Transportation

Holiday Travel Tips: Don’t Wrap Gifts if Flying, Free Coffee for Drivers and More

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) encourages travelers to plan ahead this holiday season, utilize MassDOT’s many travel tools and resources and take public transportation if possible. “We want everyone to reach their travel destinations safely and enjoy this holiday with their friends and loved ones,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “Drivers should minimize distractions, stay sober and have a designated driver, and the MBTA will offer free service on all modes of transportation after 8 p.m., New Year’s Eve, to encourage travelers to make smart choices when celebrating.”

“We encourage travelers to monitor weather conditions, use our technology tools such as mass511 and our web-based real-time information, and make informed decisions to ensure they safely reach their holiday destinations,” said Highway Administrator Thomas J. Tinlin. “In case of inclement weather, our snow and ice crews will be prepared to respond and drivers should remain at least 200 feet back from snowplows and road equipment at all times to ensure safe travel.”

For traffic and road conditions, drivers may use the following options to make decisions:

Travelers, before getting on the highway, may utilize the MassDOT Real-Time Traffic (“Go-Time”) informational displays by visiting this link: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/TrafficInformationMap.aspx
The public may dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions on I-90 and other roads. Visit www.mass511.com, a website which provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information, and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.

Government

Meeting About Renovation of Mt. Auburn Street Planned for December

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The Watertown Department of Public Works announced it will hold an informational meeting to discuss the conceptual plans for Mount Auburn Street, focusing on the section between Patten Street (near Watertown Square) and School Street. The meeting will provide an update on the project timeline, design, and funding process through the Massachusetts Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. During the meeting, we will also provide additional details about the current conceptual design between Patten Street and School Street.

Transportation

State Officials to Discuss Improvement to Mt. Auburn St./Fresh Pond Pkwy.

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Hear about the state’s project to make changes to the intersection of Mt. Auburn Street and Fresh Pond Parkway at a meeting on Monday, Nov. 14. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will hold its second public meeting where the public can give input on the Mount Auburn Street Corridor Study. The project focuses on an area in the Cambridge, but the changes to traffic patterns will effect how Watertown residents and commuter travel through Cambridge; access to Mount Auburn Cemetery, Mount Auburn Hospital and many other destinations.

Electronic Tolls

MassDOT Holding Meetings on Implementing Electronic Tolling on Mass Pike

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will begin the demolition of all existing toll plazas on Oct. 28, 2016 as part of the implementation of All Electronic Tolling (AET) along the Massachusetts Turnpike. MassDOT is holding four public meetings to provide information about what to expect as the toll booths are eliminated. Within the project overview, MassDOT will discuss: demolition process, timeline, hours of construction operations, traffic and noise impacts, material disposition and other project related issues. These meetings will ensure that users of the Massachusetts Turnpike and neighboring communities are fully informed about the construction process to minimize any public inconvenience.

Government

Major Road Work Project Just off Watertown Square Will Last Nearly 2 Months

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Construction on a major drainage and paving project could cause traffic delays in Watertown Square for nearly 2 months, possibly more. 

Work begins on Tuesday, Oct. 11 on areas of the Municipal Parking Lot behind CVS, as well as a section of Spring Street, just off Main Street and the big intersection in the Square, and is expected to finish by the beginning of December 2016, according to a letter to the Watertown Department of Public Works from the contractor, D&M Civil. In the letter, the contractors said there could be “minor traffic/detour inconveniences” in the area of Spring Street at the corner of Summer Street.  There may also be dust and noise generated by the work. The project includes installation of underground drainage chambers and piping, along with excavating and repaving the asphalt in the construction area.

Government

State Looks for Ways to Improve Traffic, Transportation on Arsenal Street

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Residents attending the MassDOT’s community forum Tuesday night heard some things they already knew – traffic and bus service is bad on Arsenal Street – and other things they didn’t want to know – it will get much worse unless something is done. 

The Department of Transportation’s consultants from VHB told residents that traffic could increase significantly the next 25 years and that will result in more crowded and more late MBTA buses. They also discussed ways to improve public transportation and traffic on the Arsenal Street Corridor during the second community meeting on improvements to the area. Traffic will increase 17 percent in the morning peak traffic hour and 21 percent in the evening peak traffic hour, said Laura Castelli, a consultant from VHB. Looking at traffic flow, most of the congestion currently is at the two “gateways” to the Arsenal Corridor: Watertown Square and the Western Avenue/Soldier Field Road interchange on the other side of the Arsenal Street Bridge, Castelli said. Currently, 15-35 percent of stops are above capacity the way the MBTA measures it – all seats are full during non-peak time and in peak times, the bus is at capacity for sitting and standing.

Government

Watertown Shuttle Won’t Roll Out Until Spring, Could Include Newton

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Watertown’s new shuttle will not be starting this fall, as officials hoped, but the shuttles could serve more than just Watertown, and may extend to Newton. 

Thursday night the Town Council’s Ad Hoc Transportation Committee discussed the transportation management association, which will include a shuttle. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon said the effort to bring a shuttle to town will not happen as quickly as originally planned. “It will not be rolling out until the spring,” Magoon said. “Quite frankly we are not there yet.” The budgeting for the shuttle and figuring out how much member businesses, residential developments and the town will have to pay has not been completed, Magoon said.

Around Town

Celebrate the New Charles River Path, Park & Join a Guided Walk or Bike Ride

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Come out to see the improved Charles River Path, the new park along the river, and join in a guided walk or bike ride around the area or just enjoy the park and play some games. 

The event will be on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. t0 1 p.m., and is part of Watertown Moves. The event is sponsored by Live Well Watertown and the Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, and co-sponsored by Livable Watertown. The activities will be held a the newly refurbished Watertown Riverfront Park, featuring the Braille Trail, on Charles River Road at Irving Street (see the map below). Knucklebones will be at the park to facilitate games and group activities.