Official: Harvard Can Move Mass. Turnpike

AP ^ | May 31, 2003 | AP Wire

[D. Brian Carter]

BOSTON (AP) -- A $75 million land sale to Harvard gives the prestigious university unusual new power - the potential to literally move the Massachusetts Turnpike, a state official complained.

Documents filed on the completion of the 91-acre land deal show the property includes a toll plaza, an estimated 3,000-foot section of the turnpike and several ramps, The Boston Globe reported Saturday.

"Frankly, I think this is ridiculous," Secretary of State William Galvin said.

"Harvard University now owns the land on which the turnpike sits. Who has ever heard of selling an interstate for the benefit of a university?"

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority retains a permanent easement for the road and toll plaza, but only in their existing locations. If it ever wants to shift or add lanes or expand tolls, it will need Harvard's OK.

The deed allows Harvard to move easements - and the road and toll plaza - through a process that would require a number of bureaucratic hurdles.

The sale gives Harvard room to expand and the turnpike authority much-needed cash.

"I'm not sure what the problem is," Harvard spokesman Alan Stone said. "Our use will take place far down the road and most of the changes that we would make will require extensive public hearings and signoffs. In our view, this is a very positive outcome for everyone."

Authority spokesman Sean O'Neill said, "We don't feel there have been any compromises in regards to any future changes" in the area.

[leadpencil1]

Who has ever heard of selling an interstate for the benefit of a university?

I guess you just have, mister.

[friendly]

The rich get richer and the poor get toll booth increases.

[D. Brian Carter]

Maybe Harvard will donate some of the "under-bridge" space so the great unwashed masses can be herded out of the square.

[friendly]

As part of the agreement, all Kennedys get to run the tollbooth at 90 miles per hour, while swilling a whiskey bottle, and while a winsome young thing rhythmically kisses where lipstick does not show.

[Husker24]

Eminant Domain, doesnt apply to Harvard or what? If this was some Rancher or Farmer out in California the government would simple take the land and build a road there.

[D. Brian Carter]

Well, first of all, OF COURSE it doesn't apply to Harvard! But I think something else is going on here... it appears to me that a $75 million sale of land was probably being held up by the fact that the turnpike ran through the property. Harvard probably played a little hardball, used their vast connections in the Commonwealth and were able to engineer a tasty little deal that will now let them dictate public policy and interfere with projects in the future. It might be a few years, but this story will arise again in the future, I'm sure.

[D. Brian Carter]

By the way, $75M for 91 acres comes up to 824,000 per acre, give or take, which is steep even for Cambridge, I do believe.

[sine_nomine]

Yeah but how many acres come with a highway and toll booth?