News briefs:
Concord and Lexington Declare Freedom From Cars For 250th Patriots’ Day Weekend
Numerous streets will be opened up for bikes and pedestrians for the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Concord and Lexington.
MassDOT Road Project Will Shut Down Half of the Orange Line for 9 Days, Starting Friday
The silver lining: the new bridges that MassDOT is building will create wider sidewalks, protected bike paths, and more dedicated bus lanes to improve connections between East Somerville and Sullivan Square.
Be a Local: A Guide to Getting Involved
Local government and community organizing offer plenty of opportunities for ordinary people to make a big difference.
Chamber of Commerce Lobbies Mass. Senate to Fund the MBTA
"Even the significant resources proposed by the Governor are below the MBTA’s actual need," says Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce president James Rooney.
Western Mass. Amtrak Expansions Are Flush With Funding, But New Routes Won’t Debut ‘Til 2030s
Years of work remain before new Amtrak routes start rolling through Springfield to connect Boston, Albany, and New Haven.
SUV Driver Kills Priest on Route 138 in Milton
A 2018 study warned of "poor safety conditions" on the state roadway where a driver killed Father James B. Doran last week.
MassDOT Makes More Space for Bikes and Pedestrians In Revised Designs for Medford Main Street
"It really did feel like they really did listen and change a lot of stuff,” says Ellery Klein, a Medford road safety advocate.
Editor's picks
Massachusetts Gasoline Consumption Continued to Increase in 2024
Gasoline consumption and air travel in Massachusetts produced about 27 million metric tons of greenhouse pollutants in 2024, making it unlikely that the Healey administration will meet targets that Governor Baker set in the state's official climate plan.
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Mass. Senate Budget Revives Threat of MBTA Layoffs and Service Cuts
If it were enacted as the state's new budget law, the Senate proposal would force the T's budget writers to fill a budget shortfall of roughly $200 million this year, with virtually no reserve funding available to cushion the blow.
Region Seeks New Operating Contract for Expanding Bluebikes System
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council, on behalf of the municipal owners of the Bluebikes system, has issued a 'request for proposals' for private-sector operators who can manage the system for the next five years.
U.S. House Moves to Rescind $3.1B for Reconnecting Communities Divided by Highways
The legislation could cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding for Massachusetts projects, including a $335 million pledge for the reconstruction of I-90 in Boston's Allston neighborhood.
MassDOT Is Filling Gaps In the Border to Boston Trail
Updates on the Mystic River bike and pedestrian bridge, new trail connections in Peabody, and rail trail upgrades for rural Essex County.
DCR Proposes A Six-Lane Riverfront Highway For Its Brighton ‘Park’
The state's parks agency maintains numerous riverfront highways in the Boston region that contribute to the region's air pollution and congestion by subsidizing suburban car commuters to drive into downtown Boston.
