Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

Bruins Defenseman Ference Helps Celebrate Bike Week

MassDOT will welcome Boston Bruins Defenseman Andrew Ference at Boston's Bike Week Festival on Friday, May 18.  Ference is an avid supporter of bicycling and will join the ceremonies scheduled for 7 a.m.-9 a.m. Friday morning at City Hall Plaza.

“Bicycling and walking transportation enable people to diversify travel choice to healthy transportation options which can reduce traffic congestion, improve Massachusetts air quality, and promote healthy lifestyles,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO, Richard A. Davey.  “We are honored to celebrate Bay State Bike Week with Andrew Ference. His dedication to bicycling as a means of transportation, is exactly the type of dedication we would like to share with other Massachusetts residents.”

A strong commitment to bicycle and pedestrian travel is a key part of MassDOT’s transportation vision. Two years ago, MassDOT became the first DOT in the nation to organize and lead a statewide Bike Week celebration, partnering with MassBike, the statewide bicycle education and advocacy group, as well as MassRIDES, the Commonwealth’s statewide travel options program.

This year, more than 100 events have been planned across the Commonwealth as part of Bay State Bike Week, May 14-20, to celebrate bicycling as a healthy and sustainable transportation choice. 

To learn more about Bay State Bike Week, visit www.baystatebikeweek.org. For information about current bicycling projects in your area visit www.mass.gov/massdot/bike.

Chelsea Street Bridge Opens

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today joined Congressman Mike Capuano along with state and local officials to celebrate the opening of the new Chelsea Street Bridge carrying Chelsea Street over the Chelsea Creek at the Boston/Chelsea line.  The bridge reopened to traffic on Saturday, May 12.

The signature $125.3 million project replaced a structurally-deficient drawbridge with a new bridge that is the largest permanent lift bridge built in Massachusetts to date.  The new structure will improve the efficiency and operation of the bridge for vehicle traffic and for critical maritime vessels to safely navigate the channel.

“We made a long-term commitment to address our neglected roads and bridges and make strategic investments across the Commonwealth using federal and state resources and innovative funding mechanisms,” said Governor Deval Patrick.  “The new Chelsea Street Bridge is just the latest example of this commitment, a project creating and sustaining jobs while building a bridge that will serve this area for decades to come.”

The project includes a truss-type structure that spans 450 feet and provides 175 feet of vertical clearance when raised. The new bridge and approach roadway provides two lanes of traffic in each direction and two pedestrian sidewalks.

To accommodate the massive size and tight space constraints in the bridge area, MassDOT contractors J. F. White Contracting Co. of Framingham 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.

The project also addresses safety and the environment, improving longstanding issues caused by the narrow passageway used by oil tankers that resulted in accidents and the potential for oil spills.

Final work continues during May and early June, requiring overnight closures that will not affect weekday commuter traffic.  Additional work will be completed during the day after the morning commute with at least one lane of traffic open in each direction.

Young Aviation Artist Wins International Award

A talented young Lexington artist has won 1st Place Internationally in the Federation Aeronautique Internationale 2012 International Aviation Art Contest.
 
Lewis Hwang of Lexington's work, left, took the top prize internationally in the 6-9 age group.  The art theme for the contest:  "Silent Flight."
 
Lewis along with his fellow classmates at the Fiske Elementary School, led by art teacher Tami O'Leary, submitted their art to the MassDOT Aeronautics Division in January 2012.

MassDOT Aeronautics sponsors the Massachusetts portion of the National Association of State Aviation Officials Aviation Art Contest each year. The contest is open to all schools, and state winners are forwarded for national and international award consideration.
 
Lewis was honored in March by MassDOT Aeronautics Division Administrator Christopher Willenborg, left, after the submitted art received 1st Place State winner in the Junior Category - ages 6-9. 

Lewis' art was then judged nationally, receiving 1st Place, prior to being submitted for the International award.
 
Lewis will receive a Certificate and gold medal from the Federation at ceremonies later this year.  Congratulations to student and teacher!

"Bicycle Friendly": Arlington, Salem, Newton

MassDOT today honors Arlington, Salem, and Newton, three new communities recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as “Bicycle Friendly Communities.” Arlington attained a Bronze-level award, while Newton and Salem each received an Honorable Mention. They join Boston, Northampton and Somerville, the first Massachusetts communities recognized by the League in 2011.

“We are very pleased to see more Massachusetts communities honored for their bicycle friendliness,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey. “Our mission is to provide safe, healthy and efficient transportation, and bicycle friendly communities are help support our GreenDOT policy objectives.”

Arlington, Newton and Salem were rated on a number of factors, such as bicycling infrastructure improvements, education and public outreach, and staff involvement - including police participation. Their ability to make improvements on a number of different fronts contributed to boosting local bicycling.

MassDOT looks forward to continuing to collaborate with these and other municipalities to realize our GreenDOT policy goal of promoting the healthy transportation modes of walking, bicycling and public transit.

Taunton Bridge Reconstruction Moves Forward

MassDOT contractors are making major progress this week in the reconstruction of the Holloway Street Bridge over Route 140 in Taunton.

Workers are seen installing precast center deck sections of the bridge on Thursday, May 10, left. 

Other northbound deck sections were installed earlier this week, and work is now completed on northbound bridge piers, caps, and backwall.  Next steps include installation work southbound.

The $2.3 million project includes a new bridge superstructure constructed on the existing piers. The project is expected to be completed in fall 2012.

Visit MassDOT's Project Info on the web to search for state road and bridge projects statewide.

Green Line Extension Public Meeting Set

The Green Line Extension Project Team will hold a public meeting to review the latest design plans for retaining walls and noise walls along the corridor.

The construction of the Green Line will require the widening of the existing rail corridor which will include the construction of more than 25,000 linear feet of retaining walls and noise walls. This meeting will be the first in a series of meetings to provide general information on wall types, heights and where these wall types may be proposed along the corridor.

The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 22, 6:00-8:00pm, at the Holiday Inn Hotel Somerville, 30 Washington Street.

If you need access or language accommodations to fully participate in this public meeting, please contact Karen Arpino-Shaffer at 617-426-9570 or kshaffer@gilbaneco.com at least one week before the event.

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

As always, if you have any questions on the Green Line Extension Project, you can email us at info@glxinfo.com.

Google, MBTA Debut Innovative Station Indoor Maps

Beginning today, MBTA riders will have a new and innovative way to get around the system. The MBTA is excited to announce that the T is the first U.S transit agency to have indoor maps of its stations in Google Maps for Android. 
 
Google Maps for Android users will now see indoor maps when they zoom into select MBTA stations. With indoor maps, users will be able to see station features such as stairs, escalators, elevators, entrances and exits to help guide them through the system. The “blue dot,” familiar to Google Maps users can now help riders find their own location in many indoor stations. 
 
Indoor maps and walking directions are available in Google Maps for Android in two dozen key stations including Park Street, South Station, and Downtown Crossing. 
 
This new feature is the latest way that the MBTA is collaborating with Google to help riders get around the system. Last year, the MBTA was one of the first U.S. transit agencies to bring real-time transit data to Google Maps. In 2009, Google and the MBTA launched our collaboration to provide digital transit maps and schedule information.
 
This initiative is just one of many ways that the MBTA is working to give customers improved information. More than 50 apps answering the question, “Where’s the T?” are available at MBTA.com/apps. 

Bay State Bike Week Begins May 14

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey is encouraging residents to bicycle during Bay State Bike Week, May 14-20. Hundreds of events across the Commonwealth have been planned and groups and individuals can participate by signing up at www.baystatebikeweek.org.

“I value the work each community is putting forth to make this year a success and to encourage bicycling as an enjoyable way to stay active,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey.

Two years ago, MassDOT became the first state DOT in the nation to organize and lead a statewide Bike Week celebration, working in partnership with MassBike, the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition statewide bicycle education and advocacy group, and MassRIDES, MassDOT's travel options program.

Bay State Bike Week supports GreenDOT, a comprehensive environmental responsibility and sustainability initiative of MassDOT.  

The 11 Massachusetts  Transportation Management Associations are presenting the 18th annual MassCommute Bicycle Challenge, a friendly competition among employers, schools and communities to encourage Massachusetts residents to take some of their regular short trips by bicycle during Bay State Bike Week. For more information, visit www.masscommutebicyclechallenge.org

Participants are also encouraged to track their trips through NuRide, the nation’s largest rewards program for taking green trips – walking, biking, carpooling, vanpooling, public transportation, and even telecommuting.

Learn more about Bay State Bike Week and current bicycling projects in your area by visiting www.mass.gov/massdot/bike.

MassDOT, MassWildlife Partner on Ravens, Peregrine Falcons

MassDOT crews and MassWildlife officials in late April converged on the I-190 bridge over the Quinapoxet River in Holden where ravens were nesting- and peregrine falcons were soon to join them.

The story begins in fall 2011 when a MassDOT District 3 bridge team spotted the raven nest in an area underneath the bridge deck.   They contacted the district Division of Fisheries and Wildlife office, and it turns out MassWildlife had been watching the nest from a trail that passes under the bridge. 

When spring weather arrived, MassDOT sent photos of the nest to MassWildlife, and officials expressed interest in getting direct access to the nest to place tracking bands on the ravens and also place a separate peregrine falcon nesting box in the same bridge area.

MassDOT District 3 and District 2 bridge inspection crews provided the bucket truck needed to do the job, and on April 26, MassWildlife was able to band four raven chicks and install the peregrine falcon nesting tray beneath the I-190 bridge. 

MassWildlife says banding the ravens assists in research and understanding of the bird and its recent appearance as a nesting species in the Commonwealth.  The placement of the peregrine falcon nesting tray under the bridge may help establish a new nesting territory at the I-190 bridge, the tallest highway bridge in Worcester County and attractive to peregrines.

MassWildlife sent a letter thanking MassDOT employees Mickey Splaine, Jim Nicholson, Bill Drosehn, John Bieg, Don Pride, Mike Dygon and Thaddeus Gumala for working to place MassWildlife experts safely under the bridge to get the job done.

Greenfield John W. Olver Transit Center Dedicated

Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today joined Congressman John Olver in Greenfield for the dedication and official opening of the John W. Olver Transit Center. The innovative $12.8 million regional transit center funded by the federal stimulus American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is the transportation hub for Franklin County supporting public and private transit services, including future passenger rail service along the “Knowledge Corridor” Connecticut River Line.

The transit center will house the offices of the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) and Franklin Regional Council of Governments and is expected to be a catalyst for additional investment and redevelopment in downtown Greenfield.

The 24,000-square-foot “net zero” building is designed to drastically minimize energy use through energy efficiency measures and other design features, including the potential for on-site renewable energy generation.