by Irina Costache, Campaign Organizer | Subscribe by Email
This week, Bill continued his fourth pass knocking doors around Ward 5, reaching over 360 doors again!
Last Friday, Waban resident Pia Bertelli hosted Bill and other Ward 5 residents in her home for a successful campaign meet and greet and volunteer organizing event!
On Saturday, Bill attended the 10th anniversary celebration of the Waban Library Center.
New Endorsement: Sheila Decter
This week, we are happy to announce a new campaign endorsement from civil rights leader, Newton resident, and esteemed founder of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, Sheila Decter! Sheila has been very supportive of recent efforts in Newton to address housing equity issues, among other things.
You can see our full list of endorsements on our website and email Bill to add your name.
MBTA Meeting Recap
On Monday night, Bill attended the public meeting at the Library with the MBTA about improving service on the D Line. Their Green Line Transformation program includes 90 projects intended to increase capacity, enhance accessibility, modernize the fleet, and upgrade infrastructure & facilities on the 4 Green Line branches. The Green Line has the highest per mile ridership of any of the US light rail systems, according to the MBTA, and it is the T’s longest transit network.
For the night’s meeting, the directors of the Green Line Transformation program went over the plans to upgrade the track, power, signals, stations, rolling stock, and more. Here are some of the most notable points:
It was announced that the D Line track and signal project will be finished 5 months ahead of schedule.
Currently, the D Line track and signal project is projected to speed up most service. However, some spot restrictions for safety will continue. They don’t yet have a number for the general expected speed.
One of the station upgrades under the GLT is the Newton Highlands station accessibility project.
A resident asked that all the station upgrades include more handicapped parking spots.
Some of the quality of service upgrades include:
GPS tracking improvements and live map services on the platform to help people know where the trains are
More specific electronic signage at stations to keep riders better informed
New Type 9 trains are coming into service shortly, but all line and station upgrades are being overhauled for a future Type 10 “Supercar”, projected to double rider capacity on the Green Line as a whole over time.
Each supercar would theoretically have 360 rider capacity and be substantially longer than current trains – hence the need to upgrade stations, repair shops, and car storage spaces.
The presenters stressed, however, that this Type 10 Supercar project is still purely in the concept phase.
One resident comment was from someone asking about Type 10 Supercar procurement given the short list of manufacturers and current trade wars. The T is hoping to buy cars similar to this in Toronto so that costs would be contained by not being custom jobs.
One resident voiced a concern that, based on their slideshow, the train wouldn’t have added capacity until 2040. The GLT clarified that the supercars will add some capacity initially, but the doubling would happen closer to 2040. (Supercars are slated to start arriving in 2024, if they buy an off-the-shelf existing model as alluded to with the Toronto comment.)
One resident asked about the 3-car trains that were promised for the D Line a number of years ago. One of the GLT team members is someone who used to be a 3 car train operator on the D Line. Essentially, the lack of them here has been due to an equipment shortage on the overall Green Line network.
One key system upgrade would be overhauling the signal system in the downtown central tunnels in Boston so that service could be safely sped up, increasing capacity by 50%.
The Boylston station downtown remains an obstacle to long trains, but they are considering shutting down that station altogether and adjusting the track curve, since it is so close to Park Street station.
By the end of the year, the GLT program team hopes to have a proposal entailed the entire sequence of the 90 improvement projects, and a total cost outline. Currently, they have 5 years of funding ($913m) from the state/feds for projects and committed funding for the Type 10 supercars.
One general audience member objection raised was toward the alleged unauthorized carcinogenic T pesticide usage along the D Line.
Public input on all Green Line Transformation projects is being solicited at mbta.com/GLT or at many upcoming in-person public meetings such as the one on Monday night.
Land Use Northland Meeting Recap
Bill attended Tuesday’s Land Use Committee hearing on the Northland proposal. The meeting summarized the project and featured a presentation by the city staff on official findings on the proposal, then opened up to a Q&A and public comment.
Council President Laredo emphasized for the audience his belief that negotiated developments via Land Use is a better process than 40B, or any other process that leaves out the city and public input.
Land Use Chairman Schwartz said that the main change in the proposal was a clearer agreement to meet requests from the Council about long term commitments to transportation management. Afterwards, public comments began with longer statements from advocacy organizations. Here are some other key notes from the hearing:
An anti-development hardline group announced in a public comment that they will pursue a citywide referendum against the Northland proposal. (Bill does not believe that parcel-specific zoning changes here or anywhere in the city should be addressed through ballot questions due to the level of legal complexity.)
City Councilors asked questions to the Chair about the further process for drafting the board order before coming to the ultimate vote.
Councilors Greenberg & Albright asked for clarification on what the alternative outcomes for the site could be under the law, since many public comments painted a picture of brighter alternative than the current proposal, particularly through by-right development. Councilor Crossley stressed that a smaller project would not include many of the features and traffic mitigation elements on the table right now.
The Land Use Committee also debated a motion to close public testimony ahead of the drafting of the board order (still accepting comments by email and phone, however.) There would be a 90-day timeframe once the day’s testimony is closed. Chairman Schwartz voted with the majority to close testimony so this project can come to a vote in the Lame Duck Session at the end of term instead of rolling it over into the next term and forcing the hearings process to re-start.
Some residents next to Bill expressed their frustration that there is not enough bus service in that part of Newton. Only 2 routes run with very infrequent service and no shelters to wait inside during the winter. Bill shares this concern and the need to work with the state to get more and better service.
Sudbury Aqueduct Access Meeting Recap
On Thursday, Bill attended the public meeting about the pilot segment for the License Agreement for the MWRA’s Sudbury Aqueduct through Ward 5 from Rte 9 to the fence at Eliot Station. Here are some points from the meeting, which was led by Councilor Downs and Jennifer Steel from the city:
Unofficially, the segment is already heavily used for recreational purposes, but getting an official license will allow for safety improvement and official promotion of the trail on the Sudbury section.
This segment is somewhat cut off from other segments by the T tracks and Route 9, so the idea is to make this a pilot and then figure out linkages from there. This permit is a prerequisite for some other permits relate to the concept.
MWRA would retain ownership and landscape management responsibilities (as well as maintenance inside the pipe). Trail safety and upgrades would be the responsibility of the city under the supervision of the MWRA.
Low impact (non motorized uses) would be approved, and dogs would need to remain on leash on the trail. This would remain a dirt/grass path, not resurfaced. MAPC would supply wayfinding signage.
The fences that pedestrian walk around would either be removed or replaced with anti-vehicle gates that allow pedestrian and bike access. Proper steps would need to be permitted and erected at the Stanley/Canterbury end of the path segment.
Until this permit is approved, all access to the segment is technically trespassing. Therefore, it’s key to get this approved since a lot of people use it.
In particular, a lot of school children cross the aqueduct at the unofficial steps to get to school or to bus stops, so it is very important to make safety improvements there, which will require 2 permit agreements with MWRA.
In addition to the obstacles at either end of the segment, there are ownership problems on some other segments of the aqueduct, which is one of the reasons this can’t go further yet.
Mass DOT Needham St Meeting Recap
Bill also attended this morning’s Mass DOT meeting meeting on traffic improvements slated to start soon on Needham St. Here are some notes from the meeting:
Current daily traffic is about 35,000 to 40,000 vehicles. Utility prep work would begin no later than spring 2020 (federal money is already ready). They haven't decided which end of segment the road work will start on yet because contractor will schedule that when it's awarded.
The first year or two of the Needham St project will be utilities work to clear the way for road work over 5 years. Yes, it could be a 7 year project, unfortunately. It will take a long time to do the 2 miles because it's such a heavy traffic artery and 2 way traffic must be maintained the whole time. The work is expected to be evening focused.
A stated goal in addition to traffic improvement is to make pedestrian access safe and comfortable for the whole length of Needham St, and to add separated bike lanes the whole length.
The bike lanes were added "late in the design process" but sound like really high quality bike lanes with a different surface and elevation in addition to separation from the road. The project does extend into Needham on Highland Ave, so those lanes would extend there.
One activist for the visually impaired community asked about tactile design to ensure that people don’t accidentally walk into the bike lanes if they can’t see or can’t see well.
The City has to coordinate closely with Mass DOT on the preparation of the project because of the recent major water main breaks.
The project manager also addressed a question regarding road width and lanes. They will not be adding any road width or any new lanes, on the basis that this would continue to induce demand and would turn Needham St into a freeway.
Another member of the public expressed concern about impacts on the already reduced MBTA bus service along this corridor. Buses will be facing the same delays during construction as all vehicles in the corridor.
Another attendee asked about the possibility of congestion pricing in the Highland Ave Needham St corridor. Mass DOT said that was a policy decision above their level of responsibility.
If the Northland project is approved, that construction will be happening in parallel (although mostly on their own property) but would be coordinated with the contractor for Mass DOT to reduce compound impact during construction. (They are expected to take similar amounts of time to finish construction.)
The bridge between Needham and Newton would be 3 road lanes (2 into Newton) plus cantilevered bike/foot paths on both sides. A resident asked if the extra lane could switch direction during rush hour, but Mass DOT said they couldn't make it work when they looked at it. The bridge is Civil War era and can’t be modified much.
Bill asked if they have numbers on how many curb cuts would be eliminated and replaced by a smaller set of major intersections (something that was a core promise at past meetings), but they didn’t have that figure on hand. Seems like a lot remain on the maps shown.
A neighbor expressed concern about drivers self-diverting during construction down side streets of Newton Highlands and Upper Falls that can't handle the capacity or wear and tear.
Another question was about where construction contractor workers would be parking during the process.
For anyone who wishes to contact someone during the project to report problems, Mass DOT will be the primary point of contact for the public. (Contact info not yet available.) Councilor Crossley has also requested a group email alert system people can sign up for to stay posted on construction schedules.
Upcoming events:
Thursday, October 3, 7:30 PM at Brigham House - Newton Highlands Area Council monthly meeting
Thursday, October 3, City Council - Land Use Committee special permit hearing for the Kinmonth Rd condo development proposal for Waban Square, which we have covered in previous newsletters here and here. (It is listed relatively late on the agenda.)
We would also like to wish all those celebrating next week a happy Jewish New Year!