MorriSEA PARKWAY

Morrissey Boulevard represents one of Boston’s earliest intercity connections. Predating the construction of Interstate 93 by nearly thirty years, the Old Colony Parkway, as it was originally known, was the first major connection between the Cities of Quincy and Boston. Today, this important urban arterial experiences daily traffic congestion and floods during high tide and common rainfall events, challenging the historical connection as a dependable alternative to local streets and the Southeast Expressway. Anticipated sea level rise and increased intensity and frequency of storms will exacerbate this condition, requiring innovative solutions to maintain and restore Morrissey as an important connection between the people and places it serves.

This project reimagines Morrissey as an intensive multi-modal greenway providing connectivity on a number of levels, both locally and regionally. As Boston’s dependency on cars decreases, a re-inspired cross-section develops that allows traditional vehicles to maintain access through this vital urban portal while accommodating expanded pedestrian and bicycle routes, introducing an innovative new transportation network of alternative-fuel, amphibious MBTA ferries. Called ‘The MorriSEA PARKWAY’, this new destination daylights a critical drainage artery to the east of Morrissey and creates a new linear park and tidal marshland, encouraging the inhabitants of the new Live-Work-Play Morrissey community to experience the integration of stormwater, ecology, and transportation. Breaking down barriers between the expansive system of recreational open spaces among the Squantum Peninsula, Marina Bay, Harbor Islands, South Boston, and the Innovation District, the aptly-named ‘Navy Line’ amphibious fleet is headquartered at the new Bayside Wharf mixed-use development, offering disaster response service as well as everyday transportation needs. As our reliance on public transit grows, the Navy Line provides vital relief for the Red Line between Quincy and South Station, and on the Silver Line between South Station and the Innovation District. The new linear park includes restored tidal wetlands habitat that accepts waters from Savin Hill Cove during high tide, allowing recreational opportunities such as paddle boarding or kayaking. The internal circulation system of the park connects the redeveloped properties around Morrissey with the new multi-modal Morrissey Boulevard.

This newly created green space also provides essential flood protection and stormwater storage during extreme storm events. New green infrastructure promotes infiltration, reducing runoff and increasing water quality, and serves as a central component of the new developments along Morrissey Boulevard. Runoff from as far as Edward Everett Circle in Dorchester, over a mile away, contributes to the daylit urban stream. Critical to its function as a stormwater park, the urban stream is thusly redirected to Patten’s Cove, and a new flood gate is installed at the interface of Patten’s Cove and Savin Hill Cove. When closed at low tide in advance of extreme storm events, the flood gate transforms Patten’s Cove and upstream marshes into one of the largest stormwater impoundments in Boston, preventing surcharges at critical low points, including JFK Station and the Red Line. As the storm surge recedes, the flood gates are reopened and stored runoff is released freely to the cove.

Company Name
Nitsch Engineering

Team Member(s)
SHAWN SMITH – SENIOR ENGINEER, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE & RESILIENCY / ENGINEERING PROJECT LEAD
SCOTT TURNER – DIRECTOR OF PLANNING / CORE CONTRIBUTOR
NICOLE HOLMES – PROJECT MANAGER, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE / CORE CONTRIBUTOR
KATE CHOLAKIS – GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE & RESILIENCY DESIGNER / CORE GRAPHICS

SCOTT BISHOP – DESIGN PRINCIPAL / LANDSCAPE PROJECT LEAD
CHRIS REED – DESIGN PRINCIPAL / CORE CONTRIBUTOR
JARRAD NEWMAN – LANDSCAPE DESIGNER / CORE GRAPHICS
LEO COSTANTE – LANDSCAPE DESIGNER / CORE GRAPHICS
AMY WHITESIDES – LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT / ASSOCIATE
DIFEI MA – LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

ARLEN STAWASZ – PROJECT COORD. / ARCHITECTURE PROJECT LEAD
KHUYEN LUONG – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
TUAN TRIEU – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM – SR. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
DANA ANDERSON – ARCHITECT / PRINCIPAL
ROBERT BROWN – ARCHITECT / MANAGING PRINCIPAL

DENNIS CARLBERG – SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR / ACADEMIA CORE CONTRIBUTOR

CRITICAL REVIEWERS:
WAYNE SILADI – STRUCTURAL ENGINEER / CORE CONTRIBUTOR
DEBORAH RIVERS – ARCHITECT / SENIOR ASSOCIATE
YANEL DE ANGEL – ARCHITECT / SENIOR ASSOCIATE
ANDY BENNETTE – ARCHITECT / SENIOR ASSOCIATE
RASHID ASHRAF – ARCHITECT / SENIOR ASSOCIATE
TYLER HINKLEY – ARCHITECT / ASSOCIATE
EDMOND KIM – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
STEPHEN MESSINGER – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
KATHERINE SCHNIEDER – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
JEFF KEILMAN – ARCHITECT / ASSOCIATE
DAVID DIMECKI – ARCHITECT / PRINCIPAL
DEREK JOHNSON – ARCH. / TECHNICAL DIRECTOR