Government

New Transportation Committee Looking at Improving Bus Service in Town

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Ways to improve MBTA service in Watertown was one of the top issued discussed during the inaugural meeting of the Town Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Transportation last week. 

The Council has been focused on the issue for the past few years, and it became such a thorn for regular users that a citizen group – the Watertown Public Transit Task Force – formed to advocate for improvements. Some headway was made in 2014 when MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott came to visit town to see the problems facing Watertown’s T users. A change in governors and a historically bad winter that gridlocked the MBTA meant that Scott was out and Watertown lost its connections in the state’s transportation agency. “She’s gone. A lot of people have changed.

Government

Meeting Planned to Discuss Privatization of MBTA Bus Routes

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If you are concerned about the privatization of some MBTA services, and possibly losing your bus route, a meeting is planned to discuss the issue. Governor’s Councillor Marilyn Petitto Devaney invites you to an informative meeting regarding privatization, where she plans to have MBTA officials available to answer your questions. Over the summer, the MBTA announced a proposal to privatize 32 bus routes, including the following routes serving Watertown: 52, 70A, 502, 504 and night service on the 57. The meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Nonantum Post #440 ,295 California St.

Letters

LETTER: Good Transportation News From Sen. Brownsberger, Rep. Hecht

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With the arrival of cooler weather, thoughts are turning to the coming winter and avoiding a repetition of last year’s transportation woes, especially on the MBTA. The Baker Administration and the legislature did a lot of work on that issue this spring and summer and overall the results were good – a strong MBTA budget (with substantial investments in storm readiness) and new authority and tools for the Governor to make good on his pledge to fix the T.

But as important as it is to fix what we already have, meeting the transportation needs of our area will require much more. Rapid development, changing demographics, and climate change mean we need to think creatively about improvements that will make our transportation system a truly positive factor for our economy and communities. Last week saw important progress in that direction for two of Watertown’s key transportation corridors. First, the state put out to bid a study for the Mount Auburn Street/Fresh Pond Parkway area.

Transportation

The MBTA May Be Privatizing Some Watertown Bus Routes

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MBTA officials have proposed to privatize some of the T’s express buses and the less-used suburban bus routes – including several in Watertown. The proposal calls for privatizing 32 routes, and removing 93 buses and their drivers, according to a report by the State House News Service run by WBUR. The routes on the privatization list fall into three categories – low ridership, express and late-night service. The routes in Watertown that would be impacted, and category are:

52 (Watertown to Dedham) – low ridership
7oA (Waltham to Cambridge) – low ridership
502 (Watertown to Copley Square) – express bus
504 (Watertown to Downtown Boston) – express bus
57 (Watertown to Kenmore Square) – late night service

Joe Levendusky, chairman of the Watertown Public Transit Task Force said he worries about the loss of quality and of middle class jobs if the MBTA privatizes the routes, in a story in on Wicked Local Watertown (click here to read more). The bus routes with fewer passengers have a net subsidy of $3.51 per ride and the routes cost $8.9 million annually while they bring in only $1.9 million in revenue annually, according to the MBTA.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested for Wearing ‘Ammo Belt’ on MBTA Bus

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The \”ammo belt\” worn by a Watertown man, and which landed him in hot water. Boston Police arrested a Watertown man after he boarded an MBTA bus wearing a what appeared to be a strip of ammunition around his waist. On Friday at about 4:20 p.m police responded to a bus that pulled over at Cambridge and Harvard streets in Brighton, according to the Boston Police Department’s website, BPDNews.com. {See and update on the case by clicking here}. “Officers learned that the driver had pulled the bus over as passengers began calling 911 when a male suspect boarded the bus with what appeared to be military grade ammunition strapped around his waist,” said the police report.

Government

Help the MBTA Set its Service Priorities by Taking an Online Survey

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The MBTA is looking for input from residents to set priorities for its service, and you can participate by filling out the online survey. MBTA service for Watertown residents, primarily the buses, have been much criticized – particularly this past winter. Services include the bus routes along the town’s main corridors – the 70, 71 and 73 buses – and buses to Boston from the Watertown Yard (including the 57 and the express buses). Efforts have been started by citizens groups, such as the Watertown Public Transit Task Force, to push for better bus service in town. Then-MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott came to Watertown to listen to resident’s concerns, but she left the T after the service issues over the winter.

Around Town

Find Out How the 2015 Boston Marathon Could Impact Your Day

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Get ready for the 2015 Boston Marathon! Even if you are not running or watching in person, your driving or public transportation plans may be impacted. The following streets in Newton will be closed due from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to the 119th running of the Boston Marathon, according to Newton Police:

Commonwealth Avenue from the Boston line to Washington Street
Washington Street from Commonwealth Avenue to Beacon Street
Washington Street from Beacon Street to the Wellesley line
College Road between Commonwealth Avenue and Hammond

In addition, Homer Street between Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street, Walnut Street between Commonwealth Avenue and Homer Street, Cummings Road and North Street will be a Police Security Zone and will be open to abutters only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Newton Police said. Many streets in Boston will be closed during the race, including Commonwealth Avenue, Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton which will close at 8:30 a.m. For full details of street closings and parking restrictions click here. Most of the T system will run on a regular weekday schedule, but some MBTA routes will be impacted – mostly during the time of the Marathon.

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.