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Transportation Infrastructure

Suffolk MA
News
Massachusetts Named Best State To Live In (But Not The Cheapest), Study Says Massachusetts Named Best State To Live In (But Not The Cheapest), Study Says
Massachusetts Named Best State To Live In (But Not The Cheapest), Study Says Massachusetts residents can sit comfy knowing that their state was ranked the best place to live by a new report.  A new study by WalletHub studied 51 factors that impact livability and compared the results for all 50 states and found that the Bay State won out over all others.  Massachusetts led the pack with a score of 61.67, narrowly beating out the second-place state, New Jersey, which scored 61.48. New Hampshire followed closely behind in third place, scoring 59.32 points. At the opposite end of the spectrum were Louisiana, Alaska, and New Mexico, which ranked 48, 49, and 50, respect…

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by Morgan Gonzales
New Rochelle
News
New Metro-North Expansion To Shorten Commute Time Between Westchester County, NYC New Metro-North Expansion To Shorten Commute Time Between Westchester County, NYC
New Metro-North Expansion To Shorten Commute Time Between Westchester County, NYC A large expansion of the Metro-North Railroad is planned to make travel between Westchester County and the Big Apple quicker and easier.  This is thanks to four new train stations that will be built in the East Bronx that will be connected to the New Haven Line from the New Rochelle Station, allowing commuters from Westchester County to easily commute to these stations, and connect to Penn Station in Manhattan from there, according to Metro-North officials.  A groundbreaking for the new stations in the East Bronx was held on Friday, Dec. 9, Metro-North officials said.  The e…

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by Ben Crnic
Worcester
News
Check It Out: The Hungriest Truck-Eating Bridges Of Central And Western Massachusetts Check It Out: The Hungriest Truck-Eating Bridges Of Central And Western Massachusetts
Check It Out: The Hungriest Truck-Eating Bridges Of Central And Western Massachusetts It doesn’t matter how many signs some cities and towns put up, people keep feeding Massachusetts’ truck-eating bridges. On Thursday, Jan. 28, the most recent example of a too-tall 18-wheel truck being shredded by a low bridge happened in Westborough. The city’s East Main Street railroad bridge is notorious for tearing the roofs off of semis trying to squeak by. “I drove close to that bridge every day for 3 years,” said Vanessa Saez on a photo posted by the Westborough Police to Facebook of a TT truck stuck under the bridge. “There are signs up and down that road warning drivers. They are …

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by Kristin Palpini
Hampden
News
Boston Globe Trolls Western Mass - ‘What’s West of Worcester, Anyway?’ Boston Globe Trolls Western Mass - ‘What’s West of Worcester, Anyway?’
Boston Globe Trolls Western Mass - ‘What’s West of Worcester, Anyway?’ A reporter who got chewed out for mistaking Western Massachusetts for the Berkshires has written an article about how forgettable our area is. “Apparently, there’s an entire region of Massachusetts between Worcester and the Berkshires,” Globe staff writer Billy Baker wrote Thursday, Oct. 29. “If I knew this I forgot it, probably because Pioneer Valley sounds like a made-up marketing name to avoid saying Connecticut. Watch as I forget it again. Boom. Forgotten.” Baker wrote his article after referring to Cummington, in another story, as being in the foothills of the Berkshires. The town is…

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by Kristin Palpini
Hudson
News
'Bigger, Better' Buses, New Stops Coming To NJ Transit's Busiest Bus Route 'Bigger, Better' Buses, New Stops Coming To NJ Transit's Busiest Bus Route
'Bigger, Better' Buses, New Stops Coming To NJ Transit's Busiest Bus Route NJ Transit is rolling out a series of improvements its busiest bus route. Already one of the busiest NJ Transit lines in the state, Hoboken's line No. 126 will be getting new buses along with new and relocated stops, the company said Tuesday. The new buses and stops coming to line No. 126 -- one of the busiest NJ Transit bus routes in the state -- are expected to reduce wait times and promote social distancing on board, according to NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett. The new buses being deployed on the route will increase onboard customer capacity by 65 percent, compared to an av…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fairfield
News
Lamont Drops Plan For Truck Tolls On CT Highways Lamont Drops Plan For Truck Tolls On CT Highways
Lamont Drops Plan For Truck Tolls On CT Highways Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has abandoned his plan for installing toll gantries for trucks on state highways. State senators had been scheduled to vote on Lamont’s proposal this week, but reportedly stated they needed more time, prompting the governor to announce that the state would be ditching the plan. “I’ve got a Legislature that doesn’t want to make a choice,” Lamont said at a news conference. “I think it’s time to take a pause.  "Don’t say I need another week. I’ve heard that for a year. I’ve lost patience. We’re going to fix our transportation plan and will work with anybody wh…

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by Zak Failla
DV Plus - Fairfield
Politics
Around The Towns: CT Senators Bash Iran Attack, State Transit Hearing, Plan To Merge Colleges Around The Towns: CT Senators Bash Iran Attack, State Transit Hearing, Plan To Merge Colleges
Around The Towns: CT Senators Bash Iran Attack, State Transit Hearing, Plan To Merge Colleges On national television and at a Hartford news conference,  Connecticut’s two U.S. senators expressed concerns about the fallout from killing Iran’s top general, questioning whether President Donald Trump and his administration have a plan to protect Americans from reprisals. Sen. Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said previous Democratic and Republican administrations also had opportunities to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani but chose not to because his death might make him a martyr and make him more dangerous to the U.S. “My guess is that the assassination o…

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by Jon Craig
Bridgeport
News
Toll Proposal Includes These Locations In Fairfield County Toll Proposal Includes These Locations In Fairfield County
Toll Proposal Includes These Locations In Fairfield County Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has introduced his new plan for statewide tolls, including several in Fairfield County. Under the new proposal, tollbooths would be installed on several major highways, interstates, and bridges. In Fairfield County, Lamont is calling for tolls in Newtown at the Rochambeau Bridge; in Stamford on I-95 near the Metro-North railroad; Westport on I-95 at the Saugatuck River Bridge and in Norwalk on the Merritt Parkway. Other toll gantries would be installed in West Haven along I-95; in Windsor on I-91 at the Dexter Coffin Bridge; New London on I-95 at the Gold Star B…

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by Zak Failla
Cortlandt
Traffic
Road Closures Announced During Taconic Parkway Pudding Street Overpass Project Road Closures Announced During Taconic Parkway Pudding Street Overpass Project
Road Closures Announced During Taconic Parkway Pudding Street Overpass Project A $28.9 million project for a new bridge over the Taconic State Parkway at the Pudding Street intersection in Putnam Valley has started. A new bridge has been pushed by state and local officials at the dangerous intersection dating back more than a decade. The intersection is the only at-grade crossing on the busy highway in Putnam County. As part of the project, new ramps will also be installed in the area to realign with the Taconic State Parkway, making the area safer for pedestrians, commuters, school buses, and emergency service vehicles. During the project, at least two lanes will…

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by Zak Failla
Shelton
Lifestyle
Here's Where Bridgeport, Greater New Haven Commutes Rank Among Worst 50 In Nation Here's Where Bridgeport, Greater New Haven Commutes Rank Among Worst 50 In Nation
Here's Where Bridgeport, Greater New Haven Commutes Rank Among Worst 50 In Nation The Greater Bridgeport and Greater New Haven areas rank among the worst in the country when it comes to commute times, a new report shows. Virtually all commuters have found themselves caught in rush hour traffic at some point or another, but Business Insider compiled a list of 50 areas that have the worst commute times based on data from the 2017 American Community Survey. According to the report, those who have long commutes to and from work tend to pay more for gas, get less sleep, have more fat and even report lower levels of happiness than people with shorter commutes. Cities from all…

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by Valerie Musson
Clarkstown
Traffic
Ramp Closures Scheduled On I-87 Near New Tappan Zee Bridge Ramp Closures Scheduled On I-87 Near New Tappan Zee Bridge
Ramp Closures Scheduled On I-87 Near New Tappan Zee Bridge A number of ramp closures have been scheduled for I-87 near the new Tappan Zee Bridge, according to the NYSDOT. Overnight ramp closures are scheduled on the I-87 Thruway at Exit 10 southbound on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and Thursday, Sept. 19, the NYSDOT says. The closures will occur as follows: Wednesday, Sept. 18 Closures begin at 8 p.m. (Two left lanes) and 11 p.m. (Three left lanes) Closures end at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 Location: Southbound near exit 10 Wednesday, Sept. 18 Closure begins at 11 p.m. (Ramp closure) Closure ends at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 Location: Southbound e…

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by Valerie Musson
Nassau
News
Cashless Tolling Will Be Rolled Out On Entire NY Thruway In Less Than Two Years Cashless Tolling Will Be Rolled Out On Entire NY Thruway In Less Than Two Years
Cashless Tolling Will Be Rolled Out On Entire NY Thruway In Less Than Two Years Motorists traveling on the New York State Thruway will no longer have to handle cash when paying tolls, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a $355 million investment to transition to cashless tolling within two years. This investment will help to implement cashless tolling while removing existing toll booths at a total of 52 Thruway interchanges and barriers. As a result, the more than 267 million motorists traveling the Thruway annually will be able to enjoy “non-stop, streamlined travel.” The plan was approved by New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors and is expected to be im…

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by Valerie Musson
Fairfield
Politics
New Poll: Here's How Many CT Residents Oppose Tolls New Poll: Here's How Many CT Residents Oppose Tolls
New Poll: Here's How Many CT Residents Oppose Tolls Electronic tolling is heading to Connecticut highways, and the majority of residents in the state are not in favor of them, though they hope the money is earmarked for good use. According to a newly released report from Sacred Heart University’s Institute for Public Policy, 58.8 percent of those polled generally oppose tolls, though 51.3 percent of residents “strongly” (28.9 percent) or “somewhat” (22.4 percent) support implementing tolls, provided that the money goes to a transportation lockbox that would only be spent on infrastructure improvements. Last year, Connecticut voters passed a …

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by Zak Failla
Shelton
Politics
CT Residents Weigh In On Lamont Job Approval In Brand-New Poll CT Residents Weigh In On Lamont Job Approval In Brand-New Poll
CT Residents Weigh In On Lamont Job Approval In Brand-New Poll Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s disapproval rating has hit 40 percent, according to a newly released poll from Sacred Heart University’s Institute for Public Policy. According to the poll, two-fifths of Connecticut residents “disapprove” of the way Ned Lamont is performing as governor, including 64.1 percent of Republicans and 47.8 percent of unaffiliated voters. Lamont has a 24.1 percent disapproval rating among Democrats that were polled. The poll found that the highest percentage of residents “approve” the way the governor is handling healthcare at 29.6 percent, while the lowest number of …

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by Zak Failla
DV Plus - Fairfield
Politics
Local Drivers No Longer Spared Tolls Aimed At Out-Of-State Trucks? Keep Your Eye On Legislators Local Drivers No Longer Spared Tolls Aimed At Out-Of-State Trucks? Keep Your Eye On Legislators
Local Drivers No Longer Spared Tolls Aimed At Out-Of-State Trucks? Keep Your Eye On Legislators Gov. Ned Lamont's Republican challenger last fall, Bob Stefanowski, warned, "Give an inch, take a mile." Stefanowski predicted that Democrat Lamont of Greenwich, who once favored tolls for all drivers -- cars and trucks -- would revert back to that money-grabbing proposition once he got initial support for out-of-state trucks only. Earlier this year, Lamont and a coalition of business leaders, labor officials and state lawmakers called for the restoration of highway tolls to finance upgrades to the Connecticut’s crumbling transportation system -- which is expected to run a deficit in 2023 w…

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by Jon Craig
Nassau
Politics
Long Island Will Get $5.6M In Funding For Transportation Enhancements Long Island Will Get $5.6M In Funding For Transportation Enhancements
Long Island Will Get $5.6M In Funding For Transportation Enhancements Citing a desire to improve air quality statewide, Long Island will receive $5.6 million in new funding for three projects that will support bicycle and pedestrian transportation. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Long Island will be the recipient of $5.6 million as part of a $144.6 million statewide that will support the construction of multi-use bicycle and pedestrian facilities, accessible sidewalks, enhanced roadway safety and improved access to public transportation. According to Cuomo, the projects announced were selected through a “competitive solicitation process.” “Awarde…

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by Zak Failla
Somers
News
Ramp To I-95 Will Be Closed To All Traffic For Duration Of $135 Million Project Ramp To I-95 Will Be Closed To All Traffic For Duration Of $135 Million Project
Ramp To I-95 Will Be Closed To All Traffic For Duration Of $135 Million Project An exit ramp on I-95 will be closed for upwards of two years as construction continues on a stretch of I-95 as part of the $135 million “Last Mile” infrastructure project in Westchester. The New York State Thruway Authority announced that beginning Monday, April 15, the ramp from Midland Avenue to I-95 northbound in Rye will be closed to all traffic during the duration of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2021. The closure comes as part of the “Last Mile” project, which is focusing on the one-mile stretch from Exit 22 (Port Chester/Rye/Midland Avenue) to the Connecticut sta…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfield
Lifestyle
Here's What CT Tolls Could Cost You Each Week, Year: Check Out These Newly Released Numbers Here's What CT Tolls Could Cost You Each Week, Year: Check Out These Newly Released Numbers
Here's What CT Tolls Could Cost You Each Week, Year: Check Out These Newly Released Numbers Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s electronic toll proposal could cost some commuters hundreds of dollars a year when it is put into effect. Last month, the Transportation Committee passed Lamont’s proposal and two separate committee plans by a vote of 23-13, which includes installing tolls on Interstates 91, 95, 84 and along parts of the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways. The tolls are expected to generate an estimated $800 million in revenue annually. In total, no more than 50 potential toll-collecting gantries are expected to be erected every few miles, down from the originally proposed 82 ga…

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by Zak Failla
North Orange
Traffic
Starting Date Set For Harriman Toll Plaza Demolition Starting Date Set For Harriman Toll Plaza Demolition
Starting Date Set For Harriman Toll Plaza Demolition Demolition of the Harriman toll plaza on the New York State Thruway has a starting date, following the Thruway Authority’s transition to cashless tolls in the Hudson Valley. Beginning on Monday, Jan. 14, a Westchester contracting company will begin demolition in Harriman, as the state continues a $13.9 million plan to convert plazas in the region to cashless, all-electronic tolls. There isn’t expected to be any change in traffic patterns initially, though as the demolition continues, motorists may see temporary alterations. Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said, “th…

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by Zak Failla
Rivertowns
News
New Tappan Zee Bridge Now Open In Full As Traffic Flows On Westchester-Bound Span New Tappan Zee Bridge Now Open In Full As Traffic Flows On Westchester-Bound Span
New Tappan Zee Bridge Now Open In Full As Traffic Flows On Westchester-Bound Span The new Tappan Zee Bridge has now opened in full. All four lanes of the new bridge's second span opened around 10 p.m. Tuesday. (See video above and also linked here.) A bus lane will open next month for eastbound (Westchester-bound) traffic. The fully completed project will also include a bicycle and walking path. R Rockland-bound motorists will continue to use their current four lanes on the westbound span.  In the coming weeks, the four lanes of westbound traffic will be shifted to the opposite side of the span — where the eastbound traffic was previously—to allow for on-bridge constru…

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by Joe Lombardi