A new way to tell Natick officials how to make streets safer

January 28, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick is making available an online tool so that those who live, work, and visit the town can suggest ways to make streets safer and more useful for all, whether you’re driving, walking, running, cycling, or getting around in some other manner. The feedback tool was discussed during a Jan. 26 meeting of the Natick Transportation Advisory Committee and we’ve embedded the Natick Pegasus recording below.

I’m looking for an extension of the Cochituate Rail trail that would go between our house and any number of our regular haunts. But if you have more selfless and community-oriented ideas, dive in.

Act soon though, since the online tool is slated to disappear at the end of February.

The tool takes a little getting used to, but you’re basically invited to doodle on a map to point out where you’d like to see improvements, then can check off boxes to help the data crunchers categorize feedback. You can also fill in fields with descriptions of what sort of improvements you’d like to see. In addition, you can pile on prior suggestions left on the map.

A rep from consultant Toole Design says you can leave your name and email within the tool to get updates, but that your information is not associated with comments you leave.

The town will use the community feedback to help it update its Complete Streets prioritization plan, which will help put Natick in position to apply for competitive grants from state’s Department of Transportation that can be used to boost infrastructure. Expect to hear about public meetings once the feedback has been digested and other plans progress.

Natick was an early participant in the Complete Streets program and has garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for planning and construction on municipal infrastructure. Natick has already completed 10 of the 26 projects on its original prioritization plan, which Natick DPW Director Jeremy Marsette says “has been a great tool for us.”

The state doles out grants under Complete Streets in the $5M to $8M range every spring and fall, with awards up to $400K per community.

Download (PDF, 1.83MB)

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Natick’s Neighborhood Wrench closes after 20 years, consolidates with Medway shop

January 21, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Neighborhood Wrench has shuttered its Natick location at the intersection of Rte. 135 and Union Street after 20 years, consolidating the auto repair and maintenance business with its location in Medway.

“After 20 years, we must now announce that our Natick location has closed… Thank you very much to all of our wonderful customers there over the years! Our Medway location (which is only 11 miles from the Natick shop!) is still open and we hope you will continue your patronage with us there,” owner Doug Voss wrote on the company’s Facebook page.

Neighborhood Wrench also rents and sells used cars.

The U-Haul business at the corner is a separate operation from Neighborhood Wrench.

Perhaps this summer’s demise of Coney, the sidewalk catalpa tree, was a sign of change to come on that corner.

The closing of Natick’s Neighborhood Wrench comes on the heels of Boyd’s Auto Service on North Main Street closing after 15 years.

People are certainly putting fewer miles on their vehicles during the pandemic, requiring fewer visits to the shop, says the guy who just paid $700-plus to replace a rusted out exhaust system and muffler…

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Lower neighborhood speed limits in Natick up for discussion

January 13, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The town of Natick says it wants to hear from you if you live or work there at its Safer Streets For All: A Community Forum on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom.

The Transportation Advisory Committee, Natick Department of Public Works, and Natick Department of Community & Economic Development will share information on Complete Streets projects designed to help make the town’s roads safer for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and transit riders.

An online tool will be introduced that will allow input about where street improvements are needed.

In addition, there will be a discussion of a proposal to allow lower neighborhood speed limits, as have been implemented in other communities, including Framingham (25mph, down from 30mph in thickly settled neighborhoods).

How to take part

Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 955 7703 4870

Passcode: 889704

+19292056099,,95577034870#,,,,*889704#

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Natick: Goodbye Exit 13, hello Exit 117

December 11, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation this weekend begins renumbering exits on the Mass Pike.

Natick’s exit—the one that goes to Rte. 30—will be switched from 13 to 117 when MassDOT gets to it.

According to MassDOT: “Exit signage panels will remain the same, just the numbers themselves will change. ‘Old Exit #’ signs, which will have a yellow background with black lettering, will be installed at key locations for a minimum of 2 years.”

The change is mandated by the Federal Highway Administration, and the work to change and add signs will be 90% paid for through federal funding. The Commonwealth is making changes on all freeways it owns, with work beginning in October and slated to finish in mid-2021.

The new numbering system is based on the mile posts along the Pike, and is designed to make it easier for travelers to determine distances between exits. The state is working with mapping applications to stay in synch.

Massachusetts is one of just a few states that doesn’t already use the milepost-based number system.

The sign changes will take some getting used to for travelers, but businesses may also need to update their websites and marketing materials to include the updated exit numbers.

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Natick-Wellesley intersection at Bacon Street bridge to become safer

November 19, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Here’s good news for anyone who has ever driven, walked, run, or biked under the Bacon Street bridge at the Natick-Wellesley line on Rte. 135 (Central Street): The MBTA is working with the towns to make the intersection safer.

Look for work on sidewalk improvements and some sort of signaling light to happen as part of the ongoing bridge replacement project that could be done as soon as a year from now.

More on the effort on The Swellesley Report.

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