Press Release: 10/28/2025

MassDOT Releases the Morrissey Boulevard Corridor Study Final Report

 



Report has been filed with the Massachusetts Legislature and is now online



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



10/28/2025



MEDIA CONTACT



Jacquelyn Goddard, Director of Communications, MassDOT



 Phone



Call Jacquelyn Goddard, Director of Communications, MassDOT at (857) 368-8500



 Online



Email Jacquelyn Goddard, Director of Communications, MassDOT at jacquelyn.goddard@dot.state.ma.us



BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing the Morrissey Boulevard Corridor Study Final Report has been filed with the Massachusetts Legislature and is now posted online at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/morrissey-boulevard-commission.  The report follows the completion of the Morrissey Boulevard Corridor Study, a joint planning effort seeking to develop a mobility plan for the corridor and which evaluated and recommended transportation and infrastructure improvements along Morrissey Boulevard in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. 



“Completion of this corridor study is a major step in setting the direction for future improvements based on the latest thinking on safety, mobility, and climate resiliency,” said Undersecretary and Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.  “I want to express my gratitude to the Commission members and the staff for their willingness to collaborate, think big, and produce a comprehensive finished product with clear next steps.”  



“Redesigning and rebuilding Morrissey Boulevard is critical to improving transportation, protecting against coastal flooding, and connecting Dorchester communities to waterfront recreation and enjoyment,” said City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “We’re grateful to the Commonwealth in moving this long-discussed project one step closer to construction, and we look forward to collaborating with our state partners and local residents to begin implementing this important work and aligning it with improvements to Kosciuszko Circle.” 



“DCR is committed to continuing our work with our partners at MassDOT, the City of Boston and local elected leaders on this important initiative to transform this busy corridor into one that provides safer and better connections to our open spaces and recreational resources,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle.  “The Commission provided a valuable forum for engaging the neighborhood residents on their needs and vision for the future of the Morrissey Boulevard Corridor. The completion of this report is just one step in this critical effort to make this parkway more resilient and equitable for the community.”  



“I look forward to working with our local and state partners on continuing the Commission’s work. As we transition from this study to more actionable steps, I hope to make progress in addressing the many issues we have heard about including coastal resilience, traffic patterns, bike lanes and pedestrian safety,” shared City Councilor John Fitzgerald.  



The Morrissey Boulevard Commission was established by the Massachusetts Legislature to study the corridor and report its findings. In alignment with this legislation, MassDOT, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the City of Boston undertook a conceptual planning study to develop and analyze alternatives for the corridor that are intended to improve the public realm, mobility, connectivity, safety, and climate resiliency throughout the area for the City of Boston and the surrounding region.  



With equity as an overarching goal, there were four objectives for the development of the alternatives:




  • Corridor Mobility

  • Resiliency and Ecology

  • Placemaking

  • Constructability 



In conjunction with the Morrissey Boulevard Commission, the study team worked to develop several short and long-term recommendations to meet the goals of the study, which will guide future project development. In the short-term, partners will continue to evaluate opportunities for safety improvements and early action items to address needs along the corridor.  In the long-term, MassDOT and DCR will coordinate with the City of Boston to initiate a project or phased projects to reconstruct the Morrissey Boulevard corridor, based on the ability to secure and dedicate funding for roadway reconstruction and resiliency measures.  



Several potential flood mitigation measures could be implemented along the coastline and Dorchester Bay Basin to protect critical infrastructure and inland neighborhoods, including raised beaches, dunes, and berms; or a hybrid system including exposed or buried flood walls and deployable solutions. Coastal resilience measures should incorporate nature-based solutions, which may include shoreline stabilization and wetland restoration. As flood protection is advanced in this area, coordination will continue across state agencies and other partners. 



Based on the study findings and input from stakeholders, the preferred alternative is a holistic design approach to the full Morrissey Boulevard corridor including improved and safer access to DCR’s open spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as improved connectivity from the neighborhood to DCR's facilities. 



MassDOT will continue to formally convene with DCR, the City of Boston, and other stakeholders to advance a coordinated approach to future corridor investments and ongoing projects.   



Public participation was critical in refining the study’s goals and objectives, evaluation criteria, and the alternatives development process. The public involvement process included eight meetings with the Morrissey Boulevard Commission, consisting of federal, state, regional, and local representatives, which were open to the public. A 60-day public comment period was held, with an in-person workshop held in March 2025 to garner input on the study alternatives. 



For more information and to review the final report, please visit the website at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/morrissey-boulevard-commission.