Government

Watertown Officials Hoping Watertown Yard Can be More Rider Friendly

By |

The MTBA’s Watertown Yard is the starting point for several bus routes, including the express buses to Boston, and Watertown officials believe it can be improved to make it a nicer place to catch the bus, and perhaps someday the Watertown TMA Shuttle. In September, MBTA officials lead a tour of the facility located on Galen Street, just south of the Charles River from Watertown Square, for Town Councilors, State House representatives and Town officials. Some of those on the tour that day met Thursday evening for the Town Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Transportation. The general feeling was that Watertown Yard is a large facility that is not being used to its greatest potential. “What struck me is the tremendous opportunity to improve transportation in Watertown,” said Town Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli.

Government

Plans to Improve Watertown Square Intersection to be Discussed at Meeting

By |

The Town will be making improvements to Watertown Square which may include major changes to the intersection. A meeting will be held for members of the public to get more information and to give their input. The meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee will be held on Monday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers in Town Hall. The Town sent out the following announcement:
The Town of Watertown is redesigning Watertown Square to improve traffic operations and safety.

Transportation

Two Highway Projects Will Impact Traffic Around the Boston Area

By |

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation warns drivers about two roadwork projects that could impact traffic around the Boston area – one on the Mass. Turnpike and one on Rte. 128/I-95. MassDOT sent out the following information:
Mass Pike Allston/Brighton Exit Closed
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced there will be off-peak, overnight ramp closures next week in the area of the former Allston/Brighton toll plaza on I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) to allow crews to safely and effectively carry out construction operations. The full traffic impacts for these operations are as follows:

I-90 eastbound Exit 18 off-ramps to Allston/Brighton closed with a detour to Exit 22

From 11 p.m., Monday, October 2, through 5 a.m., Tuesday, October 3
From 11 p.m., Tuesday, October 3, through 5 a.m., Wednesday, October 4

From 11 p.m., Thursday, October 5, through 5 a.m., Friday, October 6

Vehicles carrying hazardous cargo will not be permitted to utilize this detour route and must seek an alternate route.

Common Street

Common St. Project Approved, Including Rotary at Orchard St. Intersection

By |

The intersection where Common Street meets Orchard Street and Church Street is well known for being a free-for-all, seat of your pants place to drive through, but that will change when it is turned into a roundabout during the renovation project for which funding was approved by the Town Council on Tuesday night. When the project is complete, the vast area of asphalt will be trimmed down with new islands, planting and a landscaped roundabout in the middle. The project will also include major changes for the intersection of Common and Spring streets, and work on other nearby streets. The new configuration of the intersection will make it safer for drivers and pedestrians, said Department of Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee. “Ultimately we concluded the roundabout was the best solution,” Mee said.

Transportation

Shuttle Buses for Weekend Red Line Users from Cambridge to Boston

By |

Due to the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project, shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains in both directions between Park Street and Kendall/MIT Stations, with a stop at Charles/MGH Station on weekends beginning on Saturday, September 30, through Sunday, December 17, MBTA officials announced. The bus route and stops are shown on this map. MassDOT sent out the following information:

The Longfellow Bridge will also be closed to all private and commercial vehicular traffic on these weekends when work is taking place, with access maintained for bus shuttles, emergency vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The bridge is currently scheduled to be open and Red Line trains will be in use for the Head of the Charles weekend (October 21 and 22). On each weekend, the use of bus shuttles will begin at the start of service on Saturday and will end at the beginning of service on Monday, and the Longfellow Bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 11:00 p.m., each Friday to 5:00 a.m., the following Monday.

Transportation

Seniors Can Get CharlieCards to Ride the T Without Going Downtown

By |

Senator Will Brownsberger announced he will sponsor a Senior CharlieCard Day on Monday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Faneuil Branch of the Boston Public Library, located at 419 Faneuil Street in Brighton. Seniors age 65 or older can save a trip to the MBTA offices in Downtown Boston and apply for a Senior CharlieCard at this event. Sen. Brownsberger’s office sent out the following information:

Staff from the Office of Senator Brownsberger will be on hand to take photos and process applications, which will be provided. Seniors will just need to bring a valid, state-issued photo ID that includes date of birth. No advance sign-up required.

Transportation

Lane Reductions on the Mass. Pike This Weekend for Road Work

By |

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that due to ongoing toll demolition and road reconstruction operations, there will off-peak, temporary lane reductions this weekend on I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) westbound in the immediate vicinity of the Allston/Brighton Viaduct. MassDOT sent out the following statement:

These off-peak traffic impacts will have capacity reduced to one lane of travel at times and will allow crews and contractors to safely and effectively continue construction work at the former toll plaza location which is being reconstructed to allow for normal highway travel. The full list of traffic impacts is as follows:

From 9 p.m., through 11 p.m., on Friday, September 8, I-90 westbound in the area of the Allston/Brighton toll plaza will be reduced from three to two lanes of travel. From 11 p.m., on Friday, September 8, through 8 a.m., on Saturday, September 9, I-90 westbound in the area of the Allston/Brighton toll plaza will be reduced from two to one lane of travel. From 8 a.m., through 11 p.m., on Saturday, September 9, I-90 westbound in the area of the Allston/Brighton toll plaza will then have two lanes of travel
From 11 p.m., on Saturday, September 9, through 5 a.m., on Sunday, September 10, I-90 westbound in the area of the Allston/Brighton toll plaza will be reduced from two to one lane of travel.

Labor Day

Track Labor Day Travel Conditions on State’s Website, App

By |

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) encourages Labor Day travelers to make informed decisions, utilize all the available technology tools including www.mass511.com, and use public transportation if possible to reach destinations. MassDOT sent out the following announcement:

“We advise everyone who will be traveling during the Labor Day weekend to plan ahead, check traffic conditions before setting out onto the roadways, and make smart decisions regarding the best mode, route and time to travel,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “This is a great time to use www.mass511.com to view live drive times and traffic cameras or register to receive travel alerts, download our innovative GoTime mobile app, and visit www.mbta.com to view schedules and information on public transit.”

MassDOT is taking several steps to ensure safe and reliable travel for all citizens who utilize transportation systems across the Commonwealth and will be shutting down scheduled roadway construction for the Labor Day travel period effective atnoon, Friday, September 1, per MassDOT’s long-standing policy for holiday weekends. Scheduled road work will then resume at the start of normal business hours on Tuesday, September 5. “We know from past experiences there are higher traffic volumes during the Labor Day weekend, and members of the public should make smart, informed decisions and do their part to reduce congestion and promote efficient transportation,” said Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.