The I-90 Allston Multimodal Project involves rerouting of I-90 through Allston by straightening the curve, making it safer, while replacing the decaying viaduct.  The community has spoken in a unified voice that they would prefer an at-grade option, placing I-90, Soldiers Field Road, 4 railroad tracks, and an improved Paul Dudley White pathway side by side rather than rebuilding the viaduct. 

Over the past several years, it has been difficult to develop a design that squeezes all that within the Throat, a narrow slice of land bounded by BU and the river between the BU Bridge and the River Street Bridge.  The current design proposed by MassDOT keeps the roadways and railroad tracks on land and envisions the PDW as a boardwalk deck on pilings in the river along the Boston shoreline.  

CRAB has strongly voiced concerns about this design and continues to feel that the current design needs to be improved.  

Shoreline Treatment

The current shoreline is a mess, a jumble of jagged rocks and concrete, storm water drains, shrubbery, fallen trees, and trash.  This is an opportunity to clean this up.  During the last meeting of the I-90 Task Force, MassDOT presented four alternatives for the shoreline treatment [ slides 38-47]. Two of these proposed treatments involve granite walls while one involves a steel curtain wall. 

During the meeting, Kane Larin, our representative on the Task Force, clearly stated CRAB’s opposition to any additional walls along the shoreline. We prefer a gently sloping contour that allows waves and wakes to be dissipated and egress for any capsized boaters.  We further prefer that any combined sewage overflows be eliminated and that stormwater runoff be filtered to remove trash, oils, and phosphorus before entering the river.  

Paul Dudley White Pathway

The current conceptual design of the PDW in the Throat is a boardwalk deck supported by 280 pilings in the river.  While CRAB has expressed concern about this concept, we have also tried to work with MassDOT to improve it.  We have proposed sponsoring a design charrette to generate better concepts for both the shoreline and the PDW.  This meeting is an initial step in that process. This past summer, in cooperation with MassDOT, we placed a line of buoys in the river to outline the position of the PDW in the current conceptual design in order to gauge how this intrusion into the river might impact our activity. As you might imagine with a community as large as CRAB, there was a spectrum of responses.While most of our community felt that we could live with the pathway extending out into the river 30-40 feet in the Throat, there was also a significant number of people that were opposed to any encroachment into the river. This is consistent with our position since 2018 on the pathway:  We would like to see an improved PDW.  It might include some use of the water sheet.  There is a limit to how far the PDW could extend into the river.   Like the community at large, there are many people in the boating community that would benefit from an improved PDW.  But there needs to be a balance between the impact of the new PDW on our activities on the water and the other needs of the community at large.  

CRAB continues to have concerns about the deck-on-pilings concept:   

Boating Safety:  Building a boardwalk a few feet above the water sheet presents a significant risk of head and upper torso injury to rowers.  While experienced rowers may minimize this risk, it only takes a moment of inattention to collide with such a structure.  This is an unacceptable risk.  The proposed boardwalk is also a barrier to anyone who may capsize in the river by walling off a long section of the shoreline.  

Water Movement:  The use of hundreds of pilings to support the PDW will lead to reduced water movement and increased sedimentation.  As we have documented in our detailed depth chart, sedimentation in the river over the last century is a growing problem.  We don’t need to add to it.  

Water Quality:  While the I-90 project must not have a negative impact on the ecology of the river, especially in terms of water quality, this is an opportunity to eliminate combined sewage overflows and improve the treatment of stormwater runoff. 

Trash Accumulation:  The boardwalk on pilings will trap trash behind it much like the Memorial Drive causeway near the Longfellow Bridge.  Moreover, the Charles River Cleanup Boat will not be able to remove such trash as they do today.  

Winter Maintenance:  During winter months, an elevated pathway over the water will require significant application of de-icers that will result in more salt entering the river, negatively affecting water quality.   Future Maintenance: Compared to a pathway situated on land, a boardwalk over the water will likely require more maintenance and the track record of the Commonwealth on this is not encouraging.  

Reduction of Traffic Lanes:  Recently, there have been renewed calls to consider reducing the number of traffic lanes from 12, 4 for Soldiers Field Road and 8 for I-90.  Eliminating even a single lane could allow the PDW to be built on land and not into the river.  

The meeting this Wednesday is an opportunity to learn what the latest design concepts are from MassDOT and to express your approval and concern about such design concepts. You may agree or disagree with the issues that CRAB has identified or may have additional issues not discussed in this note.   I encourage you to attend the meeting, listen attentively, and express your views politely.  If we want to alter the current design of the I-90 Project, we need to do so through persuasion, not confrontation.  

The medal is given by the World Rowing Federation (FISA) for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing. It is awarded to recognize an exceptional racing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship.

Many will be aware of Caryn’s remarkable record as the stroke of the US Women’s 8+ during its long unbeaten streak, winning Olympic gold in 2012 and 2008 following silver in 2004, in addition to many (many!) world championship and world cup medals. She won an NCAA championship rowing for Harvard in 2003 and stroked the Oxford 8+ to victory in the women’s Boat Race in 2015. Caryn served as president of the United States Olympians and Paralympians Association in 2021, and as athlete representative to the USRowing Board of Directors from 2004-2010.

Caryn joined CBC in 2016. Behind the bar at our clubhouse or in the awards tent in Amsterdam, Caryn always greets fellow CBC members with warmth and enthusiasm. You may recall her presentation at a Sunday Night Supper, where she shared stories of her successes as well as challenges she faced in trying for one more shot at Olympic glory. Her talk was inspiring and intense but filled with humility and self-awareness. It is not only for all her accomplishments that we are fortunate to have Caryn in our community.

October 30, 2023. The Head Of The Charles Regatta, the world’s largest rowing regatta, announced today Executive Director Fred Schoch’s plan to step down in 2024. The Regatta just successfully completed its 58 ^thyear of competition on the weekend of October 20^th-22^nd .

Fred’s 33 years of leadership of the Head Of The Charles has built a legacy of growth, innovation, and stewardship. He started as the Regatta’s first employee. During Fred’s tenure the HOCR evolved from a small, local one-day event to a three-day world recognized regatta that welcomes nearly 12,000 athletes from 30 countries and nearly all the US states. The 400,000+ spectators who attend every year create an estimated economic impact in Massachusetts of over $88 million. Fred will remain Executive Director until a successor is named. The HOCR board of directors will soon launch an international search, supported by the sports and entertainment executive search firm TurnkeyZRG.

“Fred created an incredible destination regatta over the course of his tenure. He built our success through his advocacy and connections with sponsors, competitors and coaches, staff, and volunteers. He has been a true trailblazer in the commercial development of rowing. We are fortunate for Fred’s decades of dedication to the success of the Regatta,” said Tim Fulham, Chair of the Head Of The Charles’ board of directors. “We are also grateful for Fred’s commitment to a successful transition. He leaves the Regatta in excellent shape. We are excited to build on our strong foundation as we think about the future of our world-class regatta and our leadership role in our rowing and local communities.”

Since 1965, the Head Of The Charles has become the world’s largest rowing regatta and the preeminent regatta on the US Rowing calendar. It is the third largest outdoor event in Boston, alongside the 4th of July and Boston Marathon. It is a pan-national, international, and a “must do” event for rowers. Its success relies on ongoing collaboration with a large network of sponsors, athletes, coaches, volunteers, and vendors. The Head also works in close coordination with the cities of Boston and Cambridge and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The Regatta is a leader in the rowing community for the promotion of diversity and inclusion though a broad suite of initiatives.

Reflecting on today’s announcement, Fred commented, “It has been my privilege to have led such an incredible organization. Working together as a team of staff and volunteers, I am proud that we have had a transformational effect on our sport and on our local communities. Perhaps most importantly, we have set a new standard for regattas and have had a lot of fun along the way. I am eager to see what the future holds for the Regatta as the team continues to build on our strong foundation and thinks of new ways to innovate and grow.”

Under Fred’s leadership, HOCR has enjoyed remarkable achievements and milestones including becoming:

• The world’s largest rowing regatta. Nearly 12,000 rowers come to race over a 3-day weekend in October ranging from 11- to 90+ years old and come from over 800 colleges, universities, high schools, and clubs. Participants include:
• United States National rowing team members
• 50+ current global Olympians including members of Team USA
• 75+ Elite World Championship current athletes including members of Team USA
• 3,500+ global Masters’ athletes
• 4,000+ global Youth competitors
• A pioneer in inclusion.
• The first Head race to include and integrate events for para-athletes and athletes with intellectual disabilities
• The only major sporting event of its size that has achieved full gender equality (50-50 male-female) furthered by a commitment to create a welcoming home for athletes and spectators of all gender IDs
• Giving back through a DEI grant foundation, the Head Of The Charles x Gold Cup Grant Fund that supports rowing programs in under-resourced communities
• Partnering with Community Rowing (Boston) to promote the sport in Boston and Cambridge public schools
• One of the largest volunteer-driven sporting events in the world. The Regatta is powered by more than 2,500 dedicated volunteers who come from all over the world to make the Regatta run year after year
• Lasting commitment to sustainability.Partnering with the Department of Conservation and Recreation as well as environmental organizations like the Charles River Watershed Association, the HOCR has taken the lead in river and riverbank renewal, contributing over $2 million to riverbank remediation. The Regatta is one of the first major Boston outdoor events to commit to zero waste
• A tradition of giving back.Through its 25-year-long philanthropy program, HOCR has contributed over $3 million to local community groups including the West End House Boys & Girls Club and the Cambridge Community Foundation
• Building out year-round competition.Creating and hosting the largest indoor rowing event in the US with more than 2,500 competitors at the end of January each year

“As we think about our next Executive Director, we are seeking a leader who will join us in our commitment to running a world-class regatta and at the same time help us think proactively about the areas where we can continue to pioneer, grow, and improve,” continued Fulham. “This is a special organization with an exciting future ahead. We plan to conduct a global search to find the best leader to take us forward.”

The search team will be led by Brack Baker, current member of the Board and former race director. The search committee includes Blair Crawford, former chair of the board and current COO of the Head Of The Charles and board members Barbara A. Jones, Alexander Packard, and Beth Carrillo Thomas. 

As Fred transitions away from the regatta, he plans to enjoy more time stacking logs for his wood stove in NH with his five grandchildren, continue to compete with Team Attager, provide color commentary at the Eastern Sprint and IRA regattas, do some guest coaching with his friends in the rowing community and engage in sponsorship and event marketing consulting on the side.

All potential candidates should visitwww.turnkeyzrg.comto apply. Turnkey points of contact for the search are:

Steve Tosches –stevetosches@turnkeyzrg.com

Rick Alessandri –rickalessandri@turnkeyzrg.com