By Michael Coughlin Jr.
During the Harbor View Neighborhood Association’s (HVNA) monthly meeting last week, representatives from Massport provided an update on its project to optimize the North Service Area.
During the HVNA’s April meeting, Massport’s Deputy Director of Community Relations and Federal Affairs, Anthony Guerriero, explained that the North Service Area is the northern section of Logan Airport, parallel to the greenway and MBTA tracks beyond Wood Island Station.
“We’re going to optimize and modernize that area. Right now, you have the green bus depot and a hodgepodge of buildings like the flight kitchen and so forth and so on,” Guerriero said at last week’s meeting.
As for why this project is being undertaken, Guerriero listed several reasons, including that the current buildings are old and poorly located, “critical operational functions” are being conducted in those buildings that are not up to current maintenance and storage standards, and there are inefficiencies with land use and the ramp for general aviation aircraft parking.
“What we want to do is, in terms of investing in optimizing this area: reduce environmental impacts, provide modern, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure while reducing total building square footage, remove trucks from public roads, reducing truck trips and congestion at the north gate…then consolidate the general aircraft parking on the ramp,” Guerriero said.
The project, which Guerriero said was “multi-year” and “multi-phased,” includes a new large vehicle storage and maintenance facility (LVSMF), improvements to the green bus depot, and a new vehicle service road, among other items.
After detailing images of current and future site conditions and renderings, Simone Brogini, the project manager, reviewed plans for a fence along the greenway by the Blue Line tracks.
Brogini explained that the barrier would have a two-foot concrete wall, with an eight-foot clear-view fence on top, with two rows of barbed wire just over a foot and a half above that.
As a result of the new fence, 32 trees will be removed from the greenway. “For the requirements of the TSA and the safety of the airport, we need to keep anything that is close to the fence 10 feet away; otherwise, people could climb on the trees and jump on the other side,” Brogini said.
“So we’re going to take down 32 trees; we are going to replant 32 trees, they’re going to be in and around that area,” Guerriero said. There are also additional plans for new landscaping as part of the project.
Massport representatives then outlined the construction phasing plans until the end of 2026. The first aspect of the project being undertaken is the new service road, with work slated to begin in December or “probably even beyond that,” per Brogini.
In January, equipment will begin to be cleared at the LVSMF area to prepare for foundation work, which is slated to start around spring 2026.
Demolition of an existing bay at the green bus depot is also planned for January, with construction of a new one to follow.
It should be noted that as part of the work, piles will be driven in the LVSMF construction area and drilled in the bus depot construction area.
Regarding construction hours, the work schedule is planned from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and potentially Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., if needed. Deliveries will not happen before 6:00 a.m.
Massport will also include construction mitigation measures for noise, rodents, dust, and other issues.
There are also plans for pre-construction home inspections for houses located near construction sites. Guerriero mentioned homes at Neptune Circle and Swift Terrace.
“We’ve done that at other projects that we’ve worked on…It protects you, and it also protects Massport,” Guerriero said.
As the presentation continued, the Massport representatives spoke more about the construction area.
They also shared results from a noise analysis conducted in June and July at Excel Academy, Festa Field, and 5 Cowper Street to inform a model that will help determine whether changes would occur with the new North Service Area configuration.
Per the presentation slideshow given to the HVNA, “Noise monitoring measurements show existing noise ranging from 64db to 71db during the measuring period. This is consistent with the FAA’s annual noise contour (aircraft only).”
Mitigation plans were also discussed at the meeting, including a Byron Street entrance to the greenway, with construction potentially happening next summer, and audio and visual enhancements on the first and second floors of the Salesian Boys & Girls Club.
As for next steps related to the project, Guerriero acknowledged that they are still in the permitting phase, with mobilization expected in the winter.
The project is tentatively scheduled for completion in quarter four of 2028. A pre-construction meeting is also planned for the future.
To view a recording of this discussion, visit www.facebook.com/joseph.steffanojr/videos/669505112680112/?idorvanity=184081565337087 and skip to 27:15. HVNA’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1.