Boston PIC Approves Six Petitions, Advances Charlestown Harbor Access Project

BOSTON — August 22, 2024 — Boston's Public Improvement Commission approved six infrastructure petitions at its August 22 meeting while advancing a contested Charlestown intersection project to a September 12 hearing. Commission Chair Yasha Franklin-Hodge presided as the board unanimously cleared streetscape work in South Boston tied to 22 Dry Dock LLC and the Boston Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, MBTA accessibility improvements near Ashmont Station, a Vicinity Energy steam main expansion in South Boston conditioned on commitments to protect resident parking and cyclists, a 700-megawatt battery energy storage grant of location for Jupiter Power LLC DBA Trimount ESS LLC, and dual pedestrian easement and specific repairs actions for a Roslindale development at 375 Cummins Highway that carries an approximately $51,000 outstanding public realm commitment. The most contentious item was a new Charlestown intersection petition at Chelsea and Terminal Streets, where John O'Donnell of Diversified Automotive at the Boston AutoPort told the commission the signal project "just dropped upon us without a true understanding of how it may adversely affect my current business" — raising questions about traffic counts, signal phasing, and access for 80-foot car carriers serving the AutoPort's main gate.