MassDOT: 21st Century Transportation Plan

MassDOT today released their 21st Century transportation plan, which can be found here: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/0/docs/infoCenter/docs_materials/TheWayForward_Jan13.pdf [PDF]

The plan was put out by Transportation Secretary Davey to outline investments the state needs to make in coming years to both maintain our existing infrastructure, and invest over $13 billion over the next 10 years into new projects, ranging from highway, to rail, to bicycle, to aeronautics.

Some highlights include:

• New MBTA Red, Green, and Orange Line cars
• DMU and BRT Pilot Programs
• Completion of the South Coast Rail project (bringing commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford)
• Completion of the currently in-progress Green Line Extension in Somerville and Medford
• Expansion of South Station
• New passenger rail service between Springfield and Boston (presumably an extension of the Framingham/Worcester line?)
• Preparation for new passenger rail service between Pittsfield and New York City
• Continued summer weekend commuter rail service to Cape Cod
• Implementation of All-Electronic Tolling on the MassPike and eventually statewide
• A trial of a Vehicle-Miles Traveled tax
• Various road improvement projects, including both I-93/95 interchanges (Canton & Woburn)
• New tolls or HOT lanes

Essentially all of these projects are desperately needed, but some of them come as a surprise to me, even though I follow transportation happenings in the Commonwealth fairly closely, like the new Springfield and Pittsfield passenger rail services.

Feel free to share your thoughts below.

NY 17 / I-86

This weekend I rode along with a good friend of mine to visit friends in Binghamton, NY, which was exciting for me because I've never been farther into upstate New York than Albany, and it meant I got to clinch I-88 and over a hundred miles of NY 17, which is being upgraded into I-86 at the moment.

Before I get to Future I-86 though, I found this peculiar signal on Vestal Pkwy (NY 434) just west of the interchange with NY 201. The left turns on the cross street had identical signals. I assume the signal functions just like a doghouse, since the single lens off to the side contains a right turn arrow, but I never once saw it lit through several cycles.

Now on to NY 17.

A new bridge under construction east of Monticello, near exit 108. The new bridge is significantly higher than the old one, which lends some interesting construction views driving by.

Continuing east towards Middletown, the road seems ready to become I-86. Fresh pavement, interstate-standard shoulders, and consistent covered-up I-86 shields, complete with a greened-out I-86 shield on I-84:

New York: Part I

I visited a friend in Hyde Park, New York this weekend, and from there we took a Metro-North train into New York City - my first time in the Big Apple.

This post will cover the drive there, which was via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and the Taconic State Parkway.

The MassPike westbound in the Berkshires. Note the low-lying clouds hugging the hillside to the left.

The new E-ZPass lanes at the western end of the MassPike. These signs recently replaced the old Citizens' Bank Fast Lane signage, and are more typical of signage seen elsewhere in the E-ZPass system.

Crossing into New York on the Berkshire Connector (I-90).

The Berkshire Connector westbound.

Crappy photo of a deer next to the toll plaza at the Taconic State Parkway exit on the Berkshire Connector. This was the first of easily dozens of deer sightings.

Two views of the Taconic heading southbound in Columbia County around sunset. This truly is a gorgeous road, and is very relaxing and enjoyable to drive.

Looking west from an overlook along the Taconic.

The view to the north from along the Taconic near the Dutchess County line.

Part II will feature New York City.

A Weekend of Roads

This weekend I had the opportunity to explore some old road stuff around eastern Massachusetts with a pair of veteran road enthusiasts.

Ancient "thickly settled" sign in I believe Boxford, possibly Groveland. 

An abandoned side road off MA 110 near I-495. There was once a small bridge here over a creek, but there is virtually no trace of pavement left, and this road clearly hasn't been touched in decades.

Quite possibly the reason for the trip, and the most significant find, is this right turn ahead sign in southern Boston on Mass Ave. Yes that is early button copy lettering on a (faded) black background.

An MBTA commuter train paced us along Burgin Pkwy in Quincy.

In the process of clinching MA 145 in Winthrop, the last North Shore road for me, we made a wrong turn and stumbled upon this ancient 145 shield.

Original MassPike signage at interchanges 16 and 17 in Newton. Some similar signs have already been replaced, and these are probably on their way out.

The last one was a failed attempt at photographing one from a bad angle, but I kept it because it shows up-close that this is clearly old button copy.

Still in Newton was this ancient MA 16 shield, which looks like it hasn't weathered the years very well.

While sitting at a traffic signal I noticed this cleverly-painted control box. Yes that is a (mostly) accurate map of the area.

Boston's ubiquitous Citgo sign from Commonwealth Ave. The reason for the photograph was the Federal Heath sign below, which I originally thought was a misspelling of "health".

Another spectacular find was this C1/C9 sign on Beacon Street near Charlesgate. C stands for city, as this was once, long long ago, the city routing of US 1 and MA 9.

The final find of the day was this elderly MA 28 shield outside Back Bay Station.

For more similar old road things from around Massachusetts and the country, check out http://alpsroads.net/roads/