Bus Priority Pilot

Officials Hopeful Bus Priority Program Will Improve Commute on Mt. Auburn Street

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It takes something special to get state and local officials to gather next to a bus stop at 8 a.m. a chilly morning, but celebrating the start of a program to speed up buses along Mt. Auburn Street rose to that occasion Friday morning. The group in front of Star Market showed up for the launch of the Cambridge-Watertown Mt. Auburn Street Bus Priority Pilot, also referred to as bus rapid transit or BRT. Users of the roadway may have noticed the red lanes, and new traffic patterns, which are designed to move buses, and — they hope — other vehicles, toward Harvard Square at a brisker pace.

Election 2018

Several Hundred Watertown Voters Cast Ballots Early, Still Time Left to Do So

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The Watertown Town Clerk’s office has seen brisk business this week, mostly from people coming to vote early in the State Election. 

As of 9:45 a.m. Friday, 646 people had filled out their ballots at Town Hall, said Town Clerk John Flynn. He estimates there could be 2,000 votes by the end of the early voting on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. Quite a few, but not compared to the last early voting period. “We had 6,449 total early votes in 2016,” Flynn said.

Government

Plan to Redesign Mt. Auburn St., Common St. Area Creates Parking But Not In Front of Stores

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A plan to redesign the Mt. Auburn Street/Common Street intersection would create 10 more parking spaces in that area, but some businesses in that area would lose the parking spots in front of their stores. The Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee heard a presentation from WorldTech Engineering, the firm designing the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction project. Designers presented three options for the business area just east of Watertown Square based on where MBTA bus stops would be located.

Environment

Council to Look at Ways to Increase the Number Trees Along Watertown’s Streets

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Having trees on your street can reduce the heat in the summer, prevent flooding when it rains and can even increase property values. However, a study of street trees done by Watertown High School students found that many residents have few or no trees along their blocks. Monday night, the results of a survey of more than 3,400 street trees around Watertown were presented to a joint meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works and Rules & Ordinances subcommittees. The group made a recommendation to the full Town Council to seek ways to use the data to bring trees to streets that lack them. The data was presented by two members of Trees for Watertown, a citizens group committed to planting and maintain trees in town.

Government

East End Councilor Calls for Changes to Help Filippello Park Neighbors

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Neighbors of streets near Filippello Park have complained of parking problems and other issues related to users of the East Watertown park, and their Town Councilor is seeking some solutions. 

At meetings held in May, July and September, residents aired their concerns, much of which involved parking. District A Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis wrote an open letter to the Town Administration suggesting some steps to help residents of streets just south of the park — Clarendon and Berkeley streets — and the area of Arlington Street near Filippello Park. “Lack of parking for Park Users has been the harrowing cry that can be heard at every meeting; from every resident,” Kounelis wrote in her letter. “The responses from the Team have been courteous, but without substance. Is anyone listening to the residents, or simply following a scripted agenda for the use of Filippello Park?”

Elections

Find Out How Watertown Voters Can Cast Ballots Early in November’s State Election

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Watertown voters will have the opportunity to cast their votes early in the November 2018 election beginning on Oct. 22, 2018. 

Registered voters can vote early in person at the Town Clerk’s Office or by mail. According to the Secretary of State’s website, when early voting in person at an early voting location for your municipality, the election officials will check you in, similar to the process used on Election Day. After voting, you will enclose your ballot into an envelope to be counted on Election Day. The Town Clerk’s Office provided the following information:

The Watertown Election Commissioners will be hosting Early Voting beginning on Monday, Oct.

Government

Planning Board Recommends Approval of Zoning Rules for Recreational Marijuana Facilities

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The Planning Board recommended that the Town Council approves the new zoning for recreational marijuana facilities that would require them to be at least 500 feet from schools, addiction treatment centers, and other facilities. The Town Council had put a moratorium on recreational marijuana facilities for a year after the state ballot measure passed in November 2017. The changes determine where the facilities can be located. Recreational marijuana facilities would be allowed in the following zoning districts: central business, limited business, industrial 1, industrial 2, industrial 3, PSCD and the RMUD. The Town cannot zone out recreational marijuana facilities, said Steve Magoon, the Assistant Town Manager and director of Community Development and Planning.

Government

Latest Designs for Mt. Auburn St. Project to be Discussed at Upcoming Meetings

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The following announcement came from the Department of Public Works:
The Town Council Public Works Committee has scheduled two meetings for a Mount Auburn Street project update. Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 and Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. Ask questions and review plans with the project team starting at 6:00 p.m. Each Committee meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall, Administration Building Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber, 149 Main Street, Watertown.