Rep. Stanley advocates for multi-modal infrastructure improvements which reduce traffic gridlock and protect neighborhoods

(Boston, MA) – In a letter to Matthew Beaton, Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Rep. Stanley urged state approval of proposed major traffic infrastructure improvements along the Rt. 128 corridor to alleviate Waltham street traffic and protect local neighborhoods from eminent domain takings.

“State approval is critical to reduce the traffic gridlock that occurs on a daily basis,” said Rep. Stanley.   “However, any plan approval must avoid unfriendly takings of private homes at all costs.”

The 1265 Main Street Developer has been working with MassDOT, the City of Waltham and regional stakeholders to advance Phase II of the project.  However, the current roadway network is unable to support further development within the corridor without major multimodal infrastructure improvements.

These improvements include the reconstruction of the Rt. 117 Bridge over I-95, the construction of a Green Street Connector, and potential modifications to the I-95/Rt. 20 Interchange (both a Northbound On-Ramp from Main Street and Northbound Ramps to/from Third Avenue), an Internal Connection to CityPoint/Fifth Avenue and potentially a new train station on the Waltham-Weston border west of Rt. 128/I-95.

“As it stands today, some local residents and CEOs have publicly disclosed their consideration of selling their homes and moving their businesses out of the area in the absence of significant traffic improvements,” said Rep. Stanley. “They feel trapped in their houses and offices during extended rush hours and weather or accident-induced congestion in the roadways surrounding the Route 128 Corridor.”

One of the major traffic improvements proposed is the replacement of the existing four-lane Rt. 117 Bridge with a seven-lane bridge, including sidewalks and dedicated lanes for bicycle travel. When finished the new bridge will help increase traffic capacity along the Rt. 117 corridor and permit means of travel for pedestrians and bicyclists.  Additionally, the direct connection to I-95/Rt. 128 at the Rt. 20 interchange via Green Street (Green Street Connector) will provide vehicles direct access Rt. to I-95/Route 128, while also moving  highway-bound traffic away from the “Tavern Square” and “Cedarwood” neighborhood’s.

Plans for the construction of a new I-95/Route 128 northbound on-ramp to the east side of the Rt. 117 bridge will permit direct access from Rt. 117 to Rt. 128/I-95 North, eliminating unnecessary travel in and around the city street network to find access to and from Rt. 128/I-95 northbound through Totten Pond Road and Stow Street neighborhoods.

The Internal Connection at CityPoint/Fifth Avenue is another critical piece to reducing street traffic and one that can only be realized if the above proposals are approved and executed.  The proposed Internal Connection will run northerly from the 1265 Main site to Fifth Avenue and the CityPoint Development, providing an alternative point of connection between Rt. 117 to the south and Totten Pond Road to the north operating as a “relief valve” and allow traffic to directly access Rt. 117 and/or Winter Street, reducing trips on congested local roadways.

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