Trolleybuses Go Off to Really Nice Farm in Western MA
Lots of Room to Run and Play
KNOW THIS.
Trolleybuses Go Off to Really Nice Farm in Western MA
This weekend marked the final ride for the last trolleybuses north of the Charles. The overhead wires of the electric fleet will come down in favor of diesel buses that the MBTA promises to replace in a couple years with the arrival of new fleet electric-battery powered buses. From decarbonization and equity perspectives, TransitMatters has argued this is a misstep by the MBTA. However the plans moved forward with the director of bus modernization citing the fleet’s age and high costs associated with maintenance. We’re sad to see the trolleybus go but transit lovers made sure to pay their respects as the final trackless trolley flipped its LEDs to ‘Not In Service’ at 4:02am yesterday morning. Curious about more of Greater Boston’s bygone transit tech? Check out these crazy, magic-carpet style wooden escalators (a.k.a. Inclined Elevators) that used to connect the Red line and Green line platforms at Park Street.
Sneckdown Update
Spring may be on its way, but the legacy of this winter’s sneckdowns may endure. Streetsblog Mass reports MassDOT’s new safety plans reflect the sneckdown at the infamously dangerous intersection of the Fellsway, McGrath Highway, and Mystic Avenue in Somerville. Designs call for dropping one lane on Mystic Avenue, snowed out of use at various times this weird winter, to calm traffic, enhance pedestrian safety, and provide real estate for a bicycle lane southbound along Foss Park on McGrath Highway. The lane reduction is part of a larger “road diet” for McGrath, along with improved sidewalks, crossings, and repaved roads—and hopefully even bigger changes.
DO THIS.
Today
Help make history and a better future by contributing to Boston’s first ever Urban Forest Plan at today’s virtual open house. 5:30 p.m.//free
Somerville hosts a kickoff public meeting for redeveloping Gilman Square, the next stop on the Green Line Extension. 6 - 8 p.m.//free
The Boston Landmarks Commission is hosting a public meeting to review and comment on the plan to retrofit gas powered lanterns to LEDs while preserving the history and character of Bay Village. 7 p.m.//free
Reminder: Last day to submit to Cambridge’s Sidewalk Poetry contest! Deadline is 5 p.m.//free
Tomorrow
The Mel King Institute and BU’s City Planning & Urban Affairs program host a discussion, How Culture and Creativity Build Power in Communities of Color, as their series on Race, Place, and Space continues. 4 p.m.//free
Support multi-family affordable housing in Cambridge at the City Planning Board’s public meeting. Learn more on how you can help take action and support these initiatives here. 6:30 p.m.//free
Wednesday
See AI used for art at the Museum of Science, where MASARY Studios and Mike Esperanza combine creative coding with choreography to present Hybrid Agencies. 7:30 p.m.//$15
Lamplighter’s Taproom opens again to screen the annual Women’s Adventure Film Tour. Your ticket covers your seat and a beer. 7:30 p.m.//$20
Hey where’s the rest of the week? With the (albeit erratic) uptick in temperatures, there’s been a surge of local happenings! We’re testing out a return to our old format of a three-email-a-week model to keep things short and sweet.
This edition of Inbound was brought to you by Nicholas Arnemann and Maya Detwiller.