Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

MassDOT Community Transit Grants

MassDOT's Rail & Transit Division today announced the new MassDOT Community Transit Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2013.

This new application is a consolidation of several grant applications by the Community Transit Programs Unit and Regional Planning Agencies. This single grant application will streamline the grant application and approval process.

Organizations applying for Federal funds under Title 49 USC Sections 5310, 5311, 5311 (f), 5316, and 5317 and State funds under the Mobility Assistance Program should use the new application which can be accessed online via the MassDOT Rail & Transit Division: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/transit/CommunityTransitGrantProgram.aspx

All 2013 applications must be received by MassDOT no later than 5 p.m. on March 30, 2012. Applicants are encouraged to submit application packets before the deadline.

Longfellow Bridge Public Hearing March 1

A public hearing for the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project has been scheduled as follows:

Thursday, March 1, 7 PM, Boston, State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Conference Rooms 1-2-3.

The public hearing will be held by MassDOT to present the Chapters of the Environmental Assessment (EA)/Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation and seek public comments on the EA for the Longfellow Bridge Project in Boston and Cambridge. 

The Longfellow Bridge is a signature project of the Patrick-Murray Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program to replace or rehabilitate structurally-deficient bridges across the Commonwealth.

The Environmental Assessment Report was made available for public comment on February 6. Comments on the Environmental Assessment must be submitted by March 21 to Pamela S. Stephenson, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 55 Broadway, 10th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, Attention: Damaris Santiago with a copy to Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Acting Chief Engineer, MassDOT Highway Division, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Kevin Walsh, Project File No. 604361.

To request written Copies/CDs of the Environmental Assessment document please contact Kevin Walsh, Director of Environmental Services, at 617-973-7484 or Kevin.M.Walsh@state.ma.us. The document is also available on the project website.

Green Line Extension Public Meeting

A Green Line Extension Project public meeting is scheduled to review the latest design plans for Gilman Square & Lowell Street Stations.

The meeting will be held as follows:

 

Wednesday, March 7, 6:00-8:00 PM, Somerville High School Auditorium, 81 Highland Avenue

If you need access or language accommodations to fully participate in the public meeting, please contact Beverley Johnson at 617-438-2767 or bjohnson@bevcoassociates.comcastbiz.net at least one week prior to the meeting.

More information about the project is available on the Green Line Extension website at: www.mass.gov/greenlineextension.

You are invited to e-mail any questions on the Green Line Extension Project to info@glxinfo.com.

MBTA Fare, Service Meetings February 27-March 1

MBTA Fare and Services meetings continue next week through March 12. More than 4,200 people have attended public meetings across the T service area to date.

Ten additional public meetings are scheduled, and public participation is encouraged and appreciated. Times and locations for next week's meetings are as follows:

 

Monday, February 27, 6:00-8:00 PM, Winthrop DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard Street
Tuesday, February 28, 6:00-8:00 PM, Somerville High School Auditorium, 81 Highland Avenue
Wednesday, February 29, 6:00-8:00 PM, Cambridge City Hall Council Chambers, 795 Massachusetts Avenue
Thursday, March 1, 6:00-8:00 PM, Waltham Government Center Auditorium, 119 School Street

For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/join the discussion.

Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.

The MBTA’s public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 12, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma  02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146. 

A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA’s Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.

Bates Bridge Work Advances

Work is moving forward during winter 2012 to replace the Bates Bridge over the Merrimack River between Groveland and Haverhill.

The $49.75 million project will replace the existing Bates Bridge carrying Routes 97/113 with a new bridge located approximately 60 feet
downstream. The existing bridge is open during construction.  The project includes a movable span similar to the existing bridge,  reconstruction of the approach roadways in Haverhill and Groveland and traffic signal improvements.  Temporary cofferdams have been used during construction. 

As of late February, much of the construction in the river is being staged from two working barges, including concrete installation on piers.  The project is scheduled for completion in early 2014. 

Visit MassDOT's Project Information page to learn more about current and planned road and bridge projects.

New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Repairs

MassDOT will initiate around the clock work to install a new transformer and motors on the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge beginning at 6:00 am on Sunday, March 4. The bridge will be closed to traffic during the work.

The electrical system that allows both cars and vessels to pass the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge requires urgent transformer and motor upgrades that could take three weeks. The work, if left undone, could cripple the span for an unknown period of time.

The inadequate transformer capacity issue was brought home last February when a problem caused a closure. The incident initiated MassDOT’s current effort to provide a permanent remedy through the installation of new transformers and motors.

“A March start offers us an appropriate time for addressing this job. The procurement has been completed, the contractor has agreed to a 24/7 mobilization, and NStar is on board,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Frank DePaola. “While we understand the bridge closure is an inconvenience to area drivers, the March timeframe also allows us to avoid impacting the busy tourist season.” 

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said, “MassDOT is taking a proactive approach to the problem.  It’s critical to fix the bridge’s electrical system before another breakdown triggers an extended closure.  I appreciate MassDOT accommodating the City’s request that contractor adopt the extraordinary measure of deploying work crews around the clock until the job is complete."

During the electrical upgrade, the bridge will be set in the open position to allow marine vessels to transit the area in accordance with Federal Law and the US Coast Guard. Specific detour routes will be posted on MassDOT’s website. 

The work includes replacing the existing transformer and the replacement of the bridge’s 14 motors. The goal is that the upgrade will minimize impact to marine and vehicular traffic when future maintenance and repair work becomes necessary.  

The aggressive work schedule is dependent on weather conditions. MassDOT will provide progress updates throughout the project.

 

Chelsea Street Bridge Update

The Chelsea Street Bridge project continues in early 2012 with the new vertical lift structures and concrete bridge deck now completed and in place.  Current work, seen at left, includes demolition of piers from the old bridge under the new structure. 

To allow for the final work on this historic $125 million MassDOT project, the Chelsea Street Bridge over Chelsea Creek at the Boston/Chelsea line remains closed with detours in place.

The Chelsea Street Bridge project involves the replacement of a truss-type structure that spans 450 feet and will provide 175 feet of vertical clearance when raised.  The new bridge will include four lanes of traffic and two pedestrian sidewalks. 

This is the largest permanent lift bridge built in Massachusetts to date.  To accommodate the massive size and tight space constraints in the bridge area, MassDOT contractors used an innovative technique of launching the truss across the river.  The launching sequence of the truss bridge across the channel was carefully designed to minimize disruption of the navigation channel below.  This launch process was completed in November 2011.

After the launch was successfully completed, the project moved to the concrete pours of the 450 foot long bridge deck, which required the project to enclose and heat the bridge structure because of colder early winter weather.  The concrete pours were completed in late December 2011.

Project work now includes removing the old bridge piers below the new bridge.  The contractor is making significant progress and working seven days a week and 24 hours a day to remove the 5 piers, which include segments up to 40 feet below the river bottom. Work on the bridge itself includes installation of bridge joints, barrier, and other safety items. 

It is anticipated that all required work will be complete and allow a bridge opening to traffic by the end of April.  MassDOT will announce publicly an exact opening date in advance.

MBTA Meetings Attract Thousands

MassDOT and the MBTA thank the thousands of people who have attended the Fare and Service Public Meetings and let their voices be heard. 

The T reports a total of 4,299 attendees and 1,254 speakers at meetings held through February 16, in addition to more than 4,600 submitted e-mail comments. 

Ten additional public meetings are scheduled beginning Monday, February 27 through March 12. 

The public is encouraged to participate. 

Times and locations for upcoming meetings are as follows:

 

Monday, February 27, 6:00-8:00 PM, Winthrop DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard Street
Tuesday, February 28, 6:00-8:00 PM, Somerville High School Auditorium, 81 Highland Avenue
Wednesday, February 29, 6:00-8:00 PM, Cambridge Citywide Senior Ctr, 806 Massachusetts Avenue
Thursday, March 1, 6:00-8:00 PM, Waltham Government Center Auditorium, 119 School Street

For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/join the discussion.

Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.

The MBTA’s public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 12, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma  02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146. 

A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA’s Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.

MassDOT Celebrates Black History Month

MassDOT's Office of Civil Rights and our Partners in Transportation this week celebrated Black History Month during one in a series of annual Diversity Luncheons. 

The Partners in Transportation are transportation agencies and partners at the State Transportation Building, including the MBTA, Massport, MBCR, CTPS, Lincoln Property, TCC, and State Transportation Library. 

"Black Women in Aviation History" was this year's event theme, and Noyan A. Edmond, Technical Services Supervisor, Airport Facilities Department, Massport, served as keynote speaker.  

MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey and Stephanie Neal-Johnson, MassDOT Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff, joined MassDOT and Partners staff at the luncheon, highlighted by poetry readings by Willie Wideman-Pleasants, Author, Poet and Producer.

Black History Month Video

The Patrick-Murray Administration is celebrating Black History Month in February with a series of events and discussions across the Commonwealth to commemorate the past, present and future of African-American culture in Massachusetts.   MassDOT joins in the celebration with its annual Partners In Transportation Black History Month Diversity Luncheon on Monday, February 13. The theme for this year's event: "Black Women in Aviation History."

Check out this video including Governor Deval Patrick and highlighting the contributions of African-American leaders working within the Administration.