Transportation

Mass Pike Opening All Lanes Monday, Work on Commonwealth Ave. Bridge Continues

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that crews will return I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) in Boston to its normal configuration of four lanes of traffic in each direction by 5 a.m., Monday, August 7, almost three weeks faster than originally scheduled as part of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Project. 
MassDOT sent out the following release:
The schedule for completing the remaining construction work and the other travel impacts remain unchanged; crews are on schedule, and as detailed below, impacts to travel along Commonwealth Avenue and local roadways, as wells as service impacts to the MBTA’s Green Line B-Branch and bus routes are expected to continue through Monday, August 14. “The hard work of our crews and contractors is allowing us to meet this important milestone ahead of schedule and open all four lanes in each direction on I-90 in Boston in time for the Monday morning commute,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “Our team has designed this major construction project in a way that considers the needs of the traveling public, as well as residents of the Greater Boston area, and we are pleased with the progress of work so far. We appreciate the continued support and patience of the traveling public and will continue to conduct our operations in ways that seek to minimize our impact on the local community and all those who travel throughout the Commonwealth Avenue/ Boston University region in Boston.”
“MassDOT’s engineering and construction staff have been working closely with the contractor throughout this project and we collaboratively modified the sequencing of key work to create opportunities for removing the 440-ton crane on the Pike more efficiently than originally planned,” said Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “This change will lead to the return of I-90 to full capacity, which is four lanes in each direction, almost three weeks earlier than previously scheduled. This is an important but interim milestone and while we are pleased with the progress of construction so far we still have much work to do to complete our operations this summer.”

Government

Watertown Shuttle Could Start Running in Fall, or May Wait Until Spring

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Watertown’s first shuttle will likely run down Pleasant Street to Watertown Square and could start as soon as this fall, but may have to wait until the nice weather arrives in 2018. On Wednesday night, members of the Town Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Transportation were eager to find out when they could see Watertown’s first shuttle. The Watertown Transportation Management Association (TMA) will run the shuttle, and if all goes right the first shuttles could start rolling this fall, said Allison Simmons, a consultant from Ease Consult hired by the Town to form the TMA. However, it may have to wait until spring. To get the shuttle started this fall, Simmons said, the Watertown TMA board would have to approve the shuttle pilot at its August meeting and get members to agree to fund it soon after.

Transportation

Mass Pike Will Close Briefly Thursday Afternoon in Allston

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that Thursday, Aug. 3, between the hours of 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., crews will adjust the traffic configuration on I-90 in the area under the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge so that later on all vehicles, east and westbound, will be traveling on what drivers know as the normal eastbound side of the highway. During this operation, it will be necessary to temporarily stop all traffic for a short, approximately 20 minute period on I-90 westbound in the area of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in the Allston area of Boston. During this period, I-90 eastbound will continue to have two lanes of travel open. At this hour, and until this afternoon, there will continue to be two lanes of travel open on the east and westbound side of the highway in the Allston area.

Transportation

Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Project Will Impact Drivers, T Users, Amtrak and More

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The replacement of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will cause delays and detours for drivers, MBTA users, and others during construction. The construction will impact the Mass Pike, Commonwealth Avenue, the BU Bridge, Hubway, the MBTA Green Line and buses, the Commuter Rail and Amtrak. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) sent out the following information:

This is a reminder that the 2017 Construction Shutdown for the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Replacement Project (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement.aspx) is beginning at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, July 26, and will continue through 5:00 AM on Monday, August 14. Please note the construction-related impacts below:

For Drivers:

•      I-90 (Mass Pike) Users:
From 9:00 PM on July 28 to 5:00 AM on August 7:

•      I-90 between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston will be reduced to two lanes in both directions during peak hours (additional lane closures during off-peak hours, see below). •      The I-90 Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee

Changes on Common Street Will Help Cyclists, Bike Path Planned on Marshall Street

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Changes will be made to help bicyclists get through and around one of Watertown’s more tricky intersections. 

The Department of Public Work is finalizing plans to restructure the Common Street intersection with Orchard Street and Church Street, as well as the nearby Common Street and Spring Street intersection. Common Street at Orchard and Church streets will become a rotary, and bicyclists can either follow the roadway around the round-about, or use the pedestrian paths around the edge. Heading toward Mt. Auburn Street, members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee had questions about whether bicycles should be encouraged to stay on Common Street, or continue down Spring and use another side street to get to Mt. Auburn.

athenahealth

Councilors Look at Rash of Problems Popping up on Charles River Road

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Residents of Charles River Road, and nearby streets, told Town officials that the street has been bombarded with problems in recent months, from construction trucks to speeding cars to people parking on their streets. After residents complained about trucks carrying prefabricated pieces of concrete for the garage being built by Athenahealth, the town created certain routes and times when the deliveries can be made. Residents said they are still being delivered early in the morning. In May, residents brought up their concerns to the Town, saying they did not think that trucks were allowed on Charles River Road, which is a parkway along the river. At a meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee, Public Works Superintendent Gerry Mee said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation gave the trucks special permits to use the road.

Transportation

MassDOT Holding 2 Meetings About Commonwealth Ave. Bridge Replacement

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced it will be hosting two Pre-Construction Public Meetings for the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Replacement Project:

Tuesday, July 11, 6:30 PM Boston University College of General Studies Jacob Sleeper Auditorium (Lower Level, Room 129) 871 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA

Thursday, July 13, 6:30 PM Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium 330 Homer Street, Newton, MA

The same presentation will be delivered at each meeting, so participants may choose the most convenient date or location. Please join the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for a presentation on the upcoming major construction activities for the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Replacement Project. MassDOT and project team staff will describe the Summer 2017 Construction Shutdown (July 26 – August 14) in more detail, review detour routes, and respond to questions. During the shutdown, there will be significant service impacts to all modes of transportation along Commonwealth Avenue in the BU/Saint Paul Street neighborhood and on I-90 (Mass Pike). Please visit the project website, www.mass.gov/MassDOT/CommAveBridge, for a full schedule of the upcoming closures, detour routes and maps, and to sign up for project updates.

Government

Deadline for Comments on Arsenal Street Study Coming Up Soon

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State transportation officials will be taking input from people about the proposed changes to Arsenal Street and other streets in the area through July 10. 
Some changes proposed include redesigning Watertown Square and removing one road from the intersection, improving bus service and improving bicycle accommodations. Click here to see more information on the proposals in the Arsenal Corridor Study Final Draft. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation sent out the following announcement:

MassDOT is conducting the Arsenal Street Corridor Study in Watertown. This study has developed alternatives that are intended to improve transportation conditions on Arsenal Street between Galen Street and Birmingham Parkway. The study has proposed improvements to vehicular, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian uses of the corridor, with a targeted focus on enhancements to bus service along Arsenal Street and locations where the bus service ties into other crossing bus routes. The Draft Final Report was released in June and the project team recently hosted a public information meeting. Comments on the report will be accepted through Monday, July 10, 2017.