Recent Streetsblog MASS posts about Westford

Although the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail bridge over Route 2 is still officially closed for construction, people are making their way around the existing barricades and riding their bikes on it. The left photo shows the paved portion on the south side of Route 2, while the right photo shows the unfinished, gravel portion on the northside just a few feet away. Both photos were taken this past Saturday, June 25th.

From Framingham to Lowell, Progress Continues on a 25-Mile Bike Path Through Boston’s Western Suburbs

By Grecia White | Jun 28, 2022 | No Comments

Several new trail projects are in the works to complete the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, a proposed 25-mile multi-use pathway that will, when complete, connect Boston’s western suburbs from Lowell to Framingham along the abandoned New Haven Railroad line. There are currently two completed segments of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT): a 12-mile segment […]

Locator map of the Peabody Independence Greenway, illustrating its proximity to downtown Salem and connections to the existing Danvers Rail Trail.

New Paths in Peabody Will Fill Missing Links on Border-to-Boston Trail

By Grecia White | Jun 27, 2022 | No Comments

A project to extend the Independence Greenway eastward towards downtown Peabody could go under construction in 2024; a second project to connect the Greenway's two segments and also connect the Greenway to the Danvers Rail Trail is also being designed.

STREETSBLOG USA

Analysis: There Are No 15-Minute Cities in a Post-Roe America

By Kea Wilson | Jun 27, 2022 | No Comments

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will increase the average round-trip travel distance required to reach the closest legal abortion care provider from 50 miles to a staggering 250.

People boarding the shuttle bus outside North Station headed to Government Center.

Slower Than Walking: Downtown Gridlock Bogs Down the T’s Subway Replacement Shuttles

By Grecia White | Jun 24, 2022 | No Comments

On the first full day of an emergency shutdown of the central portions of the Orange and Green lines, thousands of subway passengers endured long lines for shuttle buses and excruciatingly slow trips between North Station and Government Center.

A large crane sits next to the Government Center parking garage in downtown Boston during its demolition. The left part of the garage is in the process of being taken apart, while the center portion that spans Merrimac Street (pictured in the foreground) is still intact

MBTA Closes Downtown Segments of Orange, Green Lines

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 23, 2022 | No Comments

UPDATE: The MBTA announced on Sunday evening that the Haymarket subway tunnels have reopened and Orange and Green line service has resumed.

A new Orange Line train at Assembly Station in summer 2019. Courtesy of the MBTA.

T Sidelines New Orange Line Trains As Service Cuts Take Effect

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 21, 2022 | No Comments

Since the T's subway service cuts took effect on Monday, there have been zero new trains running on the Orange or Red Lines.

An Orange Line train arrives at the North Station stop. Courtesy of the MBTA.

La MBTA Anuncia Recortes Significativos al Servicio del Metro Para Rectificar Peligros de Seguridad

By Grecia White | Jun 21, 2022 | No Comments

Días después de que inspectores federales dieran una serie de directivos a plazo corto para que la agencia corrigiera serios problemas de seguridad en el sistema de transporte rápido, la MBTA anunció el Viernes, Junio 17 que iba a reducir el servicio del metro bastantemente para así poder cumplir con los requisitos del gobierno federal.

A rendering of two new roundabouts overlaid on an aerial image of the intersections of Chandler Street and May Street in Worcester. Two "Y"-shaped intersections where the two streets converge would be converted into a pair of roundabouts, with two wide shared-use pathways around the edges of and between the new roundabouts.

MassDOT Plans Two New Roundabouts for Dangerous Worcester Intersection

By Grecia White | Jun 21, 2022 | No Comments

Last week, MassDOT shared their plans to convert a dangerous pair of intersections on Worcester’s west side to two roundabouts in an effort to improve safety and provide better pedestrian and bicycle accommodations next to the Worcester State University campus. May Street and Chandler Street are both east-west streets that cross Worcester’s west side and […]

MBTA Announces Significant Subway Service Cuts to Address Safety Hazards

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 17, 2022 | No Comments

The cuts are a response to a safety audit from the Federal Transit Administration, which raised alarms about safety hazards from staffing shortages at the subway system's Operations Control Center.

Two women walking their dog near Wards Pond on the Emerald Necklace.

New Walking City Trail Links Together Boston’s Best Walks In A 25-Mile Urban Hike

By Grecia White | Jun 16, 2022 | No Comments

“The Walking City Trail is basically a 25 mile showcase of Boston's most immersive parks, urban wilds and other green spaces."