Mass Construction Show Transportation & Construction in Boston w/ Ed Hesford, Director of Permitting and Construction
May 12, 2025
Ed Hesford, Chief Engineer and Director of Permitting and Construction at the Boston Transportation Department, shares insights into Boston's dynamic urban landscape. He discusses the critical balance of construction and transportation, featuring major events like street closures and the marathon. Ed delves into traffic management strategies, the importance of construction management plans, and the challenges of maintaining public safety under heavy vehicle flow and ongoing projects. He highlights future trends in construction, particularly in healthcare and affordable housing.
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Traffic Flow and Monitoring
- Boston sees about 500,000 vehicles daily and approximately 800,000 daily transit riders.
- The city actively monitors and controls traffic with around 500 cameras and dynamic signal timing.
Strategic Bike Lane Placement
- Boston transitioned to strategically placing bike lanes only where they work effectively.
- Poorly placed bike lanes cause driver discomfort and community pushback.
CMP Basics and Scope
- Construction Management Plans (CMP) start with a narrative and phase-specific site logistics drawings.
- CMPs address traffic, pedestrian safety, noise, dust, and hazards across all construction phases.