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THE FOLLOWING ARE REMARKS MADE BY TRANSPORTION SECRETARY RICHARD L. TAYLOR ON THE FIRST MEETING OF THE BRIDGE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE TO THE CENTRAL ARTERY/TUNNEL PROJECT ON FEBRUARY 1, 1991. I'd like to welcome all of you to the first meeting of the Bridge Design Review Committee and thank you for taking the time and interest in one of the most important government sponsored projects in the history of the Commonwealth. My office regards the deliberation of this committee as an important mechanism for potential suggestions and improvements to this project. The mandate of the Bridge Design Review Committee was established in the Certificate of the Secretary of Environmental Affairs dated January 2, 1991. In approving the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, the Secretary set forth specific objectives for dealing with the Charles River Crossing. This Committee is convened in compliance with those objectives. The Secretary required that the Committee be appointed and convened no later than February 1, 1991, and stated that this Committee is "one mechanism" for the Department of Public Works "to continue to try and improve the project as a whole, and the crossing in particular, so as to further minimize environmental harm." The Committee, he noted, "is charged with the responsibility of identifying improvements in the Scheme Z crossing so as to make it as aesthetically pleasing and environmentally harmless as possible - in short, to develop a beautiful, architecturally significant, and environmentally friendly bridge structure." At the same time, he said: "In the work of the Bridge Design Review Committee, as well as the DPW's continued review of other options for the river crossing, it is imperative that this project and the substantial public benefits which it represents not be jeopardized through endless review and delay." This Committee is therefore an advisory group to me and to the Department of Public Works in examining ways to improve the Charles River Crossing as part of the design phase of the project. The Chairman of the Committee, Stanley Miller, is an experienced Boston businessman with an impressive background in community affairs. He is currently a General Partner at Congress Realty Partnerships and has been actively involved in community service having chaired the Newton Planning Board, the Newton Redevelopment Authority, the Newton United Way arid a number of other local organizations. We are also providing the services of a staff facilitator to your process, John G. Wofford of ENDISPUTE, a dispute resolution firm in Cambridge. Mr. Wofford, a lawyer, was the director of the Boston Transportation Planning Review and Associate Commissioner of Public Works in the early 1970's, and from 1977-79 was Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation. In his certificate, the Secretary also stated that it is "essential...that this Committee be given the necessary resources to fulfill their very important obligation." In order to ensure that the committee has further assistance and resources, we have agreed to add other such technical and specialty consultants that the Chairman, in his wisdom, should request. I look forward to receiving a preliminary briefing on your progress no later than April 30th and a final report shortly thereafter. In this way, your process will be accomplished while we continue to move forward on the total Central Artery/Tunnel Project, to which Governor Weld and I are enthusiastically and firmly committed. This project will do much more than ease traffic congestion for the greater Boston area. Through a mix of mass transit improvements and responsible planning, this project will greatly enhance the value of the metropolitan area by creating acres of new parkland and substantially improving air quality. It is our best opportunity for improving the economic and environmental welfare of the entire region and I look forward to hearing of your suggestions on how to make it even better. |
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