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The draft plan would allow Boston to pursue up to 65 percent of construction costs for coastal resiliency projects from the federal government.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presented a draft $10 billion coastal flood defense plan for Boston. One proposed option for downtown includes a gateway extending onto Commercial Street, as shown here in the rendering. The visual elements created by the City of Boston are concepts, not final designs. Submission submitted by the City of Boston
Boston residents could eventually see new flood walls, berms, flood gates and other coastal defenses extending across 16 miles of the city’s shoreline under a plan released Monday aimed at protecting neighborhoods from rising sea levels and increasingly severe coastal storms.
A draft plan submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) outlines more than 20 projects to close areas along Boston’s 47-mile coastline that are vulnerable to flooding, and essential infrastructure is expected to cost about $10 billion, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said in a press release.
Wu’s office said the draft report details proposed infrastructure options for coastal flood protection in Boston, which include flood walls, flood gates and berms.
“Boston is leading bold action to protect our communities and our future,” Wu said in the statement. “Our city’s future depends on the steps we take now to build resilient communities. With more frequent flooding in vulnerable areas during extreme weather events, Feasibility study for coastal storm risk management It is critical to understand how to protect the most vulnerable inland neighborhoods and unleash resources to take action.
The study, expected to be completed in 2028, would prevent an estimated $41 billion in flood damage by securing 65% of construction costs for coastal resiliency projects from the federal government, according to Wu’s office.
About 40% of Boston’s population lives in areas prone to coastal flooding, according to USACE. Without additional protection, officials estimate that nearly 20,000 buildings could face severe flooding as sea levels rise and storms intensify, Wu’s office noted. The plan focuses on the city’s shoreline in East Boston, Charleston, Dorchester, downtown, the North End, and South Boston.
The draft is Open for public comment Until September 18 before the end of the study.
“Today marks a major milestone in our shared mission of community resiliency,” David McPhail, deputy commander of the New England District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said in a statement. “The reality is that doing nothing is not a viable option. Without action, the costs to public safety and economic vitality caused by coastal flooding will worsen.”
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