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Central Artery / Third Harbor Tunnel
Challenge
The Central Artery/Tunnel Project, now substantially completed, is the largest, most complex transportation construction project in United States history. This $14.6 billion undertaking innovatively meets highway transportation needs and modernizes the transportation system of Boston and thereby the entire Northeastern United States.
In 1983, the depression of the Central Artery was considered a separate potential project, not eligible for federal funding as was the Third Harbor Tunnel. O’Neill and Associates, through the efforts of John Cahill, successfully persuaded senior congressional officials to view the endeavor as one transportation improvement project. O’Neill and Associates has been involved in the project since its inception having successfully secured the original federal approval and funding for the project.
Solution
O’Neill and Associates has provided ongoing services, working with federal and state officials on funding, strategic planning and community relations issues. At the same time, O’Neill and Associates has served as a liaison between government agencies as well as between the government and the public.
Federal Relations
O’Neill and Associates worked with the relevant committees of Congress, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the U.S. Department of Transportation on all federal funding issues during consideration of the 1987, 1991, and 1997 highway legislation on behalf of the project.
Having successfully secured the original federal approval and funding for the project, this team advanced specific legislative provisions beneficial to the realization of the project over a nearly 20 year period.
Community Relations
O’Neill and Associates began the campaign for the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel project with the goal to communicate the absolute need for Boston’s new transportation infrastructure. This was critical in alleviating the inevitable frustration surrounding a construction project of this magnitude in an area as congested as downtown Boston.
Once this understanding was achieved, communications efforts shifted emphasis to informing constituent groups and the general public of ongoing construction activities and conveying that project managers recognized and understood the public’s needs and concerns.
Specific communications included:
- personal participation in community meetings by senior project personnel;
- working with the Artery Business Committee and multiple neighborhoods/local transportation officials;
- assisting with compliance to local environmental commitments;
- creating and distributing newsletters and flyers through community organizations;
- direct mailings to mitigate project impact to abutting areas of the project;
- creation of a dedicated web site (www.bigdig.com);
- paid advertisements in community and general circulation newspapers;
- paid advertisements through broadcasting channels; and
- earned media generated through press conferences.
Results
The federal and community relations efforts were very successful. Throughout the life of the project, there have been additional challenges and various crises, such as issues concerning project cost, which required significant parallel communications efforts. However, throughout these challenges, the support for the project was not compromised, due to the enduring discipline on the part of the project team to remain consistent in delivering its key messages.
As the project approaches completion, the Central Artery/Tunnel Project is already benefiting the region immensely. The average trip through the center of Boston is now 2.8 minutes instead of 19.5 minutes. An additional 800,000 Eastern Massachusetts residents can now get to Logan International Airport in 40 minutes or less. Studies show that these reduced drive times will result in savings of $24 million in vehicle operating costs and $143 million in time. Furthermore, the improvements are expected to attract $7 billion in private investment, adding more than 43,000 jobs along the I-93 corridor and in the South Boston Seaport District.
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