Sullivan Square/Rutherford Avenue

Charlestown, MA

Client: City of Boston Transportation Department
Engineer: Tetratech

Brown, Richardson + Rowe is working with Tetra Tech for the Boston Transportation Department on redesigning 1.75 miles of Charlestown’s Rutherford Avenue. The project extends from City Square to the Alford Street Bridge. A portion of the site is subject to coastal flooding that can spill into the low lying areas around The Schrafft Center during storms. Improved connections and public transit to surrounding neighborhoods and commercial districts are part of the Boston 2030 and Complete Streets resiliency plans. New linear parks and multi-use trails will be built with trees, shrubs and groundcovers within the design. Vegetated bioswales between curb and pathway and underground detention basins will increase ground water recharge and reduce the pressure on existing overtaxed drainage systems in large storm events. Increasing open space for public access and connectivity will ‘hold’ the land in resilient form over time and reduce risk.