Government

See Details of Plans to Redesign Mt. Auburn, Common Streets

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Watertown officials joined transportation engineers Thursday night to present concepts for two major roadway projects that aim to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. The public forum, held during a meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works Committee, provided an update on the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction project as well as early designs for the Common Street improvement project. Residents were given the opportunity to weigh in on goals of the projects and provide feedback on design concepts. “We are very early in the process of these projects and this is the first of many community meetings we will have,” said Councilor Cecilia Lenk, who chairs the Public Works Committee.

Government

Council Asks for Transportation Improvements from Group Studying MTBA

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With changes at the MBTA, and this winter’s transportation woes, the Watertown Town Council will send a letter to the committee set up by Gov. Charlie Baker to examine the MBTA. Last year, Watertown invited MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott to town and showed her the town’s transportation challenges and areas of heavy development that will need transit. The town council followed up with a letter to make sure Watertown’s needs are still in the minds of MBTA officials. The MBTA has shared its ideas for improving the 70 bus route along Main and Arsenal streets, but improvements are also sought for the 71 and 73 routes to Harvard Square. Scott, however, resigned after the challenges the MBTA had during the heavy snows this winter.

Around Town

STORM UPDATE: See What has Been Closed, Cancelled Due to the Storm

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This weekend’s storm has just started, but cancellations have already begun to come in. See details below. 11 a.m. Sunday: The town sent out a reminder that the Snow Emergency is still in effect, and cars should not be parked on the street. They could be towed. You’ll have to wait to get your books, DVDs and music – the Watertown Free Public Library is closed today.

Government

Find Out About the MBTA’s Plans to Improve the 70 Bus

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Find out about measures being considered by the MBTA to improve service on the 70 bus line. The Watertown Public Transit Task Force will hold a public meeting Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at Watertown’s Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., in the 3rd floor Rehearsal Room. MBTA Service Planner Melissa Dullea will be on hand to give a presentation about some of the possible measures to improve service on the number 70 bus route. The WPTTF will unveil its Bus Incident Report Survey.

Around Town

MBTA Severely Cuts Service Monday Night & Tuesday

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The MBTA announced Monday that public transportation in and around Boston will be suspended starting Monday night and continue through Tuesday.All trolley, subway and commuter rail service will stop at 7 p.m. Monday so that snow and ice can be removed from tracks, reported Boston.com. Bus service available, but routes operating on narrow streets and hills may be operating on “snow routes.” Check the MBTA site for more information and updates – http://www.mbta.com/winter/

Government

Watertown Councilor Questions Lt. Gov. About Boston Olympics

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When Watertown Town Councilor Cecilia Lenk had an opportunity to ask new Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito a questions, she asked what many have been wondering – how will Boston and the state be prepared for the Olympics? Lenk asked the question at the WEMO (Women Elected Municipal Official) luncheon at last week’s Massachusetts Municipal Association meeting. The councilor said that the communities surrounding Boston have felt left out of the dialogue about the bid to get the 2024 Summer Olympics. Lenk said she worries about the transportation infrastructure, which is already overburdened in Watertown, despite the booming development – and that is without a major sporting event. Her question got a response, and not just from the Lt. Governor.

Government

MBTA Officials Looking For Ways to Improve Watertown Transit

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With crowded buses in Watertown and new developments the MBTA is looking for ways to improve public transportation. Mass. Department of Transportation and MBTA officials discussed possible ways to improve public transportation in town at a meeting held in December a the Arsenal Center for the Arts. Around a dozen bus routes serve Watertown, but the most heavily used ones are the 57 from Watertown to Kenmore Square (more than 12,000 riders a day), the 70/70A along Main and Arsenal streets (7,357 a day), the 73 down Belmont Street to Harvard Square (6,424), and the 71 down Mt. Auburn Street to Harvard Square (5,548).

Government

State Will Study Ways to Improve Mt. Auburn Street

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A section of Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown and Cambridge will be studied by the state to come up with “solutions for traffic,” the Department of Conservation and Recreation announced. The goal of the $500,000 study is to identify potential safety measures, bus prioritization, and accessibility along the intersections of Fresh Pond Parkway and Mount Auburn Street, according to the DCR’s announcement. The DCR will issue a request for proposals (RFP) within the next 45 days to select a contractor to conduct the traffic study. The areas in the study include from the Mt.