MassDOT Hearing To Focus on Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth

Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Memorial Building at 6 p.m.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will hold a hearing in Framingham tomorrow, Nov. 14 to engage with residents, community leaders and business owners to discuss the future of transportation in the Commonwealth. The hearing is schedule for Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Nevins Hall in the Memorial Building from 6 to 8 p.m. MassDOT is continuing its series of hearings across the state titled  “Your Vision Our Future." Representatives from each division of MassDOT – RMV, Highway, Aeronautics and MBTA/Rail and Transit – will be available to answer questions and provide information. Those who are unable to attend the meetings but wish to submit comments can do so at yourvisionourfuture@dot.state.ma.us Legislation passed in August, required …

• Photos (1)

Lt. Governor Announces $8 Million to Fix Downtown Traffic [VIDEO]

Funding will alleviate chronic traffic at the intersection of Routes 126 and 135.

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray Friday afternoon joined federal, state, and local officials to announce $8 million in funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to mitigate chronic traffic congestion at the intersections of Route 126 and Route 135 in downtown Framingham. “The intersection of the Railroad, Route 126 and Route 135 in the heart of downtown Framingham has been a bottleneck since the advent of the automobile,” said Framingham State Rep. Chris Walsh. Murray also announced an additional $350,000 in funding awarded by MassDOT to support a study that will evaluate four potential solutions identified by previous studies and help the state and Town of Framingham move towards a long-term solution for …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (42)
• Videos (1)

Dave Lenane

11:27 am on Sunday, October 7, 2012

Woohoo drawings! Herb, every resident of Framingham knows that until the issue with the tracks is taken care of, downtown will always be a pain to get through. Drawings, studies and proposals have been done for years! Part of this 8 million is going to evaluate previous drawings, studies and proposals! You just gotta love it.   more ›

Rotary Woes Plague Downtown Redesign

Construction on a new downtown traffic and improvement plan could begin summer of 2014.

Downtown Framingham could have a completely new look within two years, if everything goes according to the plans presented at a public hearing Thursday night. The plan, presented by engineering firm BETA, calls for widened sidewalks, synchronized lights, more crosswalks and changes to the heavily-discussed rotary in front of the Memorial Building. Reactions to the change at the rotary at Union Avenue and Concord Street ranged from applause to outrage. More than two dozens residents attended the hearing. Planning Board Chair Tom Mahoney said the current traffic circle design of the intersection functions at a D level. Mahoney continued to say changing the intersection to a traditional light wouldn’t improve the functionality beyond that …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (5)

Registry of Motor Vehicle To Hold Plate Lottery Monday Night

More than 7,500 applicants entered this year's drawing for a chance to win one of 124 of the most sought after Massachusetts license plates.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Division will draw the winners of its annual Low Number License Plate Lottery Monday night.   More than 7,500 applicants entered this year's drawing for a chance to win one of 124 of the most sought after Massachusetts license plates, including plate numbers 73, 295, 449, 493, 7755, and 1Z.   The drawing for the annual Registry of Motor Vehicles Low Number License Plate Lottery will be held live on Nightside with Dan Rea on WBZ 1030 AM on Monday, Sept. 10 from 8-10 p.m. A list of lottery winners will be available on the Registry’s website: www.mass.gov/rmv on Tuesday afternoon and winners will receive official notification by mail.

• Photos (1)

MWRA to Lower Reservoir Levels

This procedure has been done before and will not harm the reservoir’s plants or wildlife.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) plans to temporarily lower levels of the Framingham Reservoir #1, located along Route 9, to allow a contractor working for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) to safely obtain concrete core samples from an existing bridge over the Foss Reservoir outlet.  This work is required as part of the final design plans for a future MassDOT bridge rehabilitation project. MWRA operations staff will work over the next week to slowly reduce the level in the reservoir by 5 feet.  This procedure has been done before and will not harm the reservoir’s plants or wildlife. Neighbors should be advised that reduced water levels will reveal some mud flats.   Once the MassDOT corings are …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Jim Rizoli

11:47 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012

How about taking the fluoride out of the water?It serves no useful purpose and has many deadly side effects. Jim@ccfiile.com   more ›

News From Your State Representative

Downtown Trains, Traffic Reason For Lt. Governor's Visit to Framingham

Sen. Karen Spilka: "The at-grade train crossing in Framingham is the single greatest barrier to the revitalization of downtown."

The MetroWest legislative delegation met with Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and Transportation Secretary Richard Davey yesterday (Aug. 20) regarding efforts to mitigate congestion caused by the rail crossing in downtown Framingham. Murray and Davey rode the 7:45 a.m. train from Worcester into Framingham to meet with Reps. Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland) and Chris Walsh (D-Framingham) and Sen. Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). Within minutes, the group walked to the intersection at 126 and 135, and a train came by that stopped traffic to demonstrate the effect it has. “The at-grade train crossing in Framingham is the single greatest barrier to the revitalization of downtown. It was encouraging to hear the administration’s commitment to acting …

•  9 Comments
• Photos (2)

New RMV #, 857-DOT-8000, is Part of Move to Save $422,000

The Department of Transportation claims it will save $422,000 by transitioning the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Turnpike, MassHighway and other agencies to 857-DOT numbers.

Framingham families shop around for cheaper deals on telephone service — why shouldn't the Massachusetts Department of Transportation? Streamlining several "antiquated and redundant" telephone systems under one area code and exchange will save taxpayers about $422,000, according to Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey. The new series of numbers, which all begin with 857-DOT, is under way at several transportation sub-agencies. A major change took effect Wednesday, Aug. 1, when the main customer service line at the Registry of Motor Vehicles became 857-DOT-8000. Drivers can use that number to get information on licenses, citations and road tests. It will even tell you the wait times at the nearest RMV. State officials say they're …

• Photos (1)

CONSTRUCTION & ROAD WARRIOR

Winter Street Bridge Construction To Start in 2013, End Fall of 2016

Massachusetts Department of Transportation said the bridge would be under construction from Sept. 2013 to Aug. 2016, and closed between June 2015 and Aug. 2016.

The proposed replacement of the Winter Street Bridge that spans the CSX and MBTA railroad tracks has been assigned a four-year construction window and may not be completed until late summer of 2016. In the final phase of the project, the bridge will be closed to vehicles for an estimated 14 months. Under the proposed timetable that would be from June 2015 to Aug. 2016. Those were the estimated time frames brought forth by representatives of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division at a design public hearing Thursday evening at the Memorial Building. While the MassDOT officials offered the four-year construction scenario they were quick to state that their goal is to get the job done quicker and they assured town …

• Photos (6)

CONSTRUCTION & ROAD WARRIOR

State Holding Design Hearing Tonight on $4.9M Route 9 Bridge Project

The hearing's purpose is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Route 9 over Reservoir outlet bridge project in Framingham.

MASS DOT will hold a design public hearing at the Memorial Building in the Ablondi Room at 7 tonight (July 19) to discuss the proposed Route 9 over Reservoir outlet bridge project in Framingham.  The purpose of the hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed accelerated bridge project.  The project is scheduled to start in 2013. The estimated construction cost is $4.9 million. The proposed project consists of replacing the superstructure, abutment rehabilitation and utility relocation for the Route 9 Worcester Road Bridge over the Reservoir outlet connecting the Foss Reservoir No. 3 to the Stearnes Reservoir No. 1. The construction duration will be accelerated and the bridge …

• Photos (2)

MassDOT Wants To Close Both Winter Street Bridges in Fall, at the Same Time

State is looking to close both the Fountain/Winter Street bridge and the Winter Street Bridge near the dam beginning this fall for 6-8 months; Framingham Selectmen told the state to slow down and delayed a vote to approve.

Framingham Selectmen unanimously voted to table approval of a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) plan to close both the Winter/Fountain street bridge and the Winter Street bridge near the dam at the same time this fall. The bridges would be closed for 6-8 months, minimum, creating a nightmare for motorists. Selectmen said they want to meet with MassDOT representatives to explain their bridge program in detail, before voting to approve the projects. As of yesterday, June 19 the MassDOT has no plans to conduct a meeting about the bridge over the dam but has a public hearing is scheduled for July 26 to talk about the railroad bridge at Winter and Fountain streets. Selectmen were surprised to hear Winter Street might be …

•  7 Comments
• Photos (5)

Jim Rizoli

5:15 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Car count....12-14,000 per day. No big deal! When it gets to 50k per day then you can walk on top of the cars to get to where your going. Jim@ccfiile.com   more ›