(The following story by Eric Convey appeared on the Boston Herald website on May 19.)
BOSTON — The Democratic National Convention traffic nightmare feared by Boston commuters looks likely to become a reality under security measures to be unveiled tomorrow.
Among the restrictions to be disclosed at a meeting sponsored by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce:
— The Central Artery will close each day by 4:30 p.m.
— Major parking garages in downtown Boston will be closed for long stretches of time, rendering them essentially useless for commuters who depend on them.
— Significant portions of the commuter rail infrastructure serving the North Shore and Northwestern suburbs will be shut down and replaced with bus service.
Some of the measures had been publicly discussed as a potential worst-case scenario. At tomorrow’s sold-out briefing, business people will learn their worst dreams will come true.
One source familiar with the plans city officials will put forth said they will suggest a partial solution:
Telecommute.
According to another source who is close to the city’s business leaders and is familiar with convention-week planning, organizers have a simple and blunt message for people who work in Boston: “Stay home.”
Drivers who fail to heed the advice will face traffic jams that some experts now believe will extend not just throughout Boston, but to Route 128 and even Interstate 495 near its intersections with major highways serving Boston.
According to state statistics, about 180,000 vehicles per day travel from Boston north to Route 128 via Interstate 93. Traffic thins above Route 128, but even beyond I-495 near New Hampshire, 100,000 cars still use the road daily.
Tomorrow’s briefing will include a panel of high-profile officials, including: Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Police Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Scott Schaefe, Boston Police Superintendent Robert Dunford, MBTA Police Deputy Superintendent John Martino, and Julie Burns, executive director of the Boston 2004 committee.