Transit Needs $13B Investment Over Next Decade

The board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its 21st Century Transportation Plan, which outlines the state’s budgetary needs over the course of the next 10 years and beyond.

With infrastructure in need of repairs and the major city transit system steeped in billions of dollars of debt, the state may need to increase revenue from car registrations, license renewals, taxes and tolls. The Board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its 21st Century Transportation Plan Monday, which calls for a $13 billion overall investment in state transportations systems over the next decade. The breakdown is as follows, according to a statement associated with the plan released by Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey: To raise the necessary funds these recommendations will include an increase in the gas tax, payroll tax, sales tax or income tax; a new green fee on vehicle registrations; a …

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Should the State Install High-Speed Tolls on I-93?

Asked about toll fairness during a Patch live chat, Governor Deval Patrick asked a reader whether he'd support high-speed tolls. Are these a good way to share the transportation funding pain, or another money grab?

Are high-speed tolls along Interstate 93 and other highways a smart way to help fund transportation in the state? Governor Deval Patrick mentioned such a system during a Patch live chat on Thursday. If you've gone up Interstate 95 into New Hampshire, you've seen high-speed tolling in action. The system is designed to read your EZ-Pass (nee Fast Lane) transponder while you breeze by at 65 miles per hour. There's no need to slow down or squeeze though a booth, as EZ-Pass users currently do on the Mass Pike, Tobin Bridge and harbor tunnels. The chat moved on to other topics, so no details about implementation were offered. What do you think? Would tolls along I-93 offer some fairness to riders in Boston, MetroWest and North Shore, who all pay…

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Vincent DiRico

11:07 am on Monday, October 8, 2012

yup, none better ;) http://boston.com/metrodesk/2012/10/05/holiday-frenzy-causes-mile-backup-mass-turnpike-state-police-say/SpQXU0MOWQkRQ7SdWWgBcP/story.html   more ›

You Ask, Patch Answers

How Do You Get New Traffic Lights in Melrose?

New traffic lights require approval from the state Department of Transportation, but existing traffic signals can be modified by the DPW.

You Ask, Patch Answers is a new weekly column for Melrosians who have questions about something they've spotted around the city or wondered about. Submit your question to danield@patch.com. Dick said in an email that he "would like to know if it is possible to have more traffic (light) arrows in our city? Franklin Square comes to the top of the list. It's like the wild west trying to negotiate getting through this intersection! ... or delayed lights, because everyone would have a opportunity to make a light without depending on people to give you a courtesy break which seems none existing today." Melrose Public Works Superintendent Bob Beshara said that traffic signals are governed by the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and …

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I-93 Bridge Project Closures and Detours: Aug.19-22

Paving work will close lanes on I-93 north of Boston in Medford this weekend.

Crews have finished replacing 14 bridges on I-93 in Medford, but paving work this weekend is expected to cause closures and delays on the interstate. From 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, crews will work to install a new layer of pavement on I-93 North from Exit 29 in Somerville to Exit 34 in Stoneham. The left two lanes on I-93 North from Exit 29 to Exit 34 will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday, when of them will be reopened until about 8:30 p.m. Saturday. At that time, both lanes will be again closed until 9 a.m. Sunday. The work will close the northbound exit ramp at Exit 29. The far left lane of I-93 South will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Southbound exits are expected to remain open. The project, called…

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I-93 Bridge Project Closures and Detours: Aug. 5-8

This weekend's road and exit closures due to the I-93 bridge replacement project.

As of this week, 12 of 14 bridge replacements on I-93 are complete. This weekend, the "93Fast14" project continues, with the bridges that carry I-93 southbound over Riverside Avenue in Medford will be replaced. Work begins on Friday, Aug. 5 at 7:45 p.m. and continues through Monday, Aug. 8 at 5 a.m. Below is a list of this weekend's work and detours. See the attached PDFs for maps showing the location of the work and detours. Throughout the course of the weekend, traffic on I-93 will be limited to two lanes in each direction over a 6-mile segment between Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) in Somerville and Exit 36 (Montvale Avenue) in Stoneham. Traffic on I-93 South will be directed through a median crossover near Spot Pond at the Stoneham/Medford …

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I-93 Bridge Project Closures and Detours: July 15-18

This weekend's road and exit closures due to the I-93 bridge replacement project.

The "93Fast14" project hit a milestone this past week, as the state has completed the replacement of the seven bridges on I-93 North. Work crews now move on to the bridges on the southbound side of the interstate beginning Friday night at 8 p.m. and continuning through Monday at 5 a.m. This weekend’s construction locations involve the bridges on I-93 South over Route 60 (Salem Street in Medford). Below is a list of this weekend's work and detours. See the attached PDFs for maps showing the location of the work and detours. Throughout the course of the weekend, traffic on I-93 will be limited to two lanes in each direction over a 6-mile segment between Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) in Somerville and Exit 36 (Montvale Avenue) in Stoneham. …

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