Opportunity for Wheelchair Ramp from Fenway to Kenmore Square

Posted by John B. Kelly

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is in the process of appropriating $12 million or so for infrastructure improvements around Fenway Park. The original list included Ipswich Street, the Sears Rotary, and Maitland Street (wherever that is). I saw this as a perfect opportunity to get funding for a much needed ramp going from the Bowker overpass at the top of Boylston Street, down to Charlesgate West and into Kenmore Square. Right now, people with disabilities must go all the way around by way of Yawkey Way and Brookline Avenue to get to the square. On game days, Yawkey Way is very difficult to traverse, and Lansdowne Street isn't much better.

Representative Byron Rushing submitted an amendment to include the ramp. I just came back from a public meeting with the Red Sox, who wanted to inform the community about their winter construction project. Hopefully, the Red Sox will support this improvement.

Here is the text of the flyer I handed the Red Sox, city councilor Michael Ross's office, and a reporter (Dan Friedman) from the Boston Courant.

URGENT NEED FOR BOWKER OVERPASS WHEELCHAIR RAMP

Neighborhood Access Group calls on all interested parties to support the construction of an accessible path of travel between the Bowker Overpass and Kenmore Square at Charlesgate West, as part of the monies allocated to infrastructure improvements around Fenway Park.

At present, no wheelchair access exists. People now must use Yawkey Way to enter Kenmore Square, a much longer route. See the attached maps.

The present situation is a hardship on East Fens and Kenmore Square residents.

Yawkey Way is very difficult to access on game day, regardless of the Red Sox commitment to providing assistance. Lansdowne Street isn't much better.

People with disabilities must be taken into account in infrastructure improvements.

Please support Representative Byron Rushing's proposed amendment to the Red Sox infrastructure supplemental (line-item 6033-0593) which strikes the following: “For critical roadways and streetscape improvements to the Sears Rotary, Ipswich Street, Maitland Street and Yawkey Way in the city of Boston”;

To be replaced by the following: “For critical roadways, streetscape, and handicap access improvements to the Sears Rotary, Ipswich Street, Maitland Street, the Honorable Philip Grigs Bowker Interchange, and Yawkey Way in the city of Boston”.

This is the perfect time to build this ramp.