Around Town

Charles River Ferry Taking Shape — Wada Hoppah Will Soon Take to the Water

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Drew Rollert, founder of Wada Hoppah, standing on the nearly completed Charles River ferry. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

CONCORD — Three years of dreams and a year-and-a-half of design and labor is coming together in the form of the first modern ferry built to navigate the Charles River. Drew Rollert, founder of Wada Hoppah, recently showed Watertown News the nearly completed boat at Inriver Tank and Boat’s production facility in West Concord. The idea of a water service from Watertown to Boston came three years ago when he and a group’s effort to get to Fenway Park by reasonably priced Uber or MBTA bus for a Red Sox game were thwarted. With the idea hatched, Rollert needed a boat.

Around Town

MBTA Riders Can Now Tap Credit Cards to Ride Buses, Green Line

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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.

Around Town

OP-ED: Fixing Deteriorating T Service Should Play Role in Watertown Square Redesign

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Cars driving through Watertown Square. (Photo by Mark Pickering)

By Mark Pickering

The former Watertown Square rotary was one of my big obstacles while I learned to drive a small delivery truck. Once through that wild intersection, I had to make my way past the trolley tracks still-embedded in Galen Street during the late ’70s. That’s why I enjoyed Councilor John Gannon’s remarks at the July special meeting on the Watertown Square Area Plan. I, too, remember learning how to drive through that rotary.

Around Town

OP-ED: Watertown Square Redesign Lacks Public Transit Improvement Plan

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Watertown Square. (Photo by City of Watertown)

By Mark Pickering

Watertown stands at a crossroads – on two separate issues. What we do now will guide the city’s way into the future. One question is whether to continue to be a city that emphasizes the use of cars and ignores public transit. The other question is whether to allow the construction of taller buildings in the Square.

Around Town

OP-ED: MBTA Service in Watertown Takes the Cake: Worst Service Ever!

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MBTA buses operating in Watertown Square. (Photo by Mark Pickering)

By Mark Pickering

When it comes to MBTA service, residents in numerous Boston neighborhoods and abutting communities would love to say they have the worst. They’d be wrong. Watertown “wins” hands down. A Boston Globe article (“Missed connections at Nubian,” Feb.

Around Town

OP-ED: MBTA has Terrible Track Record of Providing Service to Watertown Square

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An MBTA Bus drives through Watertown Yard. (Photo by Mark Pickering)

By Mark Pickering

The city is out to revitalize Watertown Square and has set out a series of meetings aimed at getting feedback from the general public. The overall effort will look at making the square more attractive to walkers, merchants and developers looking to address the housing crisis. The issue of transportation is a key part of the package. Even our urban neighbors note that car traffic has taken over Watertown Square – which could be the worst such intersection in Greater Boston.