My Community Blog Has Moved!

Greetings!

My community blog has been moved to timtoomey.org. There you will find new posts about events in Cambridge and Somerville, as well as all of the old content from this site. Please update your bookmarks.

2012 Firefighter Exam Information

In 2012, the Massachusetts Human Resources Division will be conduction a civil service exam in order to create a list of candidates eligible to fill open positions in fire departments around Massachusetts.

Photo by Chad Kainz

In order to be considered, you must complete two examinations, a written exam and a physical ability test.

The written examination will be held on April 28, 2012. The deadline to apply for the written exam is March 19, 2012 and there is a $100 application fee necessary to take the exam.

The physical abilities portion of the exam is scheduled by the candidate and can take place anywhere from February to August of 2012. The deadline to apply for the physical abilities test is June 29, 2012 and must be taken by August 14, 2012 at the latest. There is also a $100 application fee required to take this portion of the test. All physical abilities exams are administered at the Hudson National Guard Armory.

A notice will be sent to applicants giving the time and location of the written portion of the exam.

Fees for the exam may be waived depending on the applicants receipt of certain state or federal assistance, unemployment insurance, or worker's compensation.

In order to apply for the exam, you must first read the official exam announcement on the Human Resources Division webpage. The announcement contains detailed information about how to apply for the exam and what to expect in each part.

Should you have any questions about the firefighter exam, please contact my office at 617-722-2380 for assistance.

Next Week: Transportation Day on the Hill

Tuesday, January 31st will be MassDOT's Transportation Day on the Hill. This will be a great opportunity to meet and ask questions of MassDOT's top officials, get a fast-lane pass for your car, and learn about wide range of services that MassDOT offers residents. Please see the invite below for more information:

Secretary Richard A. Davey cordially invites you to MassDOT's Transportation Day on the Hill on Tuesday, January 31st at 1 pm in Nurse's Hall at the State House, Boston. At this event, MassDOT will host interactive tables where a number of transportation-related services will be offered and we would like to encourage each of you to invite your constituents and community members to attend this important event.

Senior MassDOT Officials will be present to answer questions and concerns from you, your staff, your constituents and the general public. Each Administrator will make a brief presentation at the beginning of our Day on the Hill and will be available to help resolve your inquiries in person. Agency Staff will also help guide you and your constituents through a wealth of information and direct you to MassDOT resources that will aid in helping answer constituent questions in the future.

Some of the services we will offer at this event include:

• Free Fast-Lane Passes
• Registration Renewal and RMV Online Services
• Sign-up for MBTA Alerts
• Guidance for Downloading MBTA Smartphone Applications
• Information on City of Boston Meter Cards
• Free MassDOT Tourism Maps
• “Drive Smart and Save” Initiative
• Information on our award-winning Accelerated Bridge Program that is creating thousands of construction jobs in the Commonwealth
• See how MassDOT works with local schools in the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program
• Information about NuRide, the nation’s largest reward program for individual’s who take greener trips.

Officials from MassDOT, including staff from the MBTA, Highway Division, RMV and Aeronautics will be available to answer any specific questions you may have. The following MassDOT officials will be present and available to you during this important event:

Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey

Highway Administrator Frank DePoala

Acting General Manager Jonathan Davis

Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian

Aeronautics Administrator Christopher Willenborg

Acting MassPort CEO David Mackey

We hope that you, your staff and constituents will be able to attend. MassDOT has prepared some valuable information on transportation related services that we know will be useful to you and your staff and we encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. 

We look forward to seeing you there.

Broadway Sidewalk Reconstruction Community Meeting Jan. 11th

The City of Cambridge has begun planning for the renovation and reconstruction of sidewalks on Broadway between Prospect Street and Portland Street. Please see the notice below for information about an upcoming community meeting that will be held to discuss the coming construction:

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Fletcher Maynard School Library, Second Floor, 225 Windsor St

Dear Broadway Neighbor,

The City of Cambridge is currently developing plans to reconstruct the roadway and sidewalk on Broadway between Prospect Street and Portland Street. Please join us at the community meeting to learn more about the project, give your feedback, and discuss options for sidewalk materials.

OVERALL PROJECT GOALS

• Improve deteriorating roadway and sidewalk infrastructure.
• Enhance the area for all users – pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
• Improve the safety of pedestrians going to and from Sennott Park (Tremont Street).
• Increase the number of street trees.
• Improve drainage to reduce ponding on the roadway.

SIDEWALK MATERIALS – CITY POLICY

The City’s policy is to replace existing sidewalks with the same material (concrete with concrete, brick with wire cut brick). During construction, property owners are given the option of changing their sidewalk material, as described below.

• Keep existing sidewalk material – no cost to property owner.
• Change from brick to concrete – no cost to property owner.
• Change from concrete to brick – property owner pays the differential cost.
• The City’s policy provides flexibility for property owners, but results in a mix of sidewalk materials.

SIDEWALK MATERIALS – BROADWAY

• The existing sidewalks on Broadway are a combination of concrete (75%) and brick (25%), similar to the mix of sidewalk materials throughout the city.
• This project can follow the City policy for sidewalk material, as described above, which will continue the mix of materials on a property by property basis.
• Or, we can implement a more unified approach by providing a concrete surface for the walking area and a brick feature strip, as shown in the photo. In addition to creating a unified look for the street, this approach has the benefit of providing a concrete surface for the walking area, which is strongly preferred by people with disabilities, while maintaining a visually appealing mix of brick and concrete.

The meeting location is accessible; however, persons in need of ADA / Title II accommodations should contact Brian McLane at 617-349-4824 or bmclane@cambridgema.gov. To receive future updates related to construction of Broadway via email, please contact Kelly Dunn, Community Relations Manager at kdunn@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4870.

New Lechmere Station Design Progressing, Concerns Linger About McGrath Crossing, Bus Routes

On the evening of Wednesday, December 14th, residents, activists, representatives from NorthPoint developer HYM, and architects and planners from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation gathered at the Kennedy-Longfellow school to discuss the latest changes and developments in the design of the new Lechmere Station.

From the changes that have been made as the station design has evolved, it is clear that the public design process has produced a station design much more in line with the community's vision of an ideal Lechmere station. The station entrance has been moved to a location more equally accessible by East Cambridge residents. What was a narrow space between the station and McGrath has been widened to 30 feet, a change enabled by alterations to the path of First Street. The design of the station has been altered to promote a more even flow of pedestrians coming from all directions, and a more direct route to the Lechmere bus stop when crossing from East Cambridge.

While these changes are strong steps forward, it is clear from the questions and comments directed toward MassDOT at the end of the meeting that a number of concerns about pedestrian safety and access have not yet been assuaged by station designers. There is still a long pedestrian crosswalk that must traverse a busy section of the McGrath Highway/Boulevard. Developer HYM has made a number of suggestions to MassDOT about how this crossing can be approached in a way that maximizes pedestrian safety and comfort. Their suggestions include using different lighting and paving elements at the intersection of McGrath and First Street to encourage drivers to slow down and eliminating the right hand turn lane from the inbound side of McGrath. I am looking forward to seeing what MassDOT puts forward in reaction to these suggested improvements.

Another concern that was voiced by several members of the meeting's audience was that bus access to East Cambridge will be diminished by the relocation of the station. Moving Lechmere across McGrath will require buses to turn off of Cambridge Street at Third Street, and reroute buses away from destinations like the Courthouse. Access to buses, particularly for the elderly and disabled, is a primary concern of mine, and I am interested to see how these concerns will be addressed.

As a final part of the meeting, MassDOT officials briefly discussed the potential for phased construction of the Green Line Extension and what that will mean for Lechmere's completion date. Because of Lechmere's placement in an early construction phase, the new station could be open in early 2017, well ahead of the projected 2019 date for the completion of the entire extension. This is very exciting news, and I will be pushing for a commitment from MassDOT to begin phased construction as soon as possible.

MassDOT has also announced that there will be a number of meetings coming up in the near future. Be on the lookout for Washington Street and Union Square station design meetings in late January, and meetings about the Maintenance Facility and Community Path in early April. I will post more detailed meeting information on my community blog as soon as it is available.

MassDOT Shelves Grand Junction Proposal

On the evening of Thursday, December 8th, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) held a public meeting to discuss their plans for the future of the Grand Junction Railroad. After purchasing Grand Junction from the freight operator CSX, MassDOT began exploring the line’s potential use as a connector between the Worcester Commuter Rail line and North Station. Because of the Grand Junction Railroad's close proximity to residential neighborhoods in Cambridge, many people took notice of this proposal and it was met with a large amount of community opposition.

At tonight's meeting, MassDOT announced that it does not intend to pursue plans for Commuter Rail service on Grand Junction at this time.

This decision was arrived at through the execution of a feasibility analysis that included a ridership study. If the addition of Commuter Rail service from Worcester direct to North Station had been found to increase ridership by a significant level, MassDOT may have ruled favorably on its feasibility. However, the agency's ridership study found that implementing Grand Junction service would only increase the line's ridership by 300 people from now until 2035. While there would be regional air quality benefits from the diversion of 250 cars per day due to the small increase in utilization of the Commuter Rail, MassDOT's feasibility study has conceded that there would be real negative impacts for the city of Cambridge in the areas of traffic, air quality, noise, and vibration.

MassDOT's announcement did come with one caveat: if the required level of funding for a renovation of South Station cannot be secured, the agency would be forced to examine other alternatives for alleviating congestion. At the top of that list would likely be Grand Junction. I will be closely following the South Station expansion’s progress and working with my colleagues in the state legislature to facilitate funding for the project. Expanding South Station will have far reaching benefits for the transit system as a whole, and will keep rail traffic on Grand Junction down.

As a final note, I would like to point out that MassDOT will be undertaking a number of rail improvement projects along the Grand Junction over the next couple of years. These improvements are designed to reduce noise and vibration coming from existing rail traffic and to enhance safety. You may see construction crews working on the rails, but they are not a sign that MassDOT has reverted to their original proposal. Any change in plans would need to go through a public process just as the original proposal did, and would require an environmental review.

I was given the opportunity to speak briefly at the meeting in order to thank the community for its attention to and involvement in this very important issue.

I would like to thank the many talented and committed individuals who eloquently articulated our community's concerns and opposition to this project over the course of the last year. I see this result as a resounding victory for the Cambridge and Somerville neighborhoods that would have been negatively impacted by this proposal, and also a victory for the public proposal process. MassDOT deserves credit for keeping this process open to the community and taking our concerns seriously. Community feedback does indeed matter, and this issue is an excellent example of what kind of results that feedback can help achieve.

Grand Junction Public Meeting December 8th

Please see the invite below for information about an upcoming meeting that will be held to update residents on the Grand Junction commuter rail ridership and feasibility study:

Grand Junction Commuter Rail Feasibility Study -- Public Meeting

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is pleased to announce a community meeting to discuss progress on the Grand Junction Commuter Rail Feasibility Study.

This meeting will be held:

Thursday, December 8, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Kennedy-Longfellow School – Auditorium

158 Spring Street, Cambridge

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss an ongoing study of the potential use of the Grand Junction Railroad for supplemental MBTA Commuter Rail service to Cambridge and North Station. At this meeting, MassDOT staff members will discuss results of a ridership analysis and traffic impact analysis, as well as overall study findings, and next steps. This meeting follows up on a community meeting held last June. For more information on prior meetings, see out study website at: http://massdot.state.ma.us/planning/GrandJunctionTransportationStudy.aspx.

All are welcome at the meeting, and please feel free to share this notice. For more information, or to request alternative language or other special accommodations, please contact Matthew Ciborowski at matthew.ciborowski@state.ma.us, or (617) 973-7180.

Please join us on December 8^th!