The Road to Reform

East Brookfield Bridge, Dam Repair

Lieutenant Governor Murray this week joined state and local leaders in East Brookfield to highlight the repair of the structurally-deficient Route 9 Bridge over Lake Lashaway and reconstruction of the deteriorated Town-owned dam spillway located at the bridge site.

The $365,000 bridge and dam project began in 2010 as a partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Town of East Brookfield. The Lake Lashaway water level was lowered in fall 2010 to allow for structural repair of the Route 9 Bridge and reconstruction of the concrete dam spillway below.

The work will continue in 2011 with paving of the bridge road surface and repairs to sidewalks and guard rails. Completion is expected in summer 2011.

Revere Route 16 Bridge Repairs Underway

MassDOT bridge repairs are underway in Revere involving the Route 16 Revere Beach Parkway Bridge over Route 107, Broadway. The repair work is funded through the Patrick-Murray Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program to reduce the Commonwealth’s backlog of structurally-deficient bridges.

The work will continue through Friday, May 13. During the work there will be roadway restrictions on Route 107, Broadway, in the area to allow work crews to repair portions of the underside of the Route 16 bridge structure. Deteriorated sections of the concrete soffit will be replaced with corrugated steel shielding. The work will be completed in three phases, with a single lane in each direction provided during each of the three phases of construction, along with pedestrian access.

The work will take place between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, but the roadway width restrictions will remain in place throughout the duration of the project. Signs and traffic control measures will guide drivers through the work zone. MassDOT encourages cautious driving through the work area.

Employers Commuter Options Awards

The Patrick-Murray Administration today recognized employers who have advanced efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging their employees to travel by public transit, carpools, vanpools, or by bicycling or walking. The Administration celebrated the efforts of more than 100 Massachusetts employer partners and members during the Massachusetts Excellence in Commuter Options (ECO) Awards ceremony at the State House.

MassDOT through MassRIDES, the statewide travel options program, and MassCommute, the Massachusetts Coalition of Transportation Management Associations, supports Massachusetts employers in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing drive-alone trips to their work sites while encouraging employees to travel by public transit, carpools, vanpools, or by bicycling or walking.

The event, co-hosted by MassDOT, MassRIDES, and MassCommute, celebrated the efforts of over 100 Massachusetts employer partners and members. Four employers were recognized for outstanding accomplishments:

• University of Massachusetts Medical School for Marketing Excellence
• Massachusetts General Hospital for Leadership Excellence
• City of Salem for Leadership Excellence - Municipality
• Tufts Health Plan for Innovation Excellence for their contributions in providing excellence in commuter options.

Bay State Bike Week 2011

The 2nd annual Bay State Bike Week is set for May 14-20, a week of celebrating bicycle transportation across the Commonwealth.

Last year was the first year that MassDOT and the State Bicycle Advocacy group MassBike partnered to make Bay State Bike Week a truly statewide celebration and as we learned unique in the country.

This year Bay State Bike Week will build on the successful 2010 effort and a long history of Bike Week celebrations across the Commonwealth, as MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES, the statewide travel options program collaborate again on Bike Week rides and other events throughout Massachusetts. This collaboration enables these organizations to work together to get the word out as widely as possible, and to broaden the scope of Bike Week events.

Biking as a mode of transportation is safe, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, fast, and fun! Check out the Bike Week website at baystatebikeweek.org to find information for event organizers and participants.

Event organizers are asked to submit your event for the website's statewide calendar! In addition, watch for information on how to receive cool stuff for your event, including t-shirts, reflectors and posters while supplies last. Organizers will also provide ideas and advice on organizing new events.

May is fast approaching, so start planning now! Mark May 14th to May 20th on your calendar for Bay State Bike Week and check the website for more information.

MassDOT April Public Meeting

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors will hold its next regular public business meeting on Wednesday, April 6, 1:00pm, MBTA Board Room, Suite 3910, State Transportation Building, Boston.

The MBTA Board will meet first at 1pm, followed by the MassDOT Board. All meetings are open to the public.

The meeting schedule is available on the MassDOT website.