6-22-16 MASTER Boston Resiliency Planning.pdf

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Environmental Business Council of New England

Energy Environment Economy

EBC Ocean and Coastal Resources Program:

Resiliency Planning for theCity of Boston



Payson Whitney

Chair, EBC Ocean & Coastal

Resources Committee

Vice President

ESS Group, Inc.



Welcome



Varoujan Hagopian

Program Chair and Moderator

Senior Consultant, Waterfront and

Coastal Engineer, GEI Consultants



Introduction



Carl Spector

Commissioner,Environment Department,

City of Boston



The Climate Ready Boston Initiative




22 June 2016

CLIMATE

READY

BOSTON



CLIMATE READY BOSTON COMPONENTS

Science-based

consensus re likelyranges for futurechange climateimpacts acrossmultiple risks forseveral future time periods (e.g., 2030s,

2060s/2070s, and2100).

Comprehensive

assessment of currentand potential futurerisks facing Boston’s physical assets andsystems, includingbuildings,infrastructure and

environmentalsystems.

Set of actions to

enhance Resilience inCritical ResilienceFocus Areas, whereResilience actions arenot currently beingtaken or planned andmultiple

vulnerabilities exist.

Report that offers

recommendations forexecution, potentiallyincluding fundingsources, incentives,legal/regulatorychanges, communityengagement, and

local/regionalcoordination.

ClimateConsensus

VulnerabilityAssessment

ResilienceInitiatives

ImplementationRoadmap

I. II. III. IV. ..



7

City of Boston

P r o j e c t

L e a d e r

s h i p

P r o j e c

t

T e a m

Green RibbonCommission

UMass BostonClimate Consensus

HR&A AdvisorsProject Manager

ArcadisVulnerability Assessment

Boston ResearchAdvisory Group

Project Team

Climate Ready Boston Team

Outreach PartnersThe Boston HarborAssociation

Chief ResilienceOfficer

Imagine Boston2030

InfrastructureAdvisory Group

SasakiSocial

Vulnerability

InkhouseCommunications



8

Project Context: Confluence of General Boston Planning Efforts

Housing

Cultural

Mobility

Climate

Preparedness



THE NUMBER OF VERY HOT DAYS WILL INCREASE



RAINFALL FROM STORMS WILL INCREASE



RELATIVE SEA LEVEL IN BOSTON WILL RISE

11



CLIMATE READY BOSTON

FLOOD EXTENT MAPS

(2030-2050)




FLOOD EXTENT MAPS

(2060-2085)




FLOOD EXTENT MAPS

(2070-2100)



CITYWIDE FLOOD IMPACTS

1% AEP* 10% AEP* AVG. MONTHLY HIGH TIDE

*Annual Exceedance Probability

2,140

5,550

12,130

580

2,760

9,730

1,840

9" SLR 21" SLR 36" SLR

EXPOSED BUILDINGS

9,000

27,000

65,000

2,000

12,000

52,000

8,000

9" SLR 21" SLR 36" SLR

EXPOSED POPULATION



RESILIENCE INITIATIVES PRINCIPLES

SUPPORT MULTIPLEBENEFITS WITH EACH

ACTIVITY

MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AS PARTOF NATURAL BUILDING CYCLES,AND ADDRESS MARKET FAILURES

INCORPORATE LOCALINVOLVEMENT IN DESIGNAND DECISION-MAKING

WORK IN LAYERS FORINDEPENDENTLY

EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS

DEVELOP ADAPTIVE AND FLEXIBLE

STRATEGIES



17

ProtectedShores

ResilientInfrastructure

AdaptedBuildings

Connected &PreparedCommunities

A Resilient Seaport District



SociallyVulnerable

Groups

SouthBoston

Population

% of SouthBoston

Total Population 33,600

Older Adults (65+) 3,200 10%

Children (<5) 4,900 14%

People withDisabilities

3,000 9%

Low to No Income 8,200 24%

People of Color 7,100 21%

PREPARING SOCIALLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONSSouth Boston

Connected & PreparedCommunities




22 June 2016

CLIMATE

READY

BOSTON



Julie Wormser

Vice President for Policy and Planning,

Boston Harbor Now



An Uncertain Future: Adjusting

Environmental Regulations to Account

for a Changing Climate



Institutionalizing Flood

Preparedness in Boston

Julie Wormser

VP Policy and Planning



Boston Harbor Now is a new civicorganization formed through the mergerbetween The Boston Harbor Association andthe Boston Harbor Island Alliance.

Our Climate Preparedness Committee iscomprised of academic, agency, non-profitand private sector practitioners.

We examined Boston’s waterfront regulationsto propose improvements to institutionalizeflood preparedness.



For the first time in human history, climacticconditions are beginning to change duringthe lifespan of a project.

Our current regulations assume staticenvironmental conditions.

We need to index regulations to climatechange so projects are ready throughout their

lifespan.







Framingham, September 2015



Fall River, March 2010







Codifies FEMA flood maps through a BostonRedevelopment Authority zoning ordinance.

Restricts or bans building in places at risk offlood damage either to the structure itself or

its surroundings.

Meets requirements of the National FloodInsurance Program to “adopt and enforce

sound floodplain management regulationsand ordinances.”





FEMA is prohibited by law from usingprojections; maps based on existing datafrom past events.

Most buildings last 60+ years or more. With

up to 3’ higher seas by 2070, structures notnow in the flood zone will be during theirlifespans.

Doesn’t apply to existing buildings notundergoing substantial construction, or tostate and federal projects.



Calculate current and projected flood zonesusing better science, such as the BostonHarbor Flood Risk Model.

Require flood resilience for a buildings’ entire

design life, not just for current conditions.

Create a Flood Resilience Overlay District toencourage flood-adaptive design withoutrequiring variances.





Administered by the Interagency GreenBuilding Committee (IGBC) as part of theArticle 80 process for large developments.

Requires completion of a Climate Change

Preparedness and Resiliency Checklist.

The checklist provides a framework forconsidering present and future climateconditions in project design, including sealevel rise.



Unilever Corporate Headquarters,

Hamburg, Germany



PwC Boston,

Seaport Blvd



Developers are not required to take actions toprepare for specified future conditions.

Doesn’t apply to existing buildings notundergoing substantial construction, or to

state and federal projects.



Use Climate Ready Boston projections for alldevelopment projects.

Require detailed climate preparedness in thesame way Chapter 37 already requires

building sustainability.

Develop performance-based designstandards to match sea level rise scenarios.







The Building Code provides minimumrequirements for flood-resistant design andconstruction of applicable structures.

Lowest floors must be elevated one foot

above “Base Flood Elevation” in the FEMAflood zone; two feet above in areas exposedto wave action.

Limits what can be built below Base FloodElevation.



Only applies to new construction orsubstantial repairs/improvements of existingstructures.

Cannot be used to address the resiliency of

existing buildings that do not needsubstantial improvements.

Little incentive to build to higher standardsthan the minimum required.

Doesn’t require adaptation over time asflooding increases.



Petition the state for a Boston-specificbuilding code amendment for flood resistantconstruction in current/future flood zones.

Require flood proofing elevations to be based

on the flood conditions that are expected tobe present during the lifetime of a structure(can be phased in over time).

For existing buildings currently exposed toflood risks, require flood-resilient retrofittingover time.





Administered by the Mass Department ofEnvironmental Protection, guarantees publicaccess to/enjoyment of the waterfront andprotects maritime industrial areas.

Requires that new buildings are designed andconstructed to incorporate some sea level riseduring the design life of the buildings.

Includes multi-parcel Municipal Harbor Plans

that can override Chapter 91 regulatoryrequirements to meet local planningobjectives.



Allows sea level rise projections to be based onhistorical rates and does not define “design life”of structures. Even this provision is not typicallyapplied during the review process.

Based on sea level rise projections, filledtidelands will become flowed tidelands again,rendering Chapter 91 less applicable in thefuture than it is today.

Currently there are no incentives or mandates forprojects to include climate adaptation ormitigation.



It may be possible to include neighborhood-wide flood resilient measures in MunicipalHarbor Plans without having to amendChapter 91 itself.

Mass DEP’s is currently revising Chapter 91;these revisions should incorporate climateresiliency standards into both site-specificprojects and into Municipal Harbor Plan

requirements.



Mass Environmental Policy Act Wetlands Protection Act

FEMA Letters of Map Change

National Pollutant Discharge EliminationSystem



We found four good opportunities toinstitutionalize flood preparedness onindividual properties.

Only Chapter 91 Municipal Harbor Plans

encouraged actions across properties. Once coastal flooding becomes chronic, we

will need such collective action to protect thecity as a whole, not just building-by-building

solutions. Get ready for another Big Dig during our

lifetimes.



Julie Wormser [email protected] 617-223-5255

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Jerry Friedman

Senior Project Manager,HDR Engineering Inc.



Designing and Constructing a

Resilient Morrissey Boulevard



DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING A

RESILIENT MORRISSEY BOULEVARD

EBC Ocean and Coastal Resource Program

Resiliency Planning for the City of BostonWednesday, June 22, 2016

Jerry Friedman, PE, ENV SP

Agenda



Agenda

• Project Scope and Goals

• Stormwater and Flooding

Issues

• Design Criteria

• Inter-relation of resiliency

and other project goals

Design Team



Civil & Structural Engineering; Drainage & Coastal Design

Stormwater & Flood Control Strategy; Green Infrastructure

Landscape Architecture & Urban Design

Transportation Analysis & Design

Environmental Permitting

Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental

Survey & Right-of-Way

Overall Project Management, Direction and Guidance

Design Team

Primary Project Goals



• Stormwater and f lood ing : Provide

stormwater improvements and climateresiliency

• Transportat ion : Provide safe, convenient,

and inviting pedestrian and bicycle

accommodations, balanced with

appropriate vehicular accommodations

• Landsc ape & Urban Design : Enhance

parkway character and strengthenconnections to recreational facilities,

natural resource areas, and

neighborhoods


Design Project Scope



• Conceptual through final

design and construction

• Public involvement process

• Environmental permits

• Drainage, transportation, and

urban design upgrades

• Safety improvements

• New traffic signals and

roadway lighting

Design Project Scope

Potential Project



Potential Project

Phasing

• Design is fullyfunded

• “Middle” segment is

most vulnerable

today and will be

prioritized first for

construction

• Construction of allsegments subject to

funding availability

Project Goal: Stormwater and Flooding



Project Goal: Stormwater and Flooding

• Provide Stormwater Improvements and Climate Resiliency

Stormwater and Flooding



Why does Morrissey Boulevard flood?

• Physical Characteristics Low elevation

Coastal exposure

Size, location, and condition of drainage infrastructure (catch

basins, pipes, outfalls)

• Flood Sources Precipitation falling directly on the roadway

Stormwater from upgradient areas (in pipes and on surface)

Coastal processes (tides/wind/waves/storm surge)

g




Why will it get worse?

• Sea Level Rise (SLR)

“New Normal” of higher tides restricts free flow of stormwater from

roadway to Boston Harbor

• More frequent and stronger coastal storms Higher water = further restrictions on flow through drainage system

Direct flooding due to wind and waves

• Increased rainfall intensity Can overwhelm the drainage system, even without coastal impacts

g




How much worse?

• Increasingly sophisticated modeling and studies have been

performed for the Boston area




How much worse?

Year 2070 – 10% Probability*

*There is a 1 in 10chance that sometime in

year 2070 the flood

depths shown on this

map will be reached or

exceeded

Morrissey Boulevard

H h ?




How much worse?

Year 2070 – 1% Probability*

*There is a 1 in 100

chance that sometime in

year 2070 the flood

depths shown on this

map will be reached or

exceeded

Morrissey Boulevard




…but Coastal Processes are only Part of the

Story for Morrissey…

• Increase in predicted high tides for 2070:

2.5 - 4 feet above today’s tides

Many segments of the roadway, and much of the

drainage system, will be below predicted water levels formuch of the daily tide cycle

• Increased rainfall intensity:

“Cornell” model for NY and New England Existing Morrissey roadway drainage (capture and

conveyance) is circa 1950’s and obsolete




Design Criteria

• 10-Year Storm (Cornell model)

• Sea Level Rise by Year 2065

• 100-Year Tidal Inundation

• Allow 3 events per year, in 2065,

where roadway may be

impassable for 1-hour or more

during forecast peak tides without

storm surge




Potential Adaptation Tools:

Roadway Elevation and/or Flood Walls

Existing

Roadway

Full

RoadwayElevation

Existing

Roadway

Partial

Roadway

Elevation





Shoreline Protection

Source: Delewarestuary.org

“Hard”

Solutions

“Soft”

Solutions





Green Infrastructure (GI)

GI tools such as biofiltration

and pervious surfaces can

both reduce total runoff and

improve water quality.





Capacity and Conveyance

These tools can store water

in the system when tides are

too high to discharge and can

prevent ocean water from

backing up onto the roadway

Tide Gate at Drainage Outfall

Backflow Prevention Device at Drainage Outfall

Cutaway View of Temporary Underground

Stormwater Storage




• Stormw ater and f looding : Provide

stormwater improvements and climateresiliency

• Transportat ion : Provide safe, convenient,

and inviting pedestrian and bicycle

accommodations, balanced with

appropriate vehicular accommodations

• Landscape & Urban Design : Enhance

parkway character and strengthenconnections to recreational facilities,

natural resource areas, and

neighborhoods

y j

O p p o r t u n i

t i e s &

C o n s t r a i n t s

Transportation



Bicycle and Pedestrian Goals

• Provide facilities along entire corridor

• Minimize conflicts between bicycles

and pedestrians and between bicycles,

pedestrians, and vehicles

• Integrate with surrounding

bicycle/pedestrian network

Landscape / Urban Design



Green Space/Bicycle/Pedestrian Connections

City of Boston “Bike Network Plan”

Morrissey Blvd.

Corridor

Project Goals: Landscape and



Project Goals: Landscape and

Urban Design

• Enhance parkway character and strengthen connections to

recreational facilities and natural resource areas




Parkway Character

One section of Morrissey Boulevard – Option to raise edges, but not

roadway. Blocks views from the Boulevard.




Parkway Character

One section of Morrissey Boulevard – Option to raise roadway and edges.

Allows views from the Boulevard and road edge plantings.




Neighborhood Connections and Character

Design must respond to

current adjacent conditions

and look for opportunities to

connect neighborhoods on

both sides of the Boulevard.




Neighborhood / Open Space Connections

Important open space connections, such as those at Malibu Beach, will

respond to future as well as current conditions.

In Summary…



• A “typical” parkway

restoration project becomesmore exciting given the

resiliency challenges

• Need to balance both current

and potential future

conditions

• Design criteria and analysis

tools are all very dynamic

• Single agency project, but

many outside

actors/influences



Questions?

Panel Discussion





Panel Discussion

Moderator: Varoujan Hagopian,GEI Consultants

Panel Members:

• Jerry Friedman, HDR Engineering, Inc.

• Carl Spector, City of Boston

• Julie Wormser, Boston Harbor Now

EBC Ocean and Coastal Resources Program:



E i t l B i C il f N E l d

Resiliency Planning for the

City of Boston

Documents

6-22-16 MASTER Boston Resiliency Planning.pdf