Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

MBTA & Boston Bikes Developers Challenge

The Patrick-Murray Administration in partnership with the City of Boston today announced the MBTA & Boston Bikes Developers Challenge.  This challenge encourages development of apps that help Boston residents use the MBTA and New Balance Hubway to travel through the Boston area.  These apps will highlight the transit connections between these two low cost and environmentally friendly transportation systems.  Developers are also asked to develop apps to help residents and visitors learn about and locate Boston food trucks.

“This is a first of its kind collaboration to inspire innovation in delivering improved customer service for transit users at minimal cost to the taxpayer,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey.  “We are pleased to partner with the City and Mayor Menino to connect our buses and trains with the successful bike sharing program.”

"We’re excited to partner with MassDOT and tap into the talent and interests of our local developer community," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino.  “The apps that this challenge will create will help locals and visitors, alike, see more of our city, its neighborhoods, and its great places to eat.”

The contest includes three challenge areas for software developers:

•    Applications Challenge: build a website, mobile app, or other software application using real-time data from the MBTA & New Balance Hubway highlighting transit connections between systems. 

•    Visualization Challenge: create a visualization of “A Day in the Life of the MBTA + New Balance Hubway” using MBTA historical bus location data and station inventory data from New Balance Hubway.

•    The BLT (Bikes, Lunch & T) Challenge: create a website, mobile app or other software applications to help residents and visitors learn about and get to Boston’s food trucks. 

The Challenge begins today, and applications and visualizations may be submitted through 5pm on February 24th.  The Challenge winners will be announced at a future Developer event before the New Balance Hubway re-opens for spring.  Winning developers in each challenge area will receive a one year MBTA CharlieCard LinkPass, a one year New Balance Hubway Membership, and two free passes to area food truck Festivals.

MBTA real-time bus or trip planning applications and information are available at www.mbta.com/apps
Check the MassDOT Developers page  for information and data links.  Learn more about the New Balance Hubway bike sharing system and the Boston area food trucks.

MBTA Ridership Continues Record Pace

Acting MBTA General Manager Jonathan Davis has announced that record numbers of riders continue to use the nation’s fifth busiest public transportation system.  Weekday MBTA ridership for October increased by 3.2% over October 2010 and averaged 1.348 million passenger trips per weekday. 

October's ridership was just shy of September’s record high of 1.349 million passenger trips.   As back to back months, September and October represent the MBTA’s highest ridership in the modern record-keeping era.  

Heavy ridership growth was seen on the Red, Orange, and Blue Lines, which exceeded September’s record high.  Last month’s average of 555,000 weekday passenger trips on the Red, Orange, and Blue Lines was the highest in MBTA history.  With average weekday ridership of 398,500, the T’s 180-route bus system had its busiest month in almost seven years.  Ridership has been higher in 2011 compared to 2010 levels in 9 of 10 months. 

Davis cited the state’s economic recovery and growing employment levels as factors in the T’s record ridership, along with the availability of real-time bus and subway train location information that has attracted new riders by making it easier and more convenient to use the MBTA.  Check out MBTA fares online today.

Green Line Extension Design Working Group

Posted by Kate Fichter, Green Line Extension Project Manager

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Green Line Extension Environmental Assessment process. We appreciate your efforts and the time you took to publicize the process in your communities, write comment letters, and attend the public hearing. We will now work with the Federal Transit Administration to complete the environmental review process.

The next meeting of the Green Line Extension Design Working Group will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, 51 Winthrop Street, Medford.

The building can be reached via MBTA bus routes 80, 94, and 96. Parking is also available on Boston Avenue along Capen Street Extension, in the Dowling Parking Garage, and in surface lots near Miller Hall and Hill Hall (Tufts University buildings). Accessible parking is available next to the building in which the meeting is being held. For language or access accommodations, please contact Beverley Johnson at 617-296-7003 or bjohnson@bevcoassociates.comcastbiz.net.

In addition, please note that Interactive Somerville is currently running a Green Line Challenge, a design competition looking for the best idea to improve the area around the proposed Gilman Square Green Line station. The Green Line Challenge started on November 14, 2011 and will run until December 5, 2011. The winner of the Challenge will receive a free CharlieCard, donated by the MBTA. Interactive Somerville is not associated with MassDOT or the MBTA.

As always, if you have any questions on the Green Line Extension project, you can email Kate Fichter at katherine.fichter@state.ma.us.

Green Line Extension Update

Posted by Kate Fichter, Green Line Extension Project Manager

This is a friendly reminder that written comments on the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Green Line Extension project are due on Friday, November 18, 2011.

Please send your comments to:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation - Office of Transportation Planning
Attention: Katherine Fichter
10 Park Plaza, Room 4150
Boston, MA 02116
katherine.fichter@state.ma.us

The Environmental Assessment is available online at www.mass.gov/greenlineextension. It is also available at public libraries and City Clerks' offices in Cambridge, Medford, and Somerville. It is also available by request to Regan Checchio at 617-357-5772 or rchecchio@reginavilla.com. Please note that copies of the EA take approximately two days to arrive by postal mail.

As always, if you have any questions on the Green Line Extension project, you can email Kate Fichter at katherine.fichter@state.ma.us.

MBTA Science Park/West End Station Modernization

MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey and state and local officials celebrated the completion ahead of schedule of the $22 million modernization of Science Park/West End Station, located on the MBTA's Green Line.

Science Park/West End Station is now fully accessible and in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Secretary Davey also announced the restoration of Green Line service between North and Lechmere Stations after a six month closure.

“With the support of the Patrick-Murray Administration we remain focused on making smart investments in our transportation infrastructure,” said Secretary Davey. “Ensuring our transportation network is accessible to all in a convenient, user-friendly way is our priority.” 

The Science Park/West End Station project includes 80% federal funding with a 20% MBTA Revenue Bond fund match. The project installed two new elevators to provide access from a new street level lobby to the train platforms at the top of the viaduct.  The project also enhanced customer service and safety with a new lobby and mezzanine along with enhanced lighting and additional surveillance cameras.   

The Science Park/West End Station project began in May 2010 with a 24-month completion schedule but reopened seven months ahead of that schedule. Closing the Station from April 30 to November 1 allowed for the accelerated work schedule.      

The Science Park/West End Station project also includes replacement of the platform canopy roof, new elevated platforms, reconstruction of interior and exterior stairs, and upgrades to signage, electrical communications, fire protection and alarm systems.  Science Park/West End Station originally opened in 1954 and serves approximately 2,100 customers daily.

Greenway: Major Housing Construction

Governor Deval Patrick today joined local officials and community members to break ground on a major housing development project on the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway.

Located on the corners of Causeway, Beverly and Haverhill streets, the site known as Parcel 1 will be transformed into “The Victor”, a 12-story, 286-unit apartment building with 138 parking spaces and 17,000 square feet of retail space. The project will create an estimated 400 construction jobs during the course of building and additional jobs through future retail occupants.

"Massachusetts is creating jobs faster than most other states thanks to projects and partnerships like this one,” said Governor Patrick. "I know that this development will serve as a national model on how to revitalize our cities."

Governor Patrick cited the unprecedented level of cooperation among officials from Mayor Menino and the City of Boston, MassDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, and neighbors of the project. Parcel 1 once stood in the shadows of the elevated Central Artery and was slated for redevelopment as part of the Central Artery/Tunnel project mitigation.

Construction on the project began in August 2011 with a completion date set for early 2013. 

“This is a great example of how we can be creative with land we’ve reclaimed from the elevated artery,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey. “In today’s world, we have to look beyond transportation projects as a means for moving people and goods; we must also consider what impact they have on a community and how they can benefit the residents and businesses of the area."

MBTA Kingston Wind Turbine

MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey today joined state and local officials to break ground on the Kingston Wind Turbine Program at the Kingston Layover Facility.  The 100-kilowatt wind turbine will power 65 percent of the Kingston commuter rail station's energy supply. The $2.5 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project builds on the Patrick-Murray Administration's investment in transportation infrastructure and is another step toward a more energy efficient Commonwealth. 

The $2.5 million ARRA Transit Investments Generating Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reductions grant funds the 120-foot-tall turbine that will power the station's energy supply to the parking lot, station platforms, and plug--ins for locomotives. The grant also funds a second 300-kilowatt turbine to be installed along the commuter rail tracks in Bridgewater.  The two wind turbines when operational will save the MBTA approximately $100,000 annually in electricity costs.

The wind turbine will be constructed on the north side of the commuter rail tracks between the maintenance and substation structures. Construction will begin immediately.

Safe Routes to School: Stoneham

MassDOT officials today joined students, parents, and city and school officials in celebrating the completion of access and safety improvements that will better enable children to walk or bicycle to Central Elementary School in Stoneham.  The project was built by MassDOT using federal Safe Routes to School Program funds.

Central Elementary School is a partner in the MassDOT Safe Routes to School Program, which includes more than 400 schools in over 120 communities and works with students, parents, school staff, and local police to promote walking and bicycling to school.  This program seeks to improve student health, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality.

As a Safe Routes partner, Central Elementary is provided with education and encouragement activities to increase bicycling and walking activity amongst its students. Schools that partner with MassDOT to offer these are also eligible for federal funding to build infrastructure projects specifically targeted at helping children get to school safely and conveniently. 

The Central Elementary School project will slow vehicle traffic, improve street crossings, and upgrade sidewalks, with enhancements including new sidewalks and curbing.  New sidewalks with new curbing along Central Street and an extension of the existing sidewalk at the school entrance have been completed. 

Safe Routes to School is federally-funded and administered by the MassRIDES travel options program on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.  To find out how your school can participate, contact Rebecca Cyr at rebecca.cyr@state.ma.us or visit www.mass.gov/massdot/saferoutes.

Federal Funds to Purchase 30 Regional Buses

MassDOT has received $18.4 million from the Federal Transit Administration's 2011 State-of-Good Repair Program to replace its entire statewide regional fleet of 30 buses. 

Customers throughout Massachusetts can expect to see the new buses operating under their host carriers
by late 2012.

The federal funds will purchase thirty state-of-the-art 45-foot ADA accessible passenger buses equipped with next generation clean diesel engines and power train systems. The new buses will replace all MassDOT 1998 diesel-powered buses, providing a significant positive impact on air quality through reduced emissions while offering passengers the most advanced safe and convenient transportation.

This regional bus network is critical to the mobility and economic vitality of Commonwealth communities, providing links with intercity passenger rail, human service transportation, water transportation, and the MBTA and Regional Transit Authority transit systems. This network provides rural access to Franklin, Barnstable and Berkshire Counties, and to revitalized Gateway Cities in Worcester, New Bedford, Fall River, Springfield and Pittsfield.

Massachusetts has one of the most multimodal public transportation networks in the nation, with the MBTA, 15 Regional Transit Authorities, and the state’s regional bus transportation network linking all parts of New England and Massachusetts to Boston. The regional network operates twenty-two regularly scheduled weekday routes with a fleet of 77 private and MassDOT-owned buses. Over 12,000 weekday commuters, regional visitors and residents use the network for travel to and from South Station and Logan International Airport.

Housing Development for Greenway Parcel 24

Governor Deval Patrick joined Mayor Thomas Menino and community leaders to announce $10 million in city and state subsidies and $3 million in state and federal tax credits to advance the Greenway Parcel 24 housing development project in Chinatown. The project will create an estimated 700 construction jobs, 345 housing units and restore Chinatown's Hudson Street neighborhood that was razed nearly 50 years ago to make way for an expressway.

“I understand how much this project means to the residents of Chinatown and to realizing our long-term vision for the Greenway," said Governor Patrick. "Today, thanks to a strong public-private partnership, we are making the Hudson Street neighborhood whole again."

Parcel 24 is one of the largest residential projects currently proposed in Boston and is being developed by New Boston Fund in partnership with the Asian Community Development Corporation.

The Parcel 24 development is expected to break ground in spring 2012. The two-phase, $130 million project will consist of 50 affordable homeownership units, 200 market rate rental units and 95 affordable rental units. The first phase is slated to be complete in 2014.

The Hudson Street neighborhood that existed on this land in the 1960’s was destroyed to make way for an expressway. When the land was made available for development through the Central Artery Project, the former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, now MassDOT, designated the development team.  The project began following extensive community input and planning and after delays due to the national economic downturn.  Federal, state and local funding helped to secure private sector investment and advance the project.