In conducting the analysis generally conservative assumptions were used with 

 regard to the transportation characteristics of the Aquarium. For example, the 

 assumpt Ion that 25X of total USS Const I tut ion and Navy Yard Aquar I urn visl tors will 

 overlap Is conservative, since this Is the current visitor overlap with the USS 

 Const I tut Ion and the Aquarium located on separate sites. When the two attractions 

 are located beside each other , this over lap wl I I I Ikely Increase. As a result , any 

 failures In the assumptions to predict future unforeseen changes should predict 

 worse conditions than those likely to occur In the design year. 



Parking Analysis Findings 



Parking demand on weekdays for Aquarium visitors and employees will average 

 approximately 700 spaces throughout most of the year. However, because of the high 

 peak summer visitation up to 1200 spaces will be needed during some weekdays In 

 August, and on a peak Saturday In August over 1800 spaces will be needed. This 

 parking demand can be met In a number of ways. Since the balance of parking In the 

 Navy Yard will be filled on weekdays, an additional supply of 700 spaces must be 

 developed to meet average conditions and a total of 1200 spaces found to meet peak 

 August weekday conditions. On summer Saturdays when the workforce In the balance 

 of the Navy Yard Is small, significant excess parking will be available for 

 Aquarium visitors. The additional demand of 600 spaces compared to peak weekday 

 conditions, therefore, can be accommodated In other facilities In the Navy Yard. 

 It Is anticipated that some of this Saturday "overflow" parking will be provided 

 In the existing parking garage, located near Gate 5. 



In addition to parking for automobiles. It will also be Important to 

 provide sufficient storage for tour and school buses In a location away from the 

 Aquarium and the Charlestown community. 



Several parking locations are being considered to meet the Aquarium's weekday 

 needs. These sites are shown In Figures 2 and 3. In total, five generalized 

 parking locations were assessed In this Impact analysis. These sites Include the 

 Hoosac Stores area along Water Street near Gate 1, the northwest corner and tennis 

 courts of the National Park Service (NPS) property near the Intersection of Water 

 Street and Chelsea Street, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) site at Hayes Square, 

 the property north of Hayes Square beneath the Tobin Bridge approaches between 

 Decatur and Chelsea Streets, and the Tennis Courts on the NPS property across from 

 Drydock #2. In addition, a site across the Little Mystic River was considered for 

 the storage of school and tour buses. Because of Its limited size and high 

 development costs, Hoosac Stores was not considered further. All other sites are 

 still under study, and represent only an Initial set of locations for Aquarium 

 parking. Other sites may be considered In the future. 



In developing a strategy for meeting the Aquarium's parking needs 

 consideration should also be given to the fact that many visitors will be 

 unfamiliar with the Charlestown area. Thus, to avoid confusion and the possibility 

 of traffic circulating on local Charlestown Streets, parking access should be made 

 as simple as possible from the City Square area either as a result of location or 

 good signage. From this perspective a large, centralized facility Is preferable 

 over multiple, smaller locations. Finally, sites providing quick and easy 

 pedestrian access between parking and Drydock »2 are preferable to those sites 

 requiring a shuttle bus connection. 



