Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

Lt. Governor: Historic CSX Rail Agreement

Incoming MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeff Mullan joined Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and CSX leaders at this week's Greater Boston Chamber government affairs forum. 

The Lieutenant Governor at that forum announced completion of an historic rail agreement with CSX.  Read his comments below.

by Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray

The Governor and I have made it a priority to reform the way state government works.  There is no better example of that than the transportation reform package we were able to pass with our partners in the Legislature.  The reform effort is on track and implementation will begin November 1 with the new MassDOT.

Today I am pleased to make an historic announcement that moves transportation reform and improved customer service to the next level.  After more than two years of tough negotiations, we have finalized a far reaching rail agreement with CSX, the national freight carrier serving Massachusetts.
 
This agreement will dramatically enhance our passenger and freight rail system in Massachusetts and finally open up a major tract of land in Allston for redevelopment.

Environmental Justice Mural

Transportation Secretary James Aloisi joins environmental justice advocates and youth from the Roxbury-based organization Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) this evening to unveil the installation of a commemorative mural at the State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza.  Youth and adult ACE members created the mural to commemorate the organization’s 15th anniversary.  ACE is a grassroots membership organization committed to achieving environmental justice in lower income communities and communities of color through community organizing, education, advocacy and legal strategies. 

Local artists Thomas Burns and Jesse Cardoso helped the ACE members through a collaborative process to envision and then create the piece.  The mural reflects ACE campaigns and a vision of Dudley Square’s past, present, and future.

As part of his artist’s statement prepared for the installation, mural artist and youth organizer Jalelle Cosgrove, 18, said “if a community is polluted and has no pride or opportunities, it will resort to violence, hopelessness, poverty and crisis.  A community that goes green and shows solidarity and opportunities will be cleaner, wealthier, and healthier in every way.”

This summer, members of the ACE program Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP) worked with Secretary Aloisi, the MBTA, and the Boston Youth Organizing Project to extend the MBTA student pass hours from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. 

The ACE mural will be displayed in the 2nd floor public lobby of the Transportation Building for the next month.  Watch for pictures and video from the event right here Wednesday. Follow MassDOT on Twitter. 

On the Web: New Look of Transportation Progress

The Office of Transportation Planning has launched a new standardized, easy-to-use web design for major transit projects.  The website design developed by an in-house expert team of Planning and Information Technology employees will be consistent and user-friendly for the public while also being cost efficient by reducing reliance on use of outside consultants.

Among the first examples:

• The Direct Connect website with the latest information on the collaboration with the City of Boston to connect Dudley Station and South Station with new enhanced Silver Line Washington Street service that will allow a direct connection to Silver Line Waterfront service to Logan Airport.
• The 28X website on the proposed 28X MBTA Bus Service between Mattapan Square and Ruggles Station to dramatically improve service along the Route 28 bus corridor.  More than $115 million in federal stimulus funds are being sought to support the project.

Check out the new Direct Connect website.  The 28x Bus website is here. 

An update on Direct Connect, which is moving forward on schedule for completion within the next few weeks, including photos of work progress, can be found on Bostonist.

Fed Stimulus "Green" Grants: MBTA, Lowell

MBTA and Lowell Regional Transit Authority projects aimed at reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are among 43 nationwide to receive federal stimulus American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. 

The Massachusetts projects awarded funding by the Federal Transit Administration's Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program under a competitive grant application process include:

Lowell Regional Transit Authority: $1.5 million for the Hale Street Solar Photovoltaic system, which includes installation of a photovoltaic panel array on the roof of the Authority's Hale Street garage facility.

MBTA: $2.5 million for a Renewable Wind Energy project to design and construct wind energy generation turbines in eastern Massachusetts, with possible sites in Kingston, Newburyport, and Bridgewater.

Learn more from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Streets blog. 

Visit the Massachusetts Recovery Transportation website.

I-495 Lowell Accelerated Bridge Project

The Patrick-Murray Administration announced the $36.9 million reconstruction of both the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 495 in Lowell is moving forward as part of the historic $3 billion, eight-year Accelerated Bridge Program.  The "design-build" project will repair six bridges- two over the Boston & Maine and MBTA railroad, two crossing Woburn Street and two over the Concord River. Three lanes will operate at peak hours at all times in both directions for the duration of the project, with some work done at night. Construction is scheduled for completion by late 2010.

“Design/build is a critically important feature of the Accelerated Bridge Program, which MassHighway is treating as a laboratory of innovation,” said MassHighway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky. “We are reducing the timeframes for these projects while ensuring that safety and environmental protection are emphasized.”

Visit the I-495 project on the web.  View the latest information on the interactive Accelerated Bridge Program website.

Fed Stimulus Grants Target Rail, Bus, Water

A state of the art transportation hub in New Bedford and the Route 28x bus rapid transit project are two of four federal stimulus grant applications announced by the Patrick Administration's Office of Infrastructure Investment.

The proposals submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation include two submitted by the Executive Office of Transportation: 

• A $71.4 million proposal to construct the New Bedford Whale’s Tooth intermodal transportation center to integrate local bus services and shuttles, the Fast Ferry service to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and regional passenger rail. The Whale’s Tooth intermodal transportation center represents the first phase of the highly anticipated $1.4 billion South Coast Rail project.
• A $146.5 million proposal for the 28X rapid transit project in Mattapan, providing significant improvements on the No. 28 bus route along Blue Hill Avenue, such as off-board fare collection systems, and passenger warming stations, to increase efficiency and offer a new level of reliability and service where many residents rely solely on public transit.

Visit the Massachusetts Recovery website. 

MBTA: New Station Maps

The MBTA today kicked off a program to replace the MBTA’s outdated system maps.  The new updated system maps are more customer-friendly, including for the first time ever connections to key bus routes to and from subway stations. 

One of Boston’s busiest stations, Government Center, below in the video, was the first to display three brand new maps: a line map identifying current stations along the Green Line replacing a sign with outdated Green Line stops; a system map showing connections to the subway and key routes; and a neighborhood map identifying places of interest in the surrounding Government Center area that has not been updated since station modernization in 1967. 

The replacement of outdated subway maps and signage throughout the subway system will continue with Orient Heights, Bowdoin and Copley Stations.  System-wide sign improvements will include:

• New key bus route maps and neighborhood maps installed at transit stations with connections to key routes.

• Smaller maps typically installed in buses and rail vehicles will be updated and replaced as needed.

• Folded system maps and bus shelter maps will be updated to reflect various changes.

• A program is under development to address outdated Commuter Rail maps including the installation of commuter rail maps at stations and major hubs and terminals.   

Visit the T website for more. 

EOT Developers Deliver Results

In July 2009, the Executive Office of Transportation launched the EOT Developers Page beta as part of the Patrick Administration’s commitment to comprehensive transportation reform and creating a modern, efficient, and customer-friendly transportation system.  

The EOT Developers page has released information and data about Massachusetts transportation agencies and authorities that might be useful to developers interested in creating applications to help customers.  Data release through the Developers page includes MBTA and RTA route and schedule data, MassHighway and MassPike planned construction event data, RMV branch wait time feeds and a variety of other information.

The Globe praised EOT's efforts to open data as "a smart 21st-century alternative to hiring some consultant who develops inelegant software at exorbitant costs.”

EOT is engaging developers in new ways as part of Governor Patrick's Civic Engagement agenda to encourage creative new ways for citizens to engage state government.  The EOT Developers use Twitter for updates, a Google Group, and regular meetings to engage developers. 

In less than two months, three iPhone applications have been built using this data including the MassTransit App, To a T and an RMV wait times application .

Last evening, Joshua Robin presented about EOT's efforts to open transportation data at O'Reilly Media's Ignite Boston 6.  Learn more about Ignite here.   View the presentation below.

MassDOT Developers - Ignite Boston 6 Talk

View more documents from Massachusetts Department of Transportation -- Developers Page.

If you are interested in working with Massachusetts transportation data visit EOT Developers.   
Follow EOT Developers on Twitter.  Join the EOT Developers Google Group.

New MassDOT: Quality, Efficiency, Innovation

Governor Deval Patrick this week met with Jeff Mullan prior to the Governor's appointment of Mullan as the Secretary and CEO of MassDOT, effective November 1.  

Mullan will work closely with Transportation Secretary James Aloisi in the coming weeks to implement the Governor's transportation reform vision in the form of the new Massachusetts Department of Transportation, MassDOT, which begins officially on November 1. 

In the video available below and on the Governor's website, Mullan promises a MassDOT that delivers quality, cost-effective services, seeks efficiencies in operations, encourages innovative ideas, and has a customer focus.  He encourages the public's ideas and comment as transportation reform advances.    

Jeff Mullan: MassDOT Promises Customer Focus

Jeffrey Mullan begins his duties as the Secretary & CEO of MassDOT, effective November 1. Governor Patrick appointed Mullan yesterday. Watch Jeff's message of commitment to efficiency, innovation, and customer service. Visit the Governor's web page to learn more.  We encourage your comment and conversation as MassDOT becomes a reality.