Natick Report

More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

A better way to snake through Natick

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snake brook trail natick

The state this past month granted Natick $55,000 through its Shared Streets & Spaces program.

Natick’s grant is to be used for creating a separated bike/shared-use lane by making use of the shoulders on a segment of Route 30 connecting the Snake Brook Trail at Cochituate State Park on the east (in Wayland) with the commercial Speen Street area on the west (in Natick).

The program provides “technical and funding assistance to help Massachusetts cities and towns conceive, design, and implement tactical changes to curbs, streets, on-street parking spaces and off-street parking lots in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce.”

Over the summer, Natick received funds as well through this program to expand outdoor dining.

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No Natick drivers win the state’s low number license plate lottery

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For the first time in at least four years, no Natick drivers have won a low plate vehicle license plate number in the state’s annual lottery. A true low point.

Typically, at least one or two Natick residents secure these random low numbers in the name of prestige, tradition, or something.

About 12,000 applications were received for a chance to win one of 100 plate numbers, such as 6P, 751, V35, K5, 2042 and T31. The lottery was even live streamed for the truly hard up for entertainment.

low plate

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Classic & custom cars to cruise through Natick on July 4

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There’s no official July 4 parade in Natick this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is scheduled to be a less elaborate convoy of classic and custom cars and motorcycles cruising through Natick and neighboring communities on Saturday morning.

The Modifiers Car Club has arranged the activity, which starts at the Cole Center in Natick on 179 Boden Lane at 10:15am. The route will take the vehicles to Sherborn, Holliston, Ashland and Framingham, and will end at C&L Frosty back in Sherborn.

Rough schedule:

*10:15-10:30am: Boden Lane, Hartford Street to Speen Street
*10:20-10:40: Route 27 South into Natick Center, left onto West Central street (Route 135 East) to Union Street to South Natick (Route 16 west) toward Sherborn
*10:40ish: Sherborn center Follow Route 16 into Holliston center
*10:50ish: Holliston center to Highland Street to Prentice Street to Hopkinton (Route 85)
*11:15ish: Hopkinton center Route 135 east
Will remain on Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, back into Natick
*11:30ish: Turning onto Mill Street, to Speen Street, to Coolidge Street to Route 27 in Sherborn
*11:30-11:45ish Ending in Sherborn center

The Modifiers are regulars at the Wheels of Wellesley event held in May during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, but that event was scrapped this year due to the pandemic.

wheels of wellesley

Public Meeting on June 3 for Bacon Street Bridge Replacement Project

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The MBTA will hold a public meeting via Zoom on the Bacon Street Bridge Replacement project on Wed., June 3, 6pm – 7:30p. The meeting will include updates on the bridge project’s design and construction. Interested residents are invited to join the online meeting and give feedback.

Bacon Street Bridge, Wellesley

Details on how to join and participate in the meeting are available on the MBTA events page.

The existing bridge, built in 1911 and located on the Natick/Wellesley line, is being replaced as a part of the MBTA’s reliability and modernization program.

Those who travel Rte. 135 have certainly noticed that state contractors have dramatically changed the visuals in the area by removing dozens of mature trees along with shrubs and other vegetation. In December 2019, pine trees were felled and stacked up along the side of the road like Christmas trees. After they were put through the wood chipper, the scent of pine lingered in the air for a week.

MBTA trees removal, Wellesley tracks

According to the MBTA, the main reason for removing trees and vegetation for this project is safety. Vegetation can hide train defects from inspectors and lead to equipment breakage, fire potential, and a loss of support when vegetation gets up under tracks and pushes it aside. It can also interfere with engineer visibility,

All preparation work for the Bacon Street Bridge Project took place within the railroad right-of-way.

The Bacon Street Bridge carries commuter rail service for the Framingham/Worcester Line over Bacon Street in Wellesley, between Natick Center and Wellesley Square near Morses Pond.

Bacon Street Bridge, Wellesley

The project is expected to be completed in Summer 2022.

For questions or to report concerns, email the MBTA or call the 24-hour hotline at 617-571-7878.

MORE:

Why the MBTA cut down hundreds of trees along the commuter rail

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