A meeting to discuss potential bus lane improvements to North Washington St. was recently held by Boston Transportation Department (BTD) Transit Team Director Matthew Moran and MBTA Director of Transit Priority Eric Burkman. Known for its significant congestion, North Washington St. has seen several initiatives over the years attempt to solve traffic and safety concerns. Read More…
Tag: Traffic
Traffic Pattern Changes as Shift to N. Washington St. Temporary Bridge Begins
The North Washington Street Bridge will be entering a new stage where traffic will be shifting onto the temporary bridge during the weekend of July 17–19. The replacement project for the North Washington Street Bridge (also known as the Charlestown Bridge) was approved back in March 2018 and is estimated to be completed in 2023 Read More…
Reduced Traffic During Pandemic Prompts Discussion on Creating Safer Streets in Boston
While Boston’s streets have significantly emptied during the current public health crisis, City Councilors Michelle Wu (At-Large) and Liz Breadon (District 9) discussed options for using the reduction in traffic to reallocate street space to create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. Many cities across the country have started expanding crowded sidewalks and increased Read More…
City Council Proposes Pre-Tax Transportation Benefit to Address Rising Traffic
Councilors Lydia Edwards (District 1) and Michelle Wu (At-Large) requested a hearing regarding the adoption of transportation benefit ordinances in an attempt to promote public transportation usage in the City of Boston. “Transportation benefit ordinances are not new,” said Councilor Edwards. “There are many cities that already have them such as Seattle, Los Angeles, San Read More…
Reader Poll: Should the MBTA Buses Be Free?
The concept of a free MBTA bus system has been gaining momentum as traffic and transit problems continue to worsen in the Boston area. At-large City Councilor Michelle Wu has been arguing for free buses since early last year, but now the concept is being discussed in wider circles, as evident by a recent article Read More…
City Council Wants More Regulations for Uber and Lyft
The City Council wants more regulations for ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. The council held a hearing earlier this week and believes these companies are part of the reason Boston’s traffic keeps getting worse. “It’s just getting worse and worse and worse,” said City Councilor Michelle Wu. According to city officials, there were Read More…
Reader Poll: Should Massachusetts Implement Pay-to-Use Lanes to Ease Traffic Congestion?
A recent study by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) declared what many residents already know: traffic is only getting worse in the Commonwealth. The image above shows the estimated commute from the South Shore into Boston on a weekday at 8:30 a.m., with orange and red indicating the severe congestion along I-93. Several suggestions Read More…
Study: Traffic Congestion From Bad to Worse
According to a newly released Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDot) study, traffic is only getting worse in the Commonwealth. Some of the most congested areas in the state are I-93 North from Braintree to Neponset, Route 2 East around Alewife, and I-93 South in Medford. “People in Massachusetts don’t need this study to confirm what Read More…
Reader Poll: Do You Favor the Mayor’s Plan for a Dedicated Bus / Bike Lane on N. Washington Street?
Mayor Walsh has announced new transportation initiatives and investments to make Boston’s streets safer for all users, ease congestion, and provide more viable transportation options. One initiative is to create a dedicated bus / bike lane on North Washington Street, from Cross Street to the Charlestown Bridge. The North Washington Street bus / bike lane Read More…
Traffic Change in Bulfinch Triangle on Friend St. and Valenti Way
The Boston Transportation Department will be implementing traffic circulation modifications to streets in the vicinity of North Station effective Saturday, August 4. In a news release, BTD said the new street patterns are expected to improve safety and access for people using all modes of travel in the Bulfinch Triangle. The following traffic changes are in Read More…
Bracing for Summer Start of Charlestown Bridge Work
Community members packed into the North End’s Nazzaro Center to hear updates from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) on the North Washington Street Bridge (i.e., Charlestown Bridge) replacement project. The $177 million project has been approved to replace the current bridge between the North End and Charlestown. The existing bridge is in a dire state with Read More…
Increased Parking Fines to Fund $5 Million in Transportation; Biking & Bus Improvements Emphasized
Mayor Walsh has proposed a $5 million annual increase in Boston transportation spending, including protected bike lanes and pedestrian paths, intersection redesigns, and traffic signal advancements. This proposal will be largely funded through a set of parking fine increases, with some doubling or more. This includes higher fees charged for a non-resident parking in a Read More…