance.

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Deliverables

● Participation in 5 - 10 community meetings ● Draft and final presentation and community outreach materials

Note ● Due to COVID-19, the community meetings will most likely be virtual, either as a live

webinar, video conference call, and/or pre-recorded presentations to be shared online.

1.7 Case Studies of Similar Projects

Tasks ● Identify 2-3 examples of completed projects with similar characteristics or context,

particularly the development of a greenway in ecologically sensitive areas and/or at risk of impacts from sea level rise.

● Leverage existing resources or conduct research as needed. ● Write 2-3, 1-2-page case studies on the chosen projects.

Deliverables ● Case studies of similar projects for inclusion in feasibility study final report

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Project Support from the Friends The Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway’s (FoMEWG) has a long history of organizing engaging

residents around building greenways. There are monthly Greenway Council meetings that engage

community members. Greenway Coordinator will be the primary contact to carry out the work that is

outlined in the RFP and will provide the following functions in support of this project:

Project Coordination

The Greenway Coordinator and representatives from the Greenway Extensions Committee will participate in the following:

● Kick-off meeting and/or possible site visit (June). ● Regular check-in meetings or review of written/drawn progress updates - as determined

with the consultant.

Support with Community Outreach + Engagement

The FoMEWG and the Greenway Extensions Committee will be able to assist with community

engagement and planning community meetings. Below is a list of how we anticipate supporting

this work.

Due to COVID-19, the community meetings will most likely be virtual, either as live webinars, video conference calls, and/or pre-recorded presentations to be shared online. The possibility for in-person and/or on-site engagement will be dependent on future instructions social distancing requirements. We will be brainstorming creative ways of community engagement.

● Meeting Coordination + Consolidation The Greenway Extensions Committee will plan to meet the same evening as the Greenway Council meetings, the fourth Thursday of every month. This will help to consolidate the number of meetings and reduce travel time to meetings. Whenever possible, the Greenway Coordinator can provide regular status updates to the Greenway Council.

● Outreach The Greenway Extensions Committee will be available to support and lead as needed, with outreach to neighborhood associations and in-person engagement such as on-site surveys, door knocking, if possible, with future social distancing requirements.

● Translations + Interpretation The Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway can support community outreach, passing along the information to the Greenway Council, and Spanish translation.

● Youth Engagement In addition, the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) is willing to support on-site engagement, especially with engaging youth, in the design process in both East Boston and Winthrop.

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Submission Requirements The project team must submit the proposal documents as outlined below. The project team may include

subcontractors.

Proposal Documents ❏ Cover page with contact info (1 page)

❏ Firm name, address, and primary project contact’s email address

❏ Cover letter (1-2 pages)

❏ Proposal narrative (3-5 pages)

❏ Concise description of your teams’ approach to each task outlined in the Scope of Work

❏ Relevant projects

❏ Brief descriptions of 3 - 5 projects demonstrating the team’s relevant experience

❏ Team description

❏ Brief description of each partnering organization and their relevant qualifications

❏ A table or diagram showing key staff and subcontractors assigned to the project and

their project roles

❏ Biographies of project lead and key staff for prime contractor and subcontractors (if

any) and confirmation of their individual availability to work on the project over this

period (estimated June -January 2021)

❏ Budget breakdown by task (1 page)

❏ 3-5 client references and contact information

Questions Any questions about the RFP and proposal should be directed to Michelle Moon to

eastiegreenway@gmail.com by Friday, May 15th at midnight. All questions and responses will be posted

on the Friends of Mary Ellen Welch Greenway’s website and emailed to firms that submitted questions

(www.maryellenwelchgreenway.org/).

Submitting the Proposal Please email the proposal application as in one (1) PDF file to Michelle Moon at

eastiegreenway@gmail.com by midnight (11:59 PM) on Friday, May 29th, 2020.

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Process Section + Criteria The Greenway Extensions Committee will review all project proposals and score them on the following

point system. The Greenway Extensions Committee Members includes members from the Friends of the

Mary Ellen Welch Greenway and Greenway Council, Bike Winthrop, and Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh.

The Committee will schedule interviews with finalists before awarding the contract.

Evaluation Criteria Description Points

Minimum Requirements 1 to 10 Points

❏ Completed RFP requirements as listed above

❏ Experience with designing shared-use paths

❏ Experience working with City of Boston, Town of Winthrop, MBTA, DCR, Massport, and/or MWRA

❏ Multidisciplinary project team. The team should include a registered landscape architect(s) and/or civil engineer(s) licensed in Massachusetts

❏ The project manager should have at least five (5) to ten (10) year of experience managing greenway or other similar projects

Project Narrative 1 to 10 Points

❏ Demonstrated understanding of project

❏ Committed to the proposed schedule

Project Experience + Capacity 1 to 10 Points

❏ Completed similar greenway feasibility and/or design projects

❏ Expertise in environmental planning and permitting in areas with natural resources and/or ecologically sensitive habitat, climate change, resiliency issues related to coastal issues

❏ Demonstrated experience and success with community outreach in diverse communities

❏ Demonstrate staff capacity to complete the work over the project timeline

Bonus Points 4 points

❏ Multi-lingual team members that speak Spanish or other common languages that are spoken in East Boston and Winthrop

❏ Previous work in East Boston or Winthrop

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Appendix Appendix A: Context Maps

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Appendix B: Existing Mary Ellen Welch Greenway Section Photos

BOSTON PARKS SECTION Owner: City of Boston’s Parks Department

BREMEN STREET PARK Owner: Massport

GREENWAY CONNECTOR Owner: Massport

CONSTITUTION BEACH Owner: Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

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Appendix C: Preferred Route Alignment Section Photos

MBTA PARKING LOT Owner: MBTA

BELLE ISLE MARSH Owner: Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

CROSSING BELLE ISLE MARSH TO WINTHROP

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Appendix D: History of the East Boston Greenway In the early 1980’s, there was a proposal by East Boston activists trying to mitigate airport impacts to create an

edge buffer zone between the airport and the community. This buffer would run the length of East Boston from

Jeffries Point to Orient Heights. The Port Authority was not supportive of this proposal, but activists kept alive.

In 1994 the Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) approached the East Boston neighborhood about starting a plan

to create a greenway of a walking and biking path and new parks from Boston’s Inner harbor to DCR’s Belle Isle

Reservation. The long unused freight right of way (ROW) from the Inner Harbor docks to the Bremen St switching

yard would be the initial alignment for the Greenway. This closely followed the community idea from the 1980’s

plan. BNAN and East Boston residents formed a Greenway Council and a proposal to the Lila Wallace Reader's

Digest Fund (LWRDF) was successfully funded with multi-year funding enabling BNAN to staff the visioning,

planning and implementing of the new Greenway, guided by the community Council

As the idea of a Greenway progressed with initial drawings and discussions in the neighborhood, the Council

sought support from politicians and open space advocates. Boston Mayor Menino endorsed the idea and put his

political strength into the effort. Congressman Capuano also strongly endorsed the Greenway plan. Local elected

officials also supported the popular idea.

The Greenway begins from Marginal St to Porter St In addition to funding from LWRDF to BNAN, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) was also funded to lead the land

acquisition of the ROW. TPL negotiated successfully with C.S.X. railroad, the City of Boston, Massachusetts

Transportation Department. Land transfers were made with the City owning the first half mile from the Marginal

Street to Porter Street. Specific plans for the first segment were then started in the neighborhood. The City of

Boston obtained a federal transportation enhancement grant to design and build the initial segment of the

Greenway.

Massports’ Bremen St park and Greenway The Greenway’s ROW extended through the abutting land owned by Massport from Porter Street to Franklin

Street. The MA Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) started a planning process for the area along Bremen

Street from Porter Street to Prescott Street. This plan was to construct a linear park as mitigation for the Central

Artery Third Harbor Tunnel project which would move the entrance and exit roadways to the airport and would

have an impact on the neighborhood. This planning incorporated the Greenway ROW, and Bremen Park, now

owned by Massport, was built with the Greenway path for pedestrians and cyclists running through the large

public park.

The Greenway Connector Section, owned by Massport, DCR, and City of Boston Greenway Council members saw a meaningful piece of the developing path going along unused land behind the

Wood Island Station and along the old Narrow-Gauge RR route through the Harbor View neighborhood to DCR’s

Constitution Beach. With mayoral support and working with the East Boston community and the Greenway

Council, this section was planned and built by Massport. On the other side of now renovated Constitution Beach

the path would continue along the city’s Bayswater Street to Saratoga and Annovay Streets. While Bayswater

Street itself was a city street, the embankment was owned by the Port Authority.

So, a very complicated planning process was started by a group of optimistic neighborhood residents and

committed nonprofit organizations. Years of monthly meetings were orderly, and without rancor. All were

concentrated on making what some considered impossible, possible.

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Appendix E: Greenway Extensions Committee Members Friends of the Mary of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway + Greenway Council The Friends of Mary Ellen Welch Greenway (Formally the Friends of the East Boston Greenway) is a

caring group of active residents of East Boston who have been engaged in the creation and care of the

Mary Ellen Welch Greenway since it was a twinkle in someone’s eye. The Greenway Council is composed

of residents interested in supporting efforts related to the existing Greenway and the extensions to

nearby communities.

● Karen Maddelena: Board President

● Michelle Moon: Greenway Coordinator Consultant

● María de la Luz Lobos Martínez: Greenway Planning + Design Consultant

Bike Winthrop Bike Winthrop has been working to build bike culture and improve bike and pedestrian infrastructure in

Winthrop, MA, since 2017. Inspired by the decades old vision of connecting Winthrop to the MBTA Blue

Line and Mary Ellen Welch Greenway through an off-street biking and walking trail, Bike Winthrop has

spearheaded local efforts to secure legislative and community support for achieving this critical

connection while also creating a robust bike network throughout Winthrop. Bike Winthrop also hosts

several annual community events such as a Spring Bike Rodeo and Halloween Costume Ride.

● Chris Aiello: President and co-founder

● Julia Wallerce: Vice president and co-founder; Chair of the Winthrop Transportation Advisory

Committee

Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh Belle Isle Marsh Reservation is a 300-acre Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

(DCR) property located in East Boston, Revere, and Winthrop. The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh is an

environmental advocacy organization dedicated to preserving and protecting Belle Isle Marsh, an Area

of Critical Environmental Concern, as a habitat for many species of birds, fish, mammals, plants, and

insects and as a place for passive recreation for people to enjoy throughout the year.

● Mary Mitchell, President

Airport Impact Relief, AIR, Inc

AIR Inc. is a long standing 501(c)(3) organization, East Boston based, that is interested in ways to lessen

air and noise pollution impacts from Logan Airport.

● Gail Miller, President