Massachusetts

[Rothman]

After 65 years, South Coast Commuter Rail (from New Bedford and Fall River to Boston's South Stayion) returns today.

Wonder how long it will last.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Given the length of time since service was eliminated and the long and expensive process it took to get it started again, I hope it lasts for a long time.

[RobbieL2415]

Given the length of time since service was eliminated and the long and expensive process it took to get it started again, I hope it lasts for a long time.

Yeah, don't want the stations to have the same date as the one in Plymouth. It was closed during the pandemic and is still standing but not operating.

[SectorZ]

https://www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/01/skanska-determined-to-have-best-value-bid-for-rourke-bridge-project/

Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc won the bidding to replace the Rourke Bridge in Lowell at $273.84M. The project, expected to take three years, is expected to start this summer.

[shadyjay]

... and we're back!

I passed by the I-495 NB Chelmsford rest area earlier this week, and low and behold, all the por-to-lets are gone from the parking lot, the grounds are spruced up, and I believe the building has reopened. 

Still holding out hope for the reopening of I-95 NB Mansfield.  That place is a disgrace!

[jpi]

Hi Everyone,
Some advise on the Hyannis ferrys, I plan to book ferry rides in mid August to Nantucket and Dukes County (Martha's vineyard) it would just be my wife and I and being passengers, what are the best prices and times, this would be an all day thing too. Thanks 

[Ted$8roadFan]

https://www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/01/skanska-determined-to-have-best-value-bid-for-rourke-bridge-project/

Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc won the bidding to replace the Rourke Bridge in Lowell at $273.84M. The project, expected to take three years, is expected to start this summer.

About time. I had the misfortune of being on that bridge during a rainy rush hour last week.

[bob7374]

Recent article in the Cape Cod Times. Apparently, drivers have gotten used to last year's redesign of the Bourne Rotary:
https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/traffic/2025/05/24/bourne-rotary-south-transportation-massachusetts-cape-cod-traffic-lanes/83772419007/

[RobbieL2415]

Recent article in the Cape Cod Times. Apparently, drivers have gotten used to last year's redesign of the Bourne Rotary:
https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/traffic/2025/05/24/bourne-rotary-south-transportation-massachusetts-cape-cod-traffic-lanes/83772419007/

Cool, now fix the Hyannis Rotary and the Orleans Rotary.

[hotdogPi]

This sign on MA 108 is gone.

[The Ghostbuster]

According to Google Maps Street View, that sign was replaced with a new one sometime between September 2018 (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.795038,-71.0660802,3a,75y,240.13h,97.72t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sBwcGi_j5NuKoYbMKdankZg!2e0!5s20180901T000000!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-7.719632551820482%26panoid%3DBwcGi_j5NuKoYbMKdankZg%26yaw%3D240.12663259139254!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) and October 2019 (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7950155,-71.0661083,3a,75y,240.13h,97.72t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssKjf5G_OaySGiRke4sEPbg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-7.719632551820482%26panoid%3DsKjf5G_OaySGiRke4sEPbg%26yaw%3D240.12663259139254!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D).

[pderocco]

I don't know what the big deal is. It seems to me that "roundabouts", which are typically small, need lanes to guide people because they don't provide a lot of distance to merge and cross. But I've never had the slightest problem navigating the large rotaries in Massachusetts. Of course, whether they have lanes or not, or are big or small, they all have the problem of static right-of-way, no "take turns" rule.

[RobbieL2415]

Forgive me if this has already been addressed, but are there any plans to add mileage-based exit numbers to MA 28 in Bourne and Falmouth?

[SectorZ]

Forgive me if this has already been addressed, but are there any plans to add mileage-based exit numbers to MA 28 in Bourne and Falmouth?

There are no plans to do so. The state, when announcing the changes to mileage-based numbers, stated that things that did not have exit numbers would not be getting them. This includes other freeways without exit numbers, like US 44 and MA 57.

I can't find the specifics straight from the Commonwealth on this, but it may be buried in the 57 pages of this thread, https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=16734.0

[bob7374]

Forgive me if this has already been addressed, but are there any plans to add mileage-based exit numbers to MA 28 in Bourne and Falmouth?

There are no plans to do so. The state, when announcing the changes to mileage-based numbers, stated that things that did not have exit numbers would not be getting them. This includes other freeways without exit numbers, like US 44 and MA 57.

I can't find the specifics straight from the Commonwealth on this, but it may be buried in the 57 pages of this thread, https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=16734.0

There were to be exit numbers assigned to MA 28 in the original exit renumbering contract from 2016 that was later postponed. The numbers are still listed in the state's transportation map, available to download at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/official-transportation-map-english/download

The exit numbers are listed as 56 for MA 151, 54 for Thomas Landers Rd, 52 for Brick Kiln Road, and 51 for MA 28A. The original project would have also assigned exit numbers to the MA 57 expressway as well.

[SectorZ]

Forgive me if this has already been addressed, but are there any plans to add mileage-based exit numbers to MA 28 in Bourne and Falmouth?

There are no plans to do so. The state, when announcing the changes to mileage-based numbers, stated that things that did not have exit numbers would not be getting them. This includes other freeways without exit numbers, like US 44 and MA 57.

I can't find the specifics straight from the Commonwealth on this, but it may be buried in the 57 pages of this thread, https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=16734.0

There were to be exit numbers assigned to MA 28 in the original exit renumbering contract from 2016 that was later postponed. The numbers are still listed in the state's transportation map, available to download at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/official-transportation-map-english/download

The exit numbers are listed as 56 for MA 151, 54 for Thomas Landers Rd, 52 for Brick Kiln Road, and 51 for MA 28A. The original project would have also assigned exit numbers to the MA 57 expressway as well.

I forgot about those details from the original 2016 plan. I kind of forgot about that plan to begin with, given it was five years before the actual change. The state map showing the exit numbers on 28 is an interesting quirk.

[sprjus4]

I'm not sure the reasoning to not add exit numbers, especially if the highway already has milemarkers.

[bob7374]

I'm not sure the reasoning to not add exit numbers, especially if the highway already has milemarkers.

Especially since the MUTCD says all exits should be numbered. I think the Northeast Expressway portion of US 1 should at least have them.

[The Ghostbuster]

Perhaps exit numbers will be applied eventually.

[sprjus4]

I'm not sure the reasoning to not add exit numbers, especially if the highway already has milemarkers.

Especially since the MUTCD says all exits should be numbered. I think the Northeast Expressway portion of US 1 should at least have them.

It certainly is easier to tell someone "get off at Exit XX" as opposed to "get off at Route XX East or XX Road". Less confusing, especially if they are not familiar with the area. Or on billboards for businesses miles away down the highway.

[jp the roadgeek]

Road in MA that need them that don't have them:

US 1: I-93 to Lynn St (Exits 49-54 A/B NB, Exits 54 A/B to 47 SB)

US 44 east of Middleborough )Exits 29, 31, 35)

MA 1A: I-93 to MA 145 (Exits 49, 50 A/B)

MA 28: Exits 52, 54, 55)

MA 57: Exits 43 and 45 EB, Exits 45-41 WB (44 A/B for MA 159)

[SectorZ]

Road in MA that need them that don't have them:

US 1: I-93 to Lynn St (Exits 49-54 A/B NB, Exits 54 A/B to 47 SB)

US 44 east of Middleborough )Exits 29, 31, 35)

MA 1A: I-93 to MA 145 (Exits 49, 50 A/B)

MA 28: Exits 52, 54, 55)

MA 57: Exits 43 and 45 EB, Exits 45-41 WB (44 A/B for MA 159)

I'd argue that US 1 could have exit numbers all the way to I-95 at the Danvers/Topsfield line, pushing exit numbers to 66.

If each end of 140's freeway stretch could get exit numbers for traffic signals, US 1's exits should certainly do so.

[kernals12]

The legislature is considering a bill that aims to reduce VMT and giving it the Orwellian title of "The Freedom to Move Act"     

[kernals12]

After 65 years, South Coast Commuter Rail (from New Bedford and Fall River to Boston's South Station) returns today.

For all 12 of the people who live in New Bedford and work in Boston.

[RobbieL2415]

Road in MA that need them that don't have them:

US 1: I-93 to Lynn St (Exits 49-54 A/B NB, Exits 54 A/B to 47 SB)

US 44 east of Middleborough )Exits 29, 31, 35)

MA 1A: I-93 to MA 145 (Exits 49, 50 A/B)

MA 28: Exits 52, 54, 55)

MA 57: Exits 43 and 45 EB, Exits 45-41 WB (44 A/B for MA 159)

Add this unnumbered exit on US 6 in Truro.