MassDOT Dedicates Framingham Bridge to Greg Vilidnitsky

The MassDOT engineer was struck and killed in 2010, while working on Route 9 in Framingham.

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey, Highway Administrator Frank DePaola, State Rep. Chris Walsh, and other elected officials attended a bridge dedication ceremony Wednesday for Greg Vilidnitsky, a MassDOT Engineer, who was struck and killed on Sept. 14, 2010, while working on Route 9 in Framingham.   Vilidnitsky started working with MassDOT in 2008 and was immediately noticed by his colleagues and supervisors for his superior work ethic and talent.  Almost immediately, his supervisors began grooming him to become a Resident Engineer for MassDOT's Highway Division.   “By all accounts, Greg Vilidnitsky was a true leader and an outstanding example of the kind of qualities we, at MassDOT, strive toward each day,” said Secretary Davey …

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Smart Growth Plan May Change Route 9

Ideas built around smart growth concepts could change the long-term future of Route 9 if they're ultimately approved.

Planners have lofty goals of replacing many of the street-front parking lots and small buildings along Rt. 9 with buildings, housing, public squares and walkways, according to the Boston Globe. This idea stretches across several towns between Southborough and Wellesley and would need to be approved by planning boards and taxpayers. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council has been leading the discussions with an eye on 5-20 years down the road. According to the collaborative that put together statistics for the council, making these changes would ultimately cut down on the increased traffic over time dramatically. In Natick, one of the ideas includes building a road between Mill St. and the West Natick train station to the south of Rt. 9, …

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You Ask, Patch Answers

Why Do Sidewalks End at Route 9?

The latest 'You Ask, Patch Answers' addresses that question.

Why are there no sidewalks on much of Route 9 asked a MetroWest Patch reader. Patch asked Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokesman Michael Verseckes. "Sidewalks along state highways are typically provided as a result of a request from the municipality during project design or are constructed by a private developer as a form of impact mitigation.  "Right now, on Route 9, there are sidewalks through sections of Shrewsbury, a small piece of Southborough, and some through Framingham and Natick.   "Sidewalks are typically located in area where pedestrian traffic exists or is expected, such as residential areas and central business districts.  Sidewalks are often added sporadically over the years, which leads to disconnected sections…

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MassDOT To Review Pedestrian Safety on Route 9

Massachusetts Department of Transportation will review pedestrian safety, along Route 9, between Temple and Prospect streets, after the death of a University student in December.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) informed Framingham State University President Timothy Flanagan it will review pedestrian safety, along Route 9, between Temple and Prospect streets, said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin. MassDOT has pledged "to work with University, the Town and others to develop a plan for safer pedestrian crossings over Route 9," Halpin told Framingham Selectmen Tuesday night. MassDOT's decision was in reaction to a letter sent to the Commonwealth by University President Flanagan following the death of a 21-year old student from Melrose, who was struck and killed trying to cross the busy highway at night near Maynard Road. Despite warnings from campus police and university officials, students …

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Charlie Denison

12:49 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013

When you design a street like a highway, that's what it ends up being. The recent project to reconstruct Route 9 had a lot of potential to convert it into an actual city street that people could feel safe walking or bicycling along. As it is now, if you're not in a car, the street basically says "you are not welcome here". MassDOT added a few crosswalks and pedestrian signals and wide shoulders …   more ›

UPDATED: Framingham Woman Struck Trying to Cross Route 9

A woman, in her 40s, was struck when she tried to cross Route 9 from California Avenue, says Framingham Police.

UPDATED 8:55 p.m.: A Framingham woman was struck by a vehicle Tuesday afternoon when she ran in front of a vehicle travelling on Route 9 eastbound, said Framingham Police Lt. Ron Brandolini. The woman was trying to cross (both lanes of) Route 9 from California Avenue, said police. She "ran in front of the vehicle" driven by a Watertown driver, said Brandolini. The pedestrian was airlifted to Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston by a medical helicopter. She was conscious at the scene, added Brandolini. The crash is under investigation. There is no crosswalk at this location. *** There is a report of a pedestrian struck on Route 9 near Motel 6 after 4 p.m. A Meflight helicopter was requested for "head trauma." Police and Fire are on the …

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Susan Petroni

3:49 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

@JAdams -- Framingham Patch tweeted this yesterday afternoon and posted it on our Facebook page as traffic alerts. We also issued a news alert e-mail to subscribers. Feel free to follow us at www.twitter.com/FraminghamPatch or like us at www.facebook.com/FraminghamPatch or sign up for news alert emails at www.Framingham.Patch.com/newsletters. Thanks for posting!   more ›

UPDATED: Pedestrian Struck Trying to Cross Route 9

State Police are investigating a report of a pedestrian struck on Route 9 east between Shoppers World and Ken's Steak House.

UPDATED AT 9:55 p.m. Report of a pedestrian, partially dressed in black, struck on Route 9 east between Shoppers World and Ken's Steak House just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Massachusetts State Police, Framingham Police and Framingham Fire are on the scene. The man, in his 20s, was complaining of shoulder injury. Scanner report has a request for an ambulance to transport victim to a Boston hospital. This is the second pedestrian struck this week. On Sunday, a Framingham man was hit by a car while in a crosswalk.

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NSTAR, Route 9, Pedestrian Safety and Taxation on Legislative Priority List

Framingham Selectmen met with three of the four members of its local state legislative delegation Tuesday night.

Framingham Selectmen met with three of the four members of its local state legislative delegation Tuesday night. State Sen. Karen Spilka was not in attendance, but representatives Chris Walsh, Tom Sannicandro and Tom Conroy were. Selectmen laid out a number of concerns they wanted lawmakers to take back to Beacon Hill, including:  * Tools to address blighted properties. A bill, filed during the last session  to enable Framingham to use municipal liens to help reclaim and restore properties being ignored by owners, and a proposal to establish a Housing Court in Framingham, will be pursued again in the upcoming session. "We need a housing court, we need a place to hear those issues that has that knowledge and can give us some enforcement …

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Can Route 9 Be Made Safer at Railroad Crossing/Fire Station?

Framingham State Rep. Chris Walsh had a conversation with MassDOT Monday following the death of a Framingham State University senior Friday night. The students was struck by two vehicles as she tried to cross Route 9.

If you have ever driven Route 9, you've likely witnessed a pedestrian trying to dodge car and trucks to get to the other side. It happens even more frequently at the intersection of Route 9 and Maynard Road where there are no guardrails and jersey barriers, as there is an opening for the railroad crossing and also an opening for the Framingham Fire Station. Friday, Framingham State University senior Colleen Kelly, 21, was struck by not one but two vehicles trying to cross Route 9 after 10 p.m. She made it halfway across Route 9 when she was struck in the westbound lane, thrown into the eastbound lane, where she was hit again. Both Framingham drivers stopped.  Framingham Police are investigating. Repeatedly, throughout the semester, …

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Pedestrian Killed on Route 9 was FSU Senior

The woman who was struck and killed on Route 9 Friday night attended Framingham State.

A 21-year-old woman is dead after being struck by two cars on Route 9 Friday night. Colleen Kelly, 21, was a senior and English major at Framingham State University, and lived in Pierce Hall on campus. Kelly, who is from Melrose, died while trying to cross from Maynard Road to College Street, and made it halfway when she was struck in the eastbound lane, thrown into the westbound lane, where she was hit again “Our thoughts and prayers are with Colleen’s family, friends and fellow students,” President Timothy J. Flanagan said in a press release. “This tragic loss is felt by the entire Framingham State community. I know we will all be relying on each other for support during this difficult time.” The University has arranged the necessary …

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Pam O'Callaghan

6:59 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012

The PATCH editor was off at the time of the accident and another writer was filling in. Perhaps that is why coverage was not as thorough as you expected. Nevertheless, this is a very sad situation.   more ›

Report of Flipped Auto on Route 9 Ramp to Mass Pike

Emergency crews responding to the vehicle overturned.

Report of a flipped auto on Route 9 ramp to Mass Pike westbound, just after 4 p.m. Scanner report has a vehicle off roadway into woods and overturned. Injuries are unknown at the moment. Emergency crews are on the scene.

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