No Traffic Difference Between Forest Hills Plans, Officials Say

On Monday, transportation officials said traffic is not appreciably different under the two scenarios for Forest Hills in the post-Casey Overpass era.

Pressed by the audience for how that could possibly be true, engineers said the new traffic flow under the "at-grade" plan would stop cars less often because of the U-turns that will replace left turns through the intersections at South/Arborway/New Washington and Hyde Park Avenue/New Washington.

Still, the at-grade solution adds 30 to 90 seconds to the ride from Murray Circle to Shea Circle, officials said.

There is a major cost difference between the plans:

• Bridge: $72.7 million
• At-grade: $52.4 million

According to the Gazette, groups supporting the at-grade solution plan to meet Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the State Labs, 305 South St. The state has asked the interest groups in the Working Advisory Group to submit a final list of pros and cons to both plans.

Of those present in the overflowing State Labs auditorium Monday, 15 of those who asked questions or made comments clearly supported the at-grade plan. Eleven people's questions or comments clearly showed they support a bridge. Others who spoke could not be clearly put into one camp or the other.

The state is accepting email comments on which option people prefer, though time is running out. Email john.romano@state.ma.us.

Visit the JP Patch Casey Overpass topic page for full coverage of this important neighborhood issue.

[Editor's note: The attached draft maps are easier to read and study if you download them yourself at the document center of the state's Casey Overpass Web site. The site also has a wealth of materials about the project.]