The selection of a preferred site or sites for Aquarium parking will depend 

 In part on the traffic Impacts of alternative parking access locations. These are 

 discussed In the following section related to traffic circulation Impacts. 



Traffic Circulation and Access Analysis Findings 



While a new Aquarium facility In the Charlestown Navy Yard will generate 

 Increases in traffic, the majority of trips to and from the site will occur on 

 weekends and during weekdays in the middle of the day in the months of July and 

 August. These are both time periods when other background traffic Is relatively 

 low. While these weekend and midday peaks were assessed, the overall analysis 

 Indicates that the weekday evening rush hour will be the most critical time. This 

 occurs since background traffic Is highest during the PM peak hour and the Aquarium 

 traffic, although small by comparison. Is added to key Intersections In the area. 

 Figure 4 Illustrates the relative contribution of Aquarium traffic to the total 

 approach volumes at two of the key intersections. 



Figure 5 illustrates the general pattern of regional access to the site. As 

 can be seen most of the traffic from the major approaches will have to pass through 

 the City Square area, whether it is approaching from Washington Street, 1-93 or the 

 Tobin Bridge. Figure 6 shows the location of the most critical Intersections from 

 a traffic operations standpoint. 



The Intersection at City Square created by the Central Artery North Area 

 (CANA) Project, with the changes as proposed by the Boston Transportation 

 Department, will continue to function at an acceptable level of service, 'D', 

 during the 1994 PM peak hour. While some additional traffic delay will occur as 

 a result of the Aquarium traffic, City Square will remain at an overall 

 satisfactory level of service. (Details on the impact of Aquarium traffic on 

 Individual turning movements and the concept of Intersection level of service are 

 explained In greater detail in the body of the report.) 



The other Important intersection from a traffic flow standpoint is at the 

 Gate 4 Navy Yard entrance and Chelsea Street. Traffic flow Impacts here will be 

 a result of the location chosen for Aquarium parking; as follows: 



o Parking sites west of Gate 4 and accessed both from Chelsea and Water 

 Streets (Hoosac Stores, the northwest NPS property, and the NPS Tennis 

 Courts) will add very little traffic to this Intersection and will 

 result In acceptable levels of service. 



o If parking sites east of the Gate 4/Chelsea Street Intersection are 

 chosen (Hayes Square or the property beneath the TobIn Bridge), or If 

 access to the NPS Tennis Court or northwest corner property Is provided 

 through the Navy Yard, traffic improvements will be required In the 

 area of the Gate 4/Chelsea Street intersection. Traffic access to 

 these parking sites will operate at a satisfactory level of service If 

 the following improvements are made: 



To serve Aquarium parking within the Navy Yard, an additional 

 lane must be added at the Gate 4 exit (Fifth Street) between 

 Chelsea Street and First Avenue. This will provide two exit 



