On Wednesday, September 18, the Working Group for MassDOT’s Newton Corner Long-Term Planning Study (NCLTPS) met to hear a report on existing conditions in the study area from the consulting firm VHB. This was the second meeting of the Working Group, which first met on May 22.
The NCLTPS area runs east to west from the Boston Landing Commuter Rail station to the Auburndale Commuter Rail station and north to south from Soldiers Field Road to Cabot Street.
The consultants found that 80% of the vehicles entering and exiting the I-90 interchange are registered locally, and 6% of employees both work and live in the area. They found that the health of residents is better than average, except for asthma rates. The consultants hypothesized this was because of high levels of particulate matter (PM) pollution from vehicles. (Electric and gas vehicles emit roughly the same amount of PM because while electric vehicles do not emit exhaust, they are heavier and cause more erosion of roads and tires. Diesel trains and trucks emit the most PM.)
When MassDOT was asked about improving the Newton Commuter Rail (increasing frequency, making stations accessible, building a new station at Newton Corner, etc.) to reduce congestion on I-90, MassDOT replied that this is outside of the project’s scope. The MBTA representative in the Working Group said he would take the idea back to the MBTA’s Development Team.
The NCLTPS intends to present six alternative multimodal transportation solutions and safety improvements by the fall of 2025. “The [project’s] planning horizon is 2050 for purposes of traffic analysis, in line with the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) Travel Demand Model.”
The NCLTPS will hold its next virtual public meeting on Tuesday, October 8, from 6:30PM to 7:30PM. Register to attend the meeting here.
Meeting materials for the Long-Term Planning Study Working Group are online.
As of September 23, materials from the second working group meeting had not yet been posted.
Public Meeting about Immediate Safety Improvements
MassDOT will hold a virtual public meeting on immediate safety improvements for Newton Corner on Wednesday, September 25, from 6:30PM to 7:30PM.
Register to attend the meeting here. Email questions or comments to MassDOT at NewtonCornerImprovements@dot.state.ma.us.
Work on immediate safety improvements will begin within the month.
