Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/tag/mbta/)
Charlie BreitroseAn MBTA 71 bus. The Charles River Chamber’s Annual Transportation Forum will feature MBTA General Manager Phil Eng. See details provided by the Chamber. Tbe event will be on Tuesday, June 17, 12:30 p.m., program begins at 1 p.m. at Tripadvisor HQ, 400 1st Ave, Needham. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
Traffic congestion is expected in coming weeks due to construction at the Mass Pike/I-95 interchange over the MBTA Commuter Rail tracks, the Mass Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced. Lane closures will take place from May 30-June 2 and June 20-23. See more information provided by MassDOT, below. Rapid weekend construction of The Newton Weston Bridge Replacement Project on I-90 EB/WB at the I-95 interchange over the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – MBTA bridge will impact your travel plans on May 30- June 2, and June 20-23. Those traveling in the Boston, Worcester, and the Framingham area should expect one lane of travel on I-90 EB/WB and MAJOR regional travel impacts on the roadway.
The following announcement was provided by the MBTA:
The MBTA today announced service information on Monday, April 21, the day of the 2025 Boston Marathon. Every year, the MBTA supports the Boston Marathon with increased service to accommodate spectators and runners. To manage potential overcrowding, the MBTA will strategically deploy additional personnel to assist with passenger flow, boarding and disembarking, and maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
MBTA Service Information for the 2025 Boston Marathon:
To find the best Marathon viewing location on the T and service information, riders are encouraged to visit the MBTA’s Boston Marathon Guide at mbta.com/Marathon, which highlights MBTA stations closest to the Marathon route and includes other helpful information on purchasing fares, parking, and more.
Station Closures:
For public safety reasons, Copley Station is closed for the entire day on April 21. Riders are instead encouraged to use Arlington (serving all Green Line branches), Prudential (Green Line E branch), Hynes Convention Center (Green Line B, C, and D branches), or Back Bay on the Orange Line.
From approximately 10 AM to 6 PM, above-ground Green Line stops at South Street (B branch), Kent Street (C branch), and St.
The City of Watertown provided the following information about the Mt. Auburn Street Project. Update: The bus stop for Route 71 at Mount Auburn St and Bigelow Ave that was temporarily relocated will resume its normal location on Saturday April 5, 2025. For more details on Route 71, visit the MBTA’s schedules and maps. Intersection of Mount Auburn Street & Arlington Street Electrical Traffic and Pedestrian Signal Work
Starting Monday April 7, 2025 Newport Construction will be installing traffic electrical conduit (underground electrical pipes) at the intersection of Mount Auburn Street and Arlington Street.
Traffic ImpactsTemporary lane shifts may occur and work will take place on the sidewalks, but will remain open and accessible.
An MBTA bus. (Photo from City of Watertown)
The MBTA announced changes as part of the Better Bus Project, including increased service on one of Watertown’s bus lines. See information sent out by the MBTA, below. Subway and bus spring schedules will go into effect on April 6, 2025. The new schedule will include multiple changes to improve service frequency and schedule reliability in order to address growing traffic congestion. Riders are encouraged to use the MBTA’s Trip Planner to plan their trips and check out the full list of upcoming bus service changes at MBTA.com/ServiceChanges.
The MBTA provided the following announcement:
The MBTA is reminding riders of the upcoming multi-day Red Line service suspension as part of the Track Improvement Program.
Red Line service will be suspended between Harvard and Broadway beginning at approximately 8:30 PM through the end of service on Sunday, November 17. Red Line service will continue to be suspended between Harvard and Broadway all day and every day November 18 – 23. On November 24, the planned service suspension will be extended between Harvard and JFK/UMass.
The decision to include an evening service suspension this Sunday and extended location limits on November 24 was made following a review of the logistical challenges associated with placing construction equipment on and off the tracks in this complicated area.
Riders can find complete information soon at mbta.com/RedLine. More information on these service changes and alternate travel options is below:
Beginning at 8:30 PM November 17, November 18 – 23:
Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Harvard and Broadway with the exception of Park Street and Downtown Crossing.
Riders heading southbound should instead disembark at Otis Street @ Summer Street and use the Winter Street Concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street.
Riders heading northbound should instead disembark at Federal Street @ Franklin Street and use the Winter Street Concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street.
Shuttle buses will also serve State (on the Orange and Blue lines) and Haymarket (on the Orange and Green lines) for easier connections to other subway lines.
Direct shuttle bus service will operate between Harvard and South Station on weekdays from 6 AM to 8 PM every 15 minutes.
Direct shuttle buses at Harvard will be located at Massachusetts Avenue @ Holyoke Gate.
The original letter was sent to City Council President Mark Sider, City Manager George Proakis and Assistant City Manager Steve Magoon:
By Clyde Younger
The newly identified UPS site represents an exceptional opportunity to exceed the number of Multi-Family Units planned for the Square. The property is an easy site to comply with the MBTA Law allowing ample land area. The Developer will have “By Right” an easier pathway of building the number of units outlined as the City’s goal.
Lessening the density of the Square allows an intriguing use of the MBTA Lot, a/k/a “The Cow Barn.” Given its past history of service to the community the site could easily be converted into an Urban Transportation Museum.
The history of urban transportation growth, as the country moved from an Agriculturally based economy to Industrial, would be of interest to our children as well as their parents and neighboring cities and towns. Visitors to Watertown would see the Square as a viable and lively destination point comprising an exemplary Library, Armenian Museum and diverse Merchants and Restaurants.
Bringing people into the Square can only assist our small businesses become more profitable. Educators of School Districts may find the Museum of interest and conduct planned Field Trips to see the various modes of early, recent and future transit. Perhaps the Board Members may consider importing a San Francisco Cable Car, in addition to old Rail Cars we used. Mono-Rails and Chicago’s El may be of consideration, etc. Since Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers have simulated training. Using a similar tool the Museum would not be limited to a walk through for our children.
There are two Street Car Museums in Massachusetts: 1. The National Streetcar Museum in Lowell and 2.
The following information came from the MBTA:
The MBTA is improving the way you pay for transit with the introduction of contactless payment on bus, Green Line and Mattapan trolleys, and all gated subway stations. Starting in summer 2024, you’ll be able to pay by tapping your contactless debit/credit card, phone, or watch with a mobile wallet—making it easier for you to get going. Step 1. Choose
Choose how you want to pay—you’ll use the same method for your entire trip:
Credit/debit card: Check if your card has the four-waved contactless symbol on the front or back. Phone/watch: Make sure you have a card set up in your mobile wallet. Note: You will not be able to tap your CharlieCard on the readers. Pay your fare with your CharlieCard by tapping on the fare gate or fare box readers.