Blogger Writes History of Casey Overpass

Forest Hills resident Clay Harper may have written the definitive Forest Hills historical document.

Forest Hills resident Clay Harper has taken it upon himself to thoroughly research and write the story of the Casey Overpass. Beginning with its original Olmstedian design and ending with his position on the current direction for the area's infrastructure, the Hampstead Road resident has garnered solid feedback on Twitter for the post on his blog, 500 Monkeys with Paintbrushes, which typically features commentary on art. Harper's post features several historical photos he's unearthed - admittedly without permission. The Casey Arborway project will involve the removal of the crumbling overpass in Forest Hills and replacement with an at-grade network of roads sometime in 2014.

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Casey Overpass: Is JP on the Same Page?

With the 25 percent design hearing finished, and a plan on the table, how do you feel about the plan to build an at-grade roadway at the site of the Casey Overpass.

State transportation officials hosted the 25 percent design phase hearing for the Casey Arborway project last night. The project will involve a teardown of the over 60-year-old Casey Overpass bridge above Forest Hills, and the building of an at-grade network of roads in the area. The project will reshape the Forest Hills landscape. Forest Hills MBTA station will undergo a few changes, and Shea Circle will become Shea Square. Some residents oppose the project, others have been in favor, but there has been no shortage of opinions. Now that the project has reached the 25 percent design phase, it is going to move forward. How do you feel the project has progressed thus far? The public had the opportunity to sound off about the project last …

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Liam Sullivan

4:06 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

Supporting an elevated highway with it's attendant access and exit ramps (which overpass supporters always seem to overlook) is by definition an auto-centric solution. It prioritizes motorists by providing space for a greater volume of cars (stuck in traffic, idling, honking, and spewing vapors) during peak hours, and to speed through at unsafe speeds at other times. It prioritizes motorists by …   more ›

Casey Overpass Design Hearing Is Tonight

The public hearing will outline details of the Casey Arborway project,

New Date Set for Casey 25% Design Hearing

The original date, Feb. 6, had to be pushed back due to lack of public notice.

Casey 25% Design Hearing Now On Feb. 27

The original date, Feb. 6, had to be pushed back due to lack of public notice.

Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials have set a new date for the next Casey Overpass public meeting. The 25 Percent Design Phase hearing will take place at the English High School auditorium Feb. 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a project open house. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. The public hearing, which will outline details of the Casey Arborway project, was originally scheduled for Feb. 6, but had to be postponed because there would not have been ample notice – at least 14 days – between the announcement of the meeting and the actual meeting. The contentious Casey Arborway project will result in the demolition of the Casey Overpass in Forest Hills and the building of an at-grade network of roads.  For more information …

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Forest Hills Sta. to Improve, But Not By Much

The Casey Arborway project will create changes at the 26-year-old station, but structurally it will stay about the same.

With reports of falling concrete and graffiti at the station, it seems as though the site is in need of repairs beyond what lies ahead through the Casey Arborway project. Structural upgrades, however, are not on the way. Michael Verseckes, spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, said despite a few changes as part of the Casey project, the station is not going to get a major overhaul. “It’s not in sore need of it,” he said. “If there was a real pressing need to reconfigure the whole station the two projects would have been lumped together.” Universal Hub, by way of Boston’s Citizen Connect website, reported that a chunk of concrete fell on the commuter rail platform at Forest Hills Station Tuesday. A downed Amtrak wire…

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Feb. 6 Casey Meeting Postponed

The meeting will cover the 25 percent design phase of the project, but the state must give ample notice before convening the hearing.

A public hearing to outline details of the Casey Arborway project originally scheduled for Feb. 6 has been cancelled. Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials said there would not be ample notice – at least 14 days – between the announcement of the meeting and the actual meeting. The state is in the process of scheduling a new date. There is not yet a rescheduled date for the "25 percent design" hearing, typically a formalized presentation in which the public gets to see project plans for the first time. The contentious Casey Arborway project will result in the demolition of the Casey Overpass in Forest Hills and the building of an at-grade network of roads.  For more information on the Casey Arborway project, check our topic …

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JP Patch Readers React to Casey Planning

Just when you thought everything was said about the plans for Casey, Jamaica Plain Patch readers left several new comments on an article from earlier in the week.

Though plans to tear down the Casey Overpass and establish an at-grade roadway Forest Hills seem to be well underway, there are still several people in Jamaica Plain who have a lot to say about the situation. There were 15 comments (and counting) by Friday on “Casey Arborway ‘Can Continue As Planned,’” an article published Jan. 23 about the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office’s signoff of the project as currently constituted. Reader yogasong wrote: Big mistake  1. Traffic back-ups will create more air pollution  2. Much greater risk of cars striking pedestrian and bicyclists in this high foot-traffic area.  3. Bad for local businesses. I don't think I'm alone when I say that I will avoid traveling on South St. towards Forest …

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Bret Silverberg

6:02 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013

That's a great question, Donna. I'll try to find out for you.   more ›

Casey Arborway 'Can Continue As Planned'

A state office, reviewing the state’s environmental filing, determined the project can proceeed as planned.

The Casey Arborway project will continue as plan, according to a state office. The Jamaica Plain Gazette reported Friday the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office said the state can move forward with the project as planned. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation filed a report with MEPA for review in November. The Casey Arborway project will remove the dilapidated Casey Overpass and replace it with an at-grade roadway network. The project will drastically change the look of Forest Hills, including a change to Shea Circle, which a state board opposes. The Gazette reports there will be a meeting regarding Casey in February. 

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