Infamous Arlington Intersection Changing

See which intersection is getting a makeover courtesy of CVS.

The Mass. Ave. intersection with Jason and Mill streets is getting upgraded courtesy of CVS. The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved Monday a list of changes recommended by the Transportation Advisory Committee. The changes, which will “significantly improve overall safety and operations,” according to the committee, will cost about $42,000. However, CVS is footing the bill, as the pharmacy was required to put $50,000 toward improving the intersection as part of its special permit with the town to build its nearby store at 833 Mass. Ave. The town already spent the other $8,000 on the intersection on a system that automatically turns the light green when emergency vehicles are approaching to clear out any traffic jams. The changes The …

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Three Transportation Issues on Selectmen’s Agenda

The Mass. Ave./Mill Street/Jason Street intersection will be voted on tonight.

The Board of Selectmen will vote on recommended changes for the Mass.Ave./Mill Street/Jason Street intersection tonight, according to the agenda. They’ll also consider two stop signs (Lockeland Avenue at Wildwood Avenue and Field Road at Wildwood Avenue) and hear the results of a parking study from Transportation Advisory Committee co-chairman Howard Muise. The meeting starts at 7:15 p.m. tonight in the Selectmen’s Chambers on the second floor of Town Hall.

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Letters to the Editor

LETTER: Transportation Advisory Committee on Mass. Ave. Corridor Project

The following is a Letter to the Editor from the town's Transportation Advisory Committee. It was submitted by its principal author, Richard Turcotte.

Those who have expressed their ardent support for the Mass. Ave. Corridor Project do so for many of the same reasons as do those in opposition: a desire to make our wonderful, vibrant town an even better community. The members of Arlington’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) share that commitment. We are ever-mindful of the many competing interests, concerns, and financial constraints accompanying changes both great and small on the projects for which we are asked to assist and advise town officials. It is an obligation we try to honor to the best of our individual and collective abilities. TAC has been an active participant in the project since its inception, and has voted unanimously for it in the past. The overwhelming majority of…

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You Ask... Patch Answers

What Are the New Signals on Mill Street All About?

You asked, we've got your answers.

By now you may have seen the two new signals at the Minuteman bike path’s Mill Street crossing. (They went up last week.) But you may still have some questions: Why did they go up? Who paid for them? How do they work? Well, we recently tracked down the people in the know, and here is what they had to say: The developer of the new Alta Brigham Square apartments, Wood Partners, was required to improve this crossing as part of their special building permit with the town, according to the town’s engineer, Wayne Chouinard. Wood Partners contracted Bill Scully, a planner now with Westford-based Green International Affiliates, to work on the crossing in conjunction with the town’s Transportation Advisory Committee. “The overall objective was to …

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Selectmen Extend Right Turn-Only Trial

Drivers coming from Water Street and Spengler Way will have to turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue, as the town seeks ways to improve safety in the area.

The intersections of Water Street and Spengler Way will continue to be right turn only onto Massachusetts Avenue, as town officials try six more months of extra signage to improve safety in the area. The Board of Selectmen on Monday voted 4-0 to extend the right turn-only trial period at the request of Ed Starr, working group lead of the town’s Transportation Advisory Committee. Spengler Way, formerly known as Library Way, is the exit from Robbins Library. Water Street is on the other side of Massachusetts Avenue. Starr said there were 14 accidents there in just three years, four involving pedestrians. Last year, town officials started studying whether making those two corners right turn only would improve safety in the area. They added …

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