Mass Ready Act to Strengthen Infrastructure and Prepare for Disasters. Hearing July 15th.

updated 07/14/25 to included Designated Port Areas.

On June 24, 2025, Governor Maura Healey introduced the Mass Ready Act, a bill that proposes nearly $3 billion in bond authorizations to strengthen infrastructure and protect Massachusetts communities against increasing extreme weather events.

This legislation focuses on crucial infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to roads, dams, and bridges, and establishes a Resilient Revolving Fund for these types of projects. The bill invests in farming and coastal economies and provides communities with resources to reduce flood and heat risk. Finally, the Mass Ready Act emphasizes the protection of water and nature by ensuring safe drinking water, restoring our waterways and preserving vital habitats for wildlife. The bill also includes authorizations to implement ResilientCoasts recommendations, invest in parks, trails, beaches, and historic sites, improve transportation infrastructure, and manage solid waste and decrease pollution.  The bill simplifies the environmental permitting process for priority housing and urgent infrastructure needs, including municipal culvert replacements and other natural restoration projects in the following ways:

• Allowing priority housing and culvert replacements and salt marsh restoration projects to receive a Chapter 91 license (Sections 21-31) in just 60 days without triggering Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review
• Cutting duplicative administrative appeals for wetlands regulations, allowing local appeals for these project categories to go straight to the superior court  (Sections 48-51)
• Adding climate resilience as a goal of the Wetlands Protection Act, simplifying permitting for natural restoration projects;  (Sections 48-51)
• Removing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) requirement for priority housing and natural restoration projects, allowing for completion of MEPA review within 30 days rather than up to one year (Sections 12 and 73)
• State Designated Port  Area Development Commission to identify industry-specific opportunities and needs, assess existing infrastructure with capacity and resources and make growth recommendations. The 21 member commission chaired by Secretary of Economic Development and Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs is to include 3 community group representing the north shore, Boston Harbor and south coast regions (section 67)

The legislation also requires disclosures of flood risk and past damages during home sales and lease signings so renters and homebuyers can make informed decisions and avoid costly damages down the road. Finally, it equips the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to advance climate resilience and housing production through the state building code.  Read full press release.

On July 15th, the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will hold a hybrid hearing on the Mass Ready Act at 1pm. Persons seeking to provide oral testimony, whether in person or remotely, should pre-register by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025, using this online form.

originally published 07.08.25

Upcoming Meetings and Events About the Neighborhood

updated 06/08/23 with 2 additional June 8th meetings & events: CPA fund program public meeting hosted by Councilors Flynn and Flaherty, the opening reception of "This Is Boston" and the previously listed 7 Channel Center Public meeting. 

May 30: Public Meeting on Inclusionary Development Policy Zoning Amendment at 6pm.  The amendment adds a new Article 79 (Inclusionary Zoning) to the Boston Zoning Code, as well the addition of new definitions to Article 2 (Definitions). General input is sought through the public meeting and website.  View meeting link for links to related documents and resources.

May 30: "CROWN" The Highest Level of Consciousness" by Artists for Humanity alumna Wendy “MoMa” Michel from 5pm to 7pm at 100 W 2nd Street. 

May 31: Barking Crab Barge virtual MEPA site visit at noon. Please RSVP to purvi.patel@mass.gov at least one hour before the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone. An optional in-person site visit meeting on Thu June 1 at 11:30am may be requested before May 30, 2023 by noon.

June 3: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Diving Series Finals at 1pm at the ICA. Free and open to the public. 

June 5:  A Street Sidewalk Widening Public Meeting at 6:30pm.  The City will discuss alternatives and share a preferred design approach to widen the narrow A St sidewalks between Congress St and Melcher St.

 

June 6: A Guide to South Boston’s Transportation Planning and the Development Review Process at 6pm. View guide. Although this transportation planning boundaries are outside of Fort Point and Seaport, it can be helpful to understand adjacent impacts and transportation solutions. Update: We heard at the June 5th A Street Sidewalk Widening Public meeting that there is funding for a new shuttle service to serve Fort Point, Seaport and beyond including A Street (both sides), D Street and the Raymond L Flynn Marine Park. This new shuttle route will be part of the this meeting too. 

June 8: The Midway Gallery cordially invites you to the opening of "This is Boston", a group show of Midway artists interpreting what Boston represents from multiple points of view and mediums, from 5pm to 8pm at 15 Channel Center St. Show runs through August 18th.

June 8: 7 Channel Center Public Meeting at 6pm to discuss mitigation impacts regarding PDA 53. 

June 8: Join Councilors Ed Flynn and Michael Flaherty at 6pm at the South Boston Public Library (646 E Broadway) to discover how to utilize Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to enhance historic preservation, affordable housing, open space, and outdoor recreation capital projects in our neighborhood. CPA funds have been awarded to the Boston Fire Museum for renovations. Register. 

COMMENT DEADLINES

June 9th: Chapter 91 Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park Final Master Plan Update comment deadline.

June 9: 244 – 284 A St FEIR comment deadline

June 9: Barking Crab EENF(ENF & PEIR) comment deadline

originally published 05.25.23

What Is The Resilient Fort Point Channel Infrastructure Project?

updated 02/14/22 with February 22nd comment deadline and supplemental information. 

A Resilient Fort Point Channel Infrastructure Project Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been submitted on behalf of the City of Boston and Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) for the construction of:

• a  2,090 linear foot (lf) mixed berm and floodwall mitigation structure with 14 outfall backflow prevention flap gates along a portion of the Fort Point Channel’s southeast shoreline between approximately 15 Necco Street and Dorchester Avenue. 
• the installation of three interim flood protection barriers across the western end of Necco Court, A Street under the Summer Street overpass, and West Service Road under the Summer Street overpass.

The purpose of the project is to reduce flood damage and provide protection to nearby populations, infrastructure, utilities, and structures in the 100 Acres Master Planning Area, which is bounded by the Fort Point Channel to the west, Summer Street to the north, the South Boston Bypass Road/Haul Road to the east, and West Second Street to the south, and portions of South Boston.  The project was also discussed at the FPNA Neighborhood Gathering Kickoff on January 25th by Joe Christo, Senior Resilience and Waterfront Planner, BPDA Climate Change and Environmental Planning. View Presentation.

View from Dorchester Ave Toward Summer St Bridge

February 1, 2022 Online Public Site Visit

View Supplemental Information

The project will permanently impact 760 lf of Coastal Bank and 68,887 sf of Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage (LSCSF) and temporarily impact 60,273 sf of LSCSF.  The project will involves removal of 1.3 acres of impervious area.

The project requires the submission of an ENF pursuant to 301 CMR 11.03(3)(b)(1)(a) and 11.03(3)(b)(1)(f) because it requires a State Agency Action and involves the alteration of Coastal Bank and greater than ½  or more acres of any other wetlands. 

The project requires:

• a Chapter 91 (c. 91) License from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
• an Order of Conditions from the Boston Conservation Commission, or in the case of an appeal, a Superseding Order of Conditions from MassDEP.

The project is receiving a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for $10,000,000 from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Comments will be welcome in writing until February 22, 2022 (new date) and may be submitted via email to Erin Flaherty, Environmental Analyst, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office

A Certificate on the ENF will be issued on February 25, 2022 (need revised date).  Deadlines may be extended.  Please check the New Environmental Monitor for up to date comment period deadlines.

originally published 01.24.22

MA Law & Climate Resiliency In The Neighborhood

In 2021, Governor Baker Signed Climate Legislation to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Protect Environmental Justice Communities | Mass.gov. In a related move, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office made regulatory changes resulting in environmental justice protocols regarding public involvement and project analysis effective January 1, 2022 for Environmental Project Notification (ENF) filings. 

Last week, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) held a Climate Resiliency Stakeholder Outreach Meeting to consider regulatory revisions MA General Law Chapter 91 in response to climate change.

MassDEP Waterways Program is responsible for ensuring public access and the provisions of public benefits in exchange for private use and development of tidelands. Commonwealth tidelands belong to the public. The law requires 50% open space and 75% Facilities of Public Accommodation (FPA) on the ground floor. The Harborwalk is an example of providing public access. FPA or Chapter 91 interior spaces are required for non-water dependent use of waterfront property.  Most well known South Boston waterfront examples are the Institute of Contemporary Art and Grubstreet. FPA spaces can include civic and cultural spaces and restaurants or any spaces that provide goods or services that are open to the public. The current 244 - 284 A Street development along the Fort Point Channel is under Chapter 91 jurisdiction. Next City (BPDA) 244 - 284 A St. Public Meeting is February 15 at 6pm.  

MassDEP February 9, 2022 virtual public stakeholder meeting materials are now available*.

• View Stakeholder Meeting
• View Meeting Presentation

* A meeting summary is forthcoming.

The proposed changes to Chapter 91 regulations focus on the following near term topics and sections:

Engineering and Construction Standards- 9.37
Building Height Provision- 9.51
Expiration & Renewals – 9.25
Simplified Licenses- 9.10 
Expanded License Terms- 9.15
Minor Project Modifications* -9.22
Definition: (Coastal High Hazard)- 9.02 

* Note: Minor modifications are not subject to public review. 

Please send comments on the above near term proposed Waterways climate resilient regulatory changes and any longer-term approaches to DEP.Waterways@mass.gov with the subject line: Chapter 91 / Resiliency.  Comment deadline is February 25th.  

An additional resource for consideration is CLF's Climate Change and the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act (Chapter 91).

CommonWealth Pier (Seaport World Trade Center) To Be Revitalized

Updated 4.3.19: Extended comment deadline 4/12, new IAG meeting 4/10 and 4/2 BCDC design meeting presentation  (details below). 

Pembroke, an international real estate business associated with Fidelity Investments, is proposing to revitalize Commonwealth Pier known for over three decades as the Seaport World Trade Center (SWTC). 

Pembroke introduced the Commonwealth Pier Revitalization Project first at FPNA's Fort Point Seaport Neighborhood Meeting on February 26, 2019. The proposed revitalization of SWTC will modernize and re-position the existing historic building and Pier for expanded use as a place for work, retail, events and active public waterfront experiences within the city's Seaport District. The project will enhance its current uses by replacing the existing exhibition hall with new public realm spaces and improvements and expanded ground-floor retail space, as well as creating new flexible and innovative office space and first-class event spaces. Fidelity Investments will occupy the office space.

Commonwealth Pier is owned by Massport and situated within a designated port area (DPA). The project will undergo the City's Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Article 80 Large Project Review as well as the MassDEP Waterway Act Chapter 91 licensing process. 

View Commonwealth Pier Revitalization Project Notification & Environmental Notification Form. The document combines the BPDA's Article 80 project notification and Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) environmental notification. 

Upcoming public meetings are:

Impact Advisory Meeting*
April 10, 2019
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Seaport Hotel
Liberty Room, Mezzanine Level
1 Seaport Lane

*open to the public to listen

Boston Civic Design Commission
April 2, 2019
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Room 900, 9th floor, Boston City Hall
View Presentation

Public Community Meeting

Wednesday March 12, 2019

6 pm - 7:30 pm

Meeting Presentation same as March 11

Impact Advisory Meeting*

Monday March 11, 2019

6 pm - 7:30 pm

Meeting Presentation

*open to the public to listen

BPDA Article 80 Comment Deadline: extended to April 12, 2019
Project Manager: Aisling Kerr
Email: Aisling.Kerr@Boston.gov

MEPA Environmental Notification Comment Deadline: March 12, 2019
Analyst Purvi Patel
Email: Purvi.Patel@state.ma.us

In addition to MEPA's environmental review, there is also a Waterfront Development Plan required as part of Massport's Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The preliminary Commonwealth Pier Waterfront Development Plan can be found here.  

Draft Waterfront Development Plan Comment Deadline: March 22, 2019
Lisa Wieland, Port Director, Massport
Ben Lynch, Waterways Program Director, DEP

The Waterfront Development Plan is a precursor to the proponent's Chapter 91 application. What is Chapter 91? Check out the People's Guide to the Public Waterway Act (Chapter 91) created by CLF.

ByPass Road Pilot Update

MassDOT presented Roadways Improvement Projects occurring in Fort Point and the Seaport at FPNA's (Fort Point Neighborhood Association) January 29, 2019 neighborhood gathering.  Part of the presentation focused on the South Boston Bypass Road (SBBR) Pilot, which started October 15, 2018 and will conclude September 30, 2019.

Will the SBBR be open permanently to non commercial vehicles? Currently, the pilot only allows for a one year opening of the road to all vehicles.  Per the MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office) Advisory Opinion/Approval, the pilot can only be operation for one year and must be competed on September 30, 2019.  Beginning October 1, 2019, the road must revert back to commercial vehicle use only. Once the pilot is completed and all vehicle data counts are processed, a report of the findings will be presented to Secretary Pollack.  The Secretary will determine if MassDOT will pursue permitting through the MEPA process to ask to have the commercial vehicle only use lifted.

Is there any update to report on the pilot? 

Vehicle count data has been taken for the first three months of the pilot on the bypass road and is as follows:

• Inbound to South Boston from Frontage Road to Cypher/Richards Street – increase of 200 vehicles in the AM peak hour (8 am), increase of 95 vehicles in the PM peak hour (5 pm)
• Inbound to South Boston from Cypher/Richards Street to Frontage Road – increase of 155 vehicles in the AM peak hour (8 am), increase of 90 vehicles in the PM peak hour (5 pm)
• Inbound to South Boston from Frontage Road to Haul Road – increase of 1 minute and 10 seconds of travel time in the AM peak hour (8 am), increase of 39 seconds of travel time in the PM peak hour (5 pm).

The increase in traffic volumes is relatively low and is not having a significant impact to the commercial travel along the route. 

Counts will be taken again in March, and will include some specific intersections within South Boston

Might the pilot be expanded to bi-directional traffic? Due to the existing congestion on the Hegarty Overpass between the traffic signals at the North and Southbound Frontage Roads and approaching the South Bay interchange, there is no available lane capacity to increase the traffic in this direction. Allowing this movement may create significant queuing along the bypass road and increased travel time to access I-93. 

Community Feedback

As part of the commitment to MEPA during the pilot program, MassDOT is working to collect feedback on the use of the bypass road by the general public.  MassDOT is asking the public to reach out and provide any type of feedback on their experience using the roadway. Click here to provide feedback. MassDOT and the MEPA office will use all the feedback received as part of the analysis related to the future use of the South Boston Bypass Road.

Related Posts