Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

Rail Accessibility A Win in Winchester

Posted by Gary Talbot, MBTA Assistant General Manager, System-Wide Accessibility

I am pleased to report the Patrick Administration has committed $2 million in federal stimulus funds to make the Wedgemere Commuter Rail Station in Winchester accessible.  While improved access benefits all customers—from families with strollers to passengers with luggage—it can make a world of difference to people like Jean Batty and her 5 year-old son, Theo, who uses a wheelchair.  The Batty family lives just steps from the station, and Theo looks forward to the day when he can ride the train to see the Sox play at Fenway, watch the fireworks on the 4th or someday attend college in Boston.  The Batty family joined several dozen others including state legislators and Town Selectman at this month's regional Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, testifying in favor of the project. 

The Batty family put their hopes for the project on You Tube, below.

Ms. Batty first contacted the MBTA Department of System-Wide Accessibility back in 2008 to find out if there were any plans to make the Winchester or Wedgemere Stations accessible.  Her inspiring story continues after the jump. 

FAST LANE Transponder Numbers Rising

One year after FAST LANE transponders became free of charge, the number of customers has risen dramatically. 

A total of more than 318,000 transponders have been distributed in the past year.  The overall transponder total now exceeds 1.38 million. 

Today, a FAST LANE free transponder sign up in West Springfield, left, sponsored by Rep. James T. Welch, netted 55 new customers. 

If you travel I-90 and are still paying cash, sign up today, online. 

All Fed Stimulus Highway Funds Obligated

Governor Deval Patrick today announced that as of last Saturday the Commonwealth will have obligated its entire $437.9 million allotment of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) highway funding nearly a month ahead of the federally required deadline of March 2, 2010. 

The 84 ARRA highway projects will create jobs in every corner of the state by repairing broken roads, supporting long-term economic development and creating more sustainable communities. In addition to critical road repairs like the $19.9 million in safety improvements to Route 2 in Orange, a record $58 million of highway funds were transferred to support critical public transit improvements, including $3.5 million for floating slab repair work on the MBTA’s Red Line, accessibility enhancements to the Wedgemere Commuter Rail station, and a new regional transit center and rail station in Greenfield.

"This strategic use of federal stimulus funds is putting Massachusetts residents to work today while ensuring we have a strong economic future for our children," said Governor Deval Patrick. "From the start, we have been aggressively leveraging stimulus funds in every corner of the Commonwealth, and this announcement again demonstrates our commitment to meet or exceed every deadline for using recovery money put forth by the federal government."

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has focused on moving ARRA projects to construction faster than ever before by reducing the average time from advertisement to construction from 120 days to 46.  MassDOT partnered with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to strategically invest ARRA funds in projects that would create jobs today and in the future by helping to spark long-awaited economic development projects.  In Somerville, for example, $12.2 million will be invested in transportation improvements to the Assembly Square project that will create thousands of future jobs.  Learn more here and after the jump. 

Winter Storms: Plan Ahead, Use Public Transportation

MassDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead and drive safely and commuters to use public transportation if possible, with the latest winter storm on the way. 

EVENING COMMUTE:  MassDOT encourages driving commuters to leave plenty of time for travel in order to help keep the roads clear for local plowing crews as the storm intensifies during the afternoon rush hour. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:  MassDOT encourages residents to use public transportation whenever possible.  Visit MBTA on the web.  Locate Regional Transit Authorities here.

TIPS FOR SAFE DRIVING:  MassDOT has already begun preparing for the storm, with more than 4,000 pieces of equipment, including plows, sanders, and salt spreaders on the job throughout the Commonwealth as needed.  MassDOT winter driving tips are online. 

TRAVEL TIPS:  If you must drive during the storm, prior to departure view MassDOT’s live online traffic cameras here.  For updated weather predictions and snowfall totals, visit the National Weather Service website.

Green Line Extension Field Work Planned

Over the next six months, contractors for MassDOT will perform field work in support of the MBTA Green Line extension to Somerville and Medford.  Teams will  perform field surveys, noise and vibration testing, and soil borings to collect information for the Extension design.  People who live and work along the right-of-way may see these professional surveyors and others, who are authorized to work within and around the MBTA right-of-way. 

MassDOT sent letters about the work to abutters to the rail right-of-way based on community records. Anyone with questions may contact Kate Fichter, Green Line Extension Project Manager, 617-973-7342, katherine.fichter@state.ma.us.  Learn more about the Green Line Extension.

MBCR Suicide Prevention Honors

The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention today honored Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) General Manager Richard A. Davey for his lead role in creating the Massachusetts Transportation Suicide Prevention Initiative, a partnership between MBCR, the MBTA and Samaritans, a Boston-based suicide prevention and education agency. 

Davey, right, is joined at the Statehouse by John Cole, owner of Cole Creative, which designed the public awareness ads in stations.

The program, which seeks to prevent suicides on the railroad right of way, has been credited with saving at least two lives.

MBCR and the MBTA provide free space to Samaritans to advertise the group’s suicide prevention services at commuter rail and subway stations. Samaritans provides counseling services, including a 24-hour confidential hot line, to conductors and engineers who have witnessed a suicide and conducts workshops with new rail engineers who are likely to experience a suicide while operating a train.

MassDOT Crews Warm to the Task

MassDOT maintenance crews from Weston and Charlton worked together today to replace boilers at the I-90 Plaza 12 in Framingham. 

Two of three existing boilers had failed with replacement parts no longer available.  Crews removed the old boilers from the basement by crane and lowered the new boilers in for placement and installation.

MassDOT employees performed the work rather than hiring outside contractors, at a great savings to taxpayers/tollpayers.  The total cost of the project is estimated at $20,000, a cost effective and efficient operation to properly maintain MassDOT facilities and provide a safe and comfortable work environment.

MBTA Elevators: Going Up

Customer service and accessibility for customers of all abilities are top priorities at the MBTA.  To date in 2010, the T reports its systemwide elevators and escalators are working properly at extremely high levels. 

The T's 136 elevators are working at the 99.78% level in 2010, including at least five days in which all 100% of the elevators were working all day without interruption.  So far this year, MBTA escalators have functioned properly at the 98.67% level. 

Learn more about the MBTA commitment to accessible public transportation.

MassDOT State Traffic Engineer Honored

MassDOT is fortunate to have so many employees who are passionate about their work and about transportation.  State Traffic Engineer Neil Boudreau is among them, and his passion and professionalism have not gone unnoticed.  Neil has been chosen as the 2009 Transportation Engineer of the Year for the New England Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (NEITE).  

The award is given to transportation engineers who have shown exceptional technical accomplishments or development of new concepts.

Boudreau joined what was then MassHighway in 1995.  His Traffic Engineering Section is responsible for all traffic engineering and safety issues, including traffic signal and speed limit regulation, road safety audits and technical review of MassDOT construction and maintenance projects. 

"I am passionate about safety," said Boudreau.  "It is today and has always been a priority here at MassDOT, and we must continue to find new approaches that will enhance safety for all transportation users. I am honored by the award, but I have to share the praise with our wonderful safety staff.  They are extremely hard workers and dedicated to the cause." 

Learn more about MassDOT's Traffic Engineering Section. 

Safety First: Teen Video Contest

MassDOT RMV Registrar Rachel Kaprielian joined Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), to kick off the 2010 "Dance. Don't Chance" statewide teen safe driving video contest.

The " Dance. Don't Chance" video contest by EOPSS in partnership with the RMV aims to make the prom/graduation season safer.

Teens write, produce and submit 60-second video on safe driving and avoiding underage drinking, which can be used to help keep other teens in Massachusetts safer during prom/graduation season and year-round.

The winning video is posted on YouTube.  The winning school receives a Dream Prom package provided by contest sponsors.

Learn more about the contest.