"We think Scheme Z is a horror show. Public money should not go into it," Chapman said.

DeVillars' ruling officially incorporates a deal between the Conservation Law Foundation and former Secretary of Transportation Fredrick Salvucci made late last month that added several elements designed to improve the project, including parks and over $1 billion in public transportation.

Other environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, have criticized thedeal as a "parks for highways" swap and said thatit allowed DeVillars to approve the projectwithout mandating revision of Scheme Z.

"We want public transit as good public policynot as a tradeoff for doing a bad highwayproject," said Chapman.

Pro-Artery groups applauded DeVillars'decision, saying that the region's slumpingeconomy made the Central Artery more necessarythan ever before.

"This project has got to go forward. It isvital to our future," said Mark Primack, actingChair of Move Massachusetts 2000, a pro-Arterycoalition group.

Primack said, however, that he approved of thedecision to review Scheme Z further.

"We are calling on Gov. Weld to appoint a blueribbon commission of outstanding engineers, civicdesign people and community representatives totake a second look," said Primack. "We need agroup to tell us what's the truth.