Around Town

Find Out More About Dedicated Bus Lane Pilot on Mt. Auburn Street

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A meeting will be held to discuss the next steps for the Mt. Auburn Street Bus Priority Pilot that will include bus-only lanes for the 71 and 73 buses on a stretch of the road that can also be used by emergency vehicles and shuttles. 

Learn more about the project and the efforts to test Bus Rapid Transit on Mt. Auburn Street and Belmont Street at a meeting on Tuesday, March 27, 6-7:30 p.m at the Russell Youth Center, 680 Huron Avenue, Cambridge. Find out more about the meeting here. The meeting will focus more on issues in Cambridge.

MBTA

MBTA Announces Reduced Service During Nor’easter

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 The MBTA is preparing for the next weather system forecast to hit parts of the MBTA service area Monday night and throughout the day Tuesday with predicted blizzard-like conditions, high snow totals, and very high winds. As this weather is expected to have an effect on service, the MBTA is taking proactive measures to protect critical infrastructure and vehicles while continuing to provide service. The MBTA Commuter Rail will operate an “Extremely Reduced Schedule” on all lines for the duration of service on Tuesday. Commuter Rail schedules will be updated onmbta.com to reflect changes in train times with schedules available in South, North, and Back Bay Stations. Customers are encouraged to check the MBTA website, sign up for T-Alerts, and follow the commuter rail on Twitter @MBTA_CR for the latest updates on service changes.

Government

Watertown Gets Grant to Test Dedicated Bus Lanes on Parts of Mt. Auburn St.

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Watertown officials announced Wednesday that the Bar Foundation, as part of its BostonBRT initiative, has awarded the community a grant to conduct a pilot project testing bus rapid transit (BRT) features in collaboration with the City of Cambridge and the MBTA. The pilot will seek to create a faster and more reliable commute for more than 12,000 daily bus riders on routes 71 and 73. The pilot, which will take place during 2018, will take bus riders out of car congestion through the creation of all-day dedicated bus lanes for significant segments on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Fresh Pond Parkway. It will also include inbound “queue jump” lanes to give buses
priority in intersections on Mount Auburn Street and Belmont Street near where they meet, and timed traffic signals where feasible so that buses get more green lights. The pilot is a temporary demonstration.

Government

Watertown Officials Hoping Watertown Yard Can be More Rider Friendly

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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.

Transportation

Shuttle Buses for Weekend Red Line Users from Cambridge to Boston

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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.

MBTA

UPDATED: Downed Bus Wires Backup Traffic in Watertown Square

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Downed wires for the MBTA buses caused major backups Wednesday morning. The lines were secured by MBTA crews about 8:30 a.m.

Police sent out an alert via social media just after 7 a.m. Wednesday. The wires serve the electric buses, also called trackless trolleys, used on the MBTA’s 71 bus line. Traffic was backed up in all directions heading toward Watertown Square. MBTA crews working on repairing the wires got the overhead wires secured about 8:30 a.m., but repairs may have to wait until a later date.

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.

Transportation

Seniors Invited to Apply for MBTA CharlieCards at Local Event

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger announced he will sponsor a Senior CharlieCard Day on Monday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Beech Street Center, located at 266 Beech Street in Belmont. 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. 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.