Waltham Infill and Small Developments

matredsoxfan said:
There main draw is to bring in people who commute by bike or walking as it is being built along the Blue Heron Path.
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That's true. I used to bike by this site twice-a-day on my commute between Newton and Waltham. The location is ideal for a bike-commuter who works in Waltham/Newton/Watertown/Brighton and even Cambridge.

Public transit access, on the other hand, sucks. Presumably, people who live here will not value public transit. You're dealing with;
  • infrequent, expensive express buses that, are okay for getting downtown
  • infrequent, very expensive commuter rail that are a looong walk and are okay for getting downtown
  • crappy local buses that are slow, unreliable, and not particularly frequent
But, hey, such is the state of public transit in Waltham.

With this project, the Moody&Main Development, and others, I wonder if we'll see improvements to the 70/70A (stop spacing, frequency, amenities at bus stops) a la the 71 and 73. Waltham does need some legitimate rapid transit-like service though. Whether that means a key bus route with BRT elements, DMU service along the Fitchburg Line, Green Line via Porter and Union Squares or even Red Line via Belmont and Alewife, Waltham needs serious transit improvements for transit-oriented people to choose to live there.
 
bigeman312 said:
With this project, the Moody&Main Development, and others, I wonder if we'll see improvements to the 70/70A (stop spacing, frequency, amenities at bus stops) a la the 71 and 73. Waltham does need some legitimate rapid transit-like service though. Whether that means a key bus route with BRT elements, DMU service along the Fitchburg Line, Green Line via Porter and Union Squares or even Red Line via Belmont and Alewife, Waltham needs serious transit improvements for transit-oriented people to choose to live there.
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Speaking as a Waltham resident who takes the commuter rail to work but also owns a car, a main impediment to transit in Waltham is evening and night service. After 8 or so the 70 drops to once every 30 minutes, and the commuter rail after 6:30 has abysmal headways. If I'm going somewhere after work I'll usually park at Riverside rather than deal with the minimal schedules.
 
saulblum said:
Speaking as a Waltham resident who takes the commuter rail to work but also owns a car, a main impediment to transit in Waltham is evening and night service. After 8 or so the 70 drops to once every 30 minutes, and the commuter rail after 6:30 has abysmal headways. If I'm going somewhere after work I'll usually park at Riverside rather than deal with the minimal schedules.
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I tend to agree. I always tell my friends, it's not hard for me to get into the city, it's hard for me to get home.

If it means anything, Watertown News reported that a Study of 70 Bus is being sought by residents. More for Watertown than Waltham, though the entire route needs it.
In the mean time, the T did say it's adding two buses on weekday evenings, Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings in September. Probably will not make a whole world of difference, but still.
 
HoodRiver said:
In the mean time, the T did say it's adding two buses on weekday evenings, Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings in September. Probably will not make a whole world of difference, but still.
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Good to hear. The times I've taken the 9:45 or so bus from Cambridge, it has been standing-room only by the time we leave Central Sq.
 
saulblum said:
Good to hear. The times I've taken the 9:45 or so bus from Cambridge, it has been standing-room only by the time we leave Central Sq.
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Take this with the worlds biggest grain of salt, but I had sent a direct message to the MBTA on twitter about the 70 and late night service, and I did get a response that "Rt 70 is within the next tier of buses we hope to consider for #LateNightT if future resources become available."

Biggest caveat being "future resources." Honestly, I wish even the last bus from Central made it back to Waltham, instead of ending in Watertown Square. Route gets shorter and shorter as the night goes on.

Sorry to get off topic.
 
HoodRiver said:
Take this with the worlds biggest grain of salt, but I had sent a direct message to the MBTA on twitter about the 70 and late night service, and I did get a response that "Rt 70 is within the next tier of buses we hope to consider for #LateNightT if future resources become available."

Biggest caveat being "future resources." Honestly, I wish even the last bus from Central made it back to Waltham, instead of ending in Watertown Square. Route gets shorter and shorter as the night goes on.

Sorry to get off topic.
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They'd probably wait until the Polaroid complex and open and filling up with some tenants before doing that. That's what'll really anchor some extra off-peak demand for the 70...and anchor it all the way to the outer end of the line. The big money going into that Assembly-aspiring development will apply more pressure to make it happen. Almost better to wait until it's live rather than half-ass the service expansion in the interim.


Now...if the Polaroid redev could light a fire under them to finally do that 128/20/117 commuter rail station with a 70 extension to the kiss-and-ride and upped frequencies, then Waltham transit would finally be cooking with a little gas.
 
Downtown Streetscape Project Update: Crews have finished the first section of new sidewalk on Moody Street from the Newton Line to Derby Street. Crews are starting the next section this week from Derby Street to Orange Street.

Barrels Placed near Orange Street https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14958536891/in/photostream/

Sidewalk stripped today from Crescent Street to Chester Avenue. https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14958535811/in/photostream/

New Concrete Sidewalk w/ Brick strip at Newton Line https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14774962810/in/photostream/

New Sidewalk on Moody Street https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14774965129/in/photostream/

New Brick accent strip up close https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14774964219/in/photostream/

New ADA compliant handicap ramp at Adams Avenue https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14775033258/in/photostream/

New raised granite tree pit. The new sidewalk looks nice https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14774962359/in/photostream/

New Sidewalk infront of Burger King https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14958529841/in/photostream/

I gotta say it is looking very nice. Big improvement Don't you think?
 
matredsoxfan said:
Streetscape Project Update: Crews poured new concrete for sidewalks at Chester Avenue today.

New concrete sidewalk poured today https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14806047530/in/photostream/

Closer look at the newly poured concrete sidewalk https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14806095328/in/photostream/
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Thanks for all the updates. Do you know if crews are expected to finish sidewalks before winter? They seem to moving along nicely, just a lot of work ahead given rest of Moody (not to mention brick work) and then all of Main St. Plus new lighting. Tree planting in the spring?
 
HoodRiver said:
Thanks for all the updates. Do you know if crews are expected to finish sidewalks before winter? They seem to moving along nicely, just a lot of work ahead given rest of Moody (not to mention brick work) and then all of Main St. Plus new lighting. Tree planting in the spring?
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2-Year project. They expect to get Moody Street from Maple/High Street to Newton Line done by end of year. They hope to get to the brick portion this fall but that is very extensive work which can only be done between 10PM and 7AM and will probably not happen until next spring along with Main Street.
 
matredsoxfan said:
Some photos from Blue Heron Path Phase 3C construction in Waltham.

The boardwalk will be constructed here https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14806000439/

Overlook from Elm Street bridge of where the boardwalk will be constructed. https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14989596461/in/photostream/

On the other side of the Elm Street bridge. This is where the path will connect to Elm Street.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/25664139@N06/14805998099/in/photostream/
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Thanks, Mat! Your third photo looks like the north side of the river. What work is being done there that will connect to the trail on the south side of the river? Is it just the crosswalk? I regularly bike through this area and a curb cut is desperately needed for cyclists entering and exiting the Blue Heron path on Elm Street.
 
The path will slowly climb and then turn from under the Elm Street bridge to right behind that building on the left. This is where the entrance to the path will be.
 
Downtown Streetscape Project Update: CONTRACT SUSPENDED INDEFINATLEY! The contract with A.R Belli has been suspended after brick are cracking and granite curbing is being damaged.
 
matredsoxfan said:
Downtown Streetscape Project Update: CONTRACT SUSPENDED INDEFINATLEY! The contract with A.R Belli has been suspended after brick are cracking and granite curbing is being damaged.
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City Council spent a few minutes discussing this issue Monday night. Resolution proposed to get stakeholders together during construction off season, including public hearings between City, businesses and residents. Councilor Brasco specifically wants a well-defined plan; including detailed information on lighting and tree planting.
 
According to upcoming Traffic Commission minutes a 264 unit residential condo project is proposed on Cooper Street behind Marcelinos.
 
1265 Main Street Update: Marshalls will open at 8AM on October 9th, Jake & Joes Sports Bar in October as well as Starbucks. Market Basket is currently expecting a early-mid December opening. Construction is now being focused on the 120,000 Square foot office building.
 
More streets getting repaved soon. These include...

Grove Street
River Street (Newton St to Watertown Line)
Lexington Street (Lexington Ter to Bacon St)

Crews have ripped up the corners for new handicap ramps on Grove Street & River Street and have marked out the new handicap ramps on Lexington Street.
 
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