General Infrastructure

[F-Line to Dudley]

On the other hand, driving seems like an absolute free for all. It's never been easy here, but it feels like people got used to the empty roads at the start of COVID and forgot how to drive now that traffic is back to normal. I actually got into my first accident in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville a few months ago (I've been living here for 6 years, driving here regularly for 15+). The lady ran a stop at a T intersection (not even a hint of slowing down), t-boned me (no stop, I clearly had right of way), and she got out and absolutely lit into me like there was even a hint of ambiguity over who was at fault. She proceeded chew out the officer on the scene too. Accidents happen to everyone, but I actually enjoyed watching her get cited.

I've noticed that big rig trucks have really decided that the left-lane travel prohibition on the interstates is now "optional". For like a year-plus now. I was driving 128 (where it's banned in the TWO left lanes) a couple weeks ago and was passed in the far left lane by a tractor-trailer, who then stayed there for the entire distance Weston-Westwood before finally switching to the also-illegal second lane. Passed two sets of staties responding to disablements who didn't even bother, including one who passed us at a backup in the far left shoulder and did nothing. And that's hardly the only time I've seen it. I do Pike and I-84 to Connecticut once every couple months, and seems like left-lane big trucks every time. Have the cops just given up on that one such that it's now free-for-all???

 

[bakgwailo]

I've noticed that big rig trucks have really decided that the left-lane travel prohibition on the interstates is now "optional". For like a year-plus now. I was driving 128 (where it's banned in the TWO left lanes) a couple weeks ago and was passed in the far left lane by a tractor-trailer, who then stayed there for the entire distance Weston-Westwood before finally switching to the also-illegal second lane. Passed two sets of staties responding to disablements who didn't even bother, including one who passed us at a backup in the far left shoulder and did nothing. And that's hardly the only time I've seen it. I do Pike and I-84 to Connecticut once every couple months, and seems like left-lane big trucks every time. Have the cops just given up on that one such that it's now free-for-all???

At least I know I am not going crazy now (well - more crazy). I have totally been noticing trucks just hauling it in the left line with zero cares given. I'll also throw parking lot rage in as a thing I have notice in addition to road rage. Plus, BPD enforcement of traffic laws has always been a little... lax, but I swear I haven't seen anyone pulled over in years. It seems non existent at this point.

 

[as02143]

At least I know I am not going crazy now (well - more crazy). I have totally been noticing trucks just hauling it in the left line with zero cares given. I'll also throw parking lot rage in as a thing I have notice in addition to road rage. Plus, BPD enforcement of traffic laws has always been a little... lax, but I swear I haven't seen anyone pulled over in years. It seems non existent at this point.

The rumor that I got from my department of transportation friends is that police union has decided to nothing but the most minimal traffic enforcement as a protest against the city councillors who are for funding alternative enforcement systems. They're also apparently deprioritizing construction detail shifts. That second one seems good to me - hopefully forces the state to make it mandatory to have flaggers and supplementary to have police detail on construction sites.

 

[North Shore]

At least I know I am not going crazy now (well - more crazy). I have totally been noticing trucks just hauling it in the left line with zero cares given. I'll also throw parking lot rage in as a thing I have notice in addition to road rage. Plus, BPD enforcement of traffic laws has always been a little... lax, but I swear I haven't seen anyone pulled over in years. It seems non existent at this point.

This is a daily occurrence on 495. So frustrating.

 

[Arlington]

we need camera enforcement of bus lanes, left lane travel, stop lights, and stop signs. The kind that imposes a fine on the vehicle owner (since we can’t be sure of the driver’s identity but we do know whose vehicle it is).

 

[Vagabond]

How many of these do we have left? McGrath is the big one that sticks out, but we do have lots of opportunities for pedestrian walkways.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it is accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities pilot program. This $1 billion discretionary grant program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law last year.

The intent of the program is to help reconnect communities previously cut off by transportation infrastructure such as highways.

While efforts such as these are often associated with highway teardowns, the grant program allows for smaller projects such as building a pedestrian walkway across an existing highway, adding crosswalks or redesigning intersections."

US Department of Transportation now accepting applications for Reconnecting Communities program

Over the next five years, $1 billion will be available to help with highway teardowns or smaller projects like pedestrian crossings.

www.smartcitiesdive.com

 

[as02143]

How many of these do we have left? McGrath is the big one that sticks out, but we do have lots of opportunities for pedestrian walkways.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it is accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities pilot program. This $1 billion discretionary grant program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law last year.

The intent of the program is to help reconnect communities previously cut off by transportation infrastructure such as highways.

While efforts such as these are often associated with highway teardowns, the grant program allows for smaller projects such as building a pedestrian walkway across an existing highway, adding crosswalks or redesigning intersections."

US Department of Transportation now accepting applications for Reconnecting Communities program

Over the next five years, $1 billion will be available to help with highway teardowns or smaller projects like pedestrian crossings.

www.smartcitiesdive.com

I could imagine the allston i-90 project being framed as a 'reconnecting communities' project. But other than McGrath, I could see the Kensington underpass and East Somerville-Assembly undeprasses being reconstructed in to much better undercrossings of the northern expressway. I also wonder if any of the "sidewalk" connections under the southeast expressway might be modified or a new undercrossing added with funds from this kind of program.

 

[RandomWalk]

Walking on the Minuteman Bikeway yesterday, I saw markings for a bunch of borings in Lexington and Arlington. I assume they’re for either MWRA water or sewer.

 

[Tallguy]

The stealth extension of RL to Bedford

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

How many of these do we have left? McGrath is the big one that sticks out, but we do have lots of opportunities for pedestrian walkways.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it is accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities pilot program. This $1 billion discretionary grant program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law last year.

The intent of the program is to help reconnect communities previously cut off by transportation infrastructure such as highways.

While efforts such as these are often associated with highway teardowns, the grant program allows for smaller projects such as building a pedestrian walkway across an existing highway, adding crosswalks or redesigning intersections."

US Department of Transportation now accepting applications for Reconnecting Communities program

Over the next five years, $1 billion will be available to help with highway teardowns or smaller projects like pedestrian crossings.

www.smartcitiesdive.com

Finishing the teardown of MA 79 on the Fall River waterfront (turning it into a revamped Davol St. all points south of the US 6 interchange) would definitely qualify. That's an official unfunded proposal.

MA 18 expressway in New Bedford would also be a good one to boulevard, although no one has officially proposed it yet.

 

[Charlie_mta]

How many of these do we have left? McGrath is the big one that sticks out, but we do have lots of opportunities for pedestrian walkways.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it is accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities pilot program. This $1 billion discretionary grant program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law last year.

The intent of the program is to help reconnect communities previously cut off by transportation infrastructure such as highways.

While efforts such as these are often associated with highway teardowns, the grant program allows for smaller projects such as building a pedestrian walkway across an existing highway, adding crosswalks or redesigning intersections."

US Department of Transportation now accepting applications for Reconnecting Communities program

Over the next five years, $1 billion will be available to help with highway teardowns or smaller projects like pedestrian crossings.

www.smartcitiesdive.com

Demolishing the Bowker overpass would qualify, IMO.

 

[Stlin]

How many of these do we have left? McGrath is the big one that sticks out, but we do have lots of opportunities for pedestrian walkways.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it is accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities pilot program. This $1 billion discretionary grant program was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law last year.

The intent of the program is to help reconnect communities previously cut off by transportation infrastructure such as highways.

While efforts such as these are often associated with highway teardowns, the grant program allows for smaller projects such as building a pedestrian walkway across an existing highway, adding crosswalks or redesigning intersections."

US Department of Transportation now accepting applications for Reconnecting Communities program

Over the next five years, $1 billion will be available to help with highway teardowns or smaller projects like pedestrian crossings.

www.smartcitiesdive.com

I know it isn't exactly likely given their recent rehab, but I'd vote for the Chelsea curves / Tobin Approach structures.

 

[bakgwailo]

If we are California Dreamn': Reconnect Dot with its waterfront.

 

[matredsoxfan5]

Walking on the Minuteman Bikeway yesterday, I saw markings for a bunch of borings in Lexington and Arlington. I assume they’re for either MWRA water or sewer.

MWRA, they are in planning/design to install a new 24" water transmission main thru Lexington for redundancy and are looking at using the path as a possible way to connect the two existing mains.

 

[Wash]

MWRA, they are in planning/design to install a new 24" water transmission main thru Lexington for redundancy and are looking at using the path as a possible way to connect the two existing mains.

Are they provisioning for a Red Line tunnel as well?

 

[Camberville]

I don't have photos because I was driving, but there are new raised pavements on both sides of the Kensington crossing/underpass in Somerville. Drivers seem flummoxed, but hey, it's new. Now they just need to install a signal on the assembly side.

 

[Stlin]

Apropos of nothing else, what does Rhode Island do differently from MA in terms of road resurfacing? Almost every time I cross the state line, I find the ride immediately gets significantly rougher, with the road bearing many more patches and crack seal. It's far more noticable on the smaller, municipally maintained streets and state routes. But the highways don't seem to be immune - I295 and I195 in particular, 146 to a lesser degree, while I95 seems to be the exception that proves the rule. In some cases, the MA side has been resurfaced multiple times in the intervening years.

 

[as02143]

I don't have photos because I was driving, but there are new raised pavements on both sides of the Kensington crossing/underpass in Somerville. Drivers seem flummoxed, but hey, it's new. Now they just need to install a signal on the assembly side.

I drove over those on the way home from Costco last night. It was a bit of a surprise but the portable electronic boards said as much. A bit of a bump, but, kinda weird to have the pedestrian table on what is basically a highway on ramp.

 

[Stlin]

I know we've historically derided Somerville's use of painted curb extensions as basically useless, so they're putting in actual raised refuge islands on Holland @ Cameron, and Cameron itself. They've also installed a bus stop island for the 85 & 87, in addition to planned raised crosswalks and actual curb extensions at Winter, the park, and Paulina, (feat. a bus stop bumpout) and bus lane segments. PDF presentation of improvements here.

However, a few notes. While its better than paint or the solitary flexipost they previously had on the Cameron centerline to keep people from cutting that corner which lasted about 2 weeks before it got taken out, those refuge islands are notably low profile, with extremely generously chamfered corners (unlike the bus island). Something about the geometry feels unnatural, which would hopefully force slower more considered movement... but I hope they're going to get some flexipost toppers, because I've witnessed so many people clip these with their back wheel while turning, if not straight up run over them. I nearly did my first time through this at night, but while I'll withhold final judgement until after they repave and repaint, I still think this intersection needs a traffic light.

 

[stick n move]

See MassDOT’s Early Designs for a New Car-Free Bridge Over the Pike in Allston

“On Tuesday evening, MassDOT officials shared their conceptual designs for a new dedicated bike and pedestrian bridge over Interstate 90 near Franklin Street in Allston, a planned component of the planned Allston Multimodal Project.

An existing pedestrian overpass near Franklin Street already carries a substantial amount of bike and foot traffic over the Turnpike; according to the City of Boston’s bike traffic data, roughly one in three vehicles on Franklin Street north of the Turnpike is a bicycle on any given day.

But that bridge dates to a time before the Americans with Disabilities Act, and its steep ramps are generally inaccessible to wheelchair users (and make for leg-burning climbs for people on bikes). The southern end of the bridge also dumps bike riders onto a broken sidewalk on Cambridge Street, next to a crowded five-lane intersection that currently has no protected space for bike traffic.

As part of MassDOT’s Allston Multimodal Project, that old bridge will be replaced with a new car-free overpass that meets ADA standards and offers a smoother connection into the surrounding neighborhoods…”
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2022/0...new-car-free-bridge-over-the-pike-in-allston/