Transportation Archives - Page 7 of 9

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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Natick has a new bridge across Rte. 30

November 17, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Hey, it only took 12 seconds to put the new Cochituate Rail Trail bridge across Rte. 30 in Natick into place!

Not really, but Natick GIS’s Rich Ames posted a fun time-lapse video of the work that took place last night to connect the Natick and Framingham sections of the new rail trail.

The Framingham end of the 4-mile Cochituate Rail Trail is open, but the Natick section won’t be open until 2021.

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Cochituate Rail Trail bridge going over Rte. 30 Monday night

November 13, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Update (11/16/20):

Because of bad weather conditions, the Route 30 CRT bridge installation has been rescheduled until Monday night into Tuesday morning from 10PM-5AM, with the same roadway closure and traffic detours of Route 30 between Speen Street and Route 27.

The Natick and Framingham sections of the Cochituate Rail Trail will take a huge step toward uniting this weekend when the bridge over Rte. 30 is put in place between Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10pm and Monday, Nov. 16 at 5am.

Rte. 30 will be reduced to one lane beginning at 8pm on Sunday so that the crane can be put in place and assembled. Then the road will be closed off at 10pm while the bridge is put in place. Traffic will be routed to/from Route 30 by way of Route 27 to Route 9 to Speen Street.

The Rte. 9 bridge section of the trail was put into place in October.

The Framingham end of the 4-mile Cochituate Rail Trail is open, but the Natick section won’t be open until 2021.