Latest news with #MBTA
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mass. Pike lane closures in Newton, Weston to cause heavy delays. Here's what you need to know
Weekend lane closures are in effect on the Mass. Pike as crews aim to replace the I-90 bridge over the MBTA railroad. The closures on I-90 will be between exits 123 and 125 in Weston and Newton, a two-mile stretch from the Ridgeway Road bridge in Weston to the Commonwealth Avenue overpass in Newton. MassDOT is reducing traffic to one lane in each direction until Monday at 5 a.m. 'They'll be demolishing the roof of that existing tunnel and then replacing it with prefabricated bridge unit. This will be happening over the next couple of days,' Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said. Peak traffic could cause up to three hours of delays and officials strongly advise drivers to avoid the area if possible. The project is also temporarily shutting down the commuter rail this weekend. 'They'll be on shuttle buses, that's both Amtrak and the MBTA out from as far as Worcester, if you're coming in, you're going to be on a shuttle bus; they have their own detour routes that they'll be using throughout the weekend,' Gulliver said. Phase two of the project will be the weekend of June 20th. buses. MassDOT says they are working with state and local law enforcement. Drivers are encouraged to make extra time, but also, most importantly, slow down. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds allege MBTA workers falsified track inspection reports
BOSTON (SHNS) – Four former MBTA inspectors and one current T supervisor pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges that they falsified Red Line track inspection records while using an agency garage as their own 'automobile repair shop.' Prosecutors alleged the quintet of employees submitted or greenlit reports last fall describing track inspection work, despite surveillance video showing them engaged in conversation, using cellphones or working on motor vehicles at the same times that the inspections supposedly took place. Prosecutors charged 62-year-old Ronald Gamble of Dorchester, 42-year-old Jensen Vatel of Brockton, 53-year-old Nathalie Mendes of New Bedford, 36-year-old Andy Vicente of Bridgewater and 47-year-old Brian Pfaffinger of Marshfield with falsification of records and making false statements. All five pleaded not guilty, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office. 'The charges are a federal overreach into an internal personnel matter which should be handled by the MBTA, not the court system,' said Michael Tumposky, an attorney for Gamble. 'Mr. Gamble looks forward to exonerating himself at the conclusion of this process.' Attorneys for the other four defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Prosecutors alleged in the 25-page indictment that the quintet and other unnamed Red Line employees 'treated and operated the Cabot Garage as an automobile repair shop during MBTA work hours.' The falsification of reports allegedly took place between at least Sept. 3 and Oct. 15, 2024 while the MBTA was approaching the end of a year-long repair campaign designed to eliminate subway speed restrictions required by federal regulators due to concerns about the state of MBTA infrastructure. IndictmentDownload Prosecutors alleged that each of the four inspectors in that span filed a report claiming to have examined Red Line tracks. But during the timeframes they claimed to be out on the system, surveillance cameras recorded Vicente working on non-MBTA vehicles, Mendes sitting inside her car, Vatel chatting with other employees outside the Cabot Yard garage, and Gamble inside the garage moving private vehicles. In one case, the indictment alleged, 'Gamble claimed to have verified four separate defects, on different tracks, within one minute,' in the final minute before his inspection ended. Pfaffinger, who according to prosecutors still works at the T, allegedly submitted a false work order for a falsified inspection report filed by Gamble covering a period of time when the two were together inside the garage. Foley's office said Pfaffinger 'allegedly not only knew that his subordinates worked on private vehicles during work hours, but had his subordinates work on his own vehicle.' WCVB reported in October that employees at Cabot Yard were on leave amid an investigation into whether they worked on personal vehicles while on the job. By December, a total of eight employees had been terminated in connection to the probe, according to WCVB. Gamble, Vatel, Mendes and Vicente no longer work at the MBTA, according to the indictment, which describes them as 'former' employees. The indictment calls Pfaffinger a current employee and 'previously a supervisor.' MBTA Transit Police referred the matter to the U.S. attorney's office last year, the T said. 'The MBTA thanks the U.S. Attorney's office for their thorough investigation and diligent work toward holding people accountable for alleged criminal activity. As a public agency, it is our responsibility to be good stewards of public resources and deliver safe and reliable service to transit users. That's why General Manager Phil Eng took immediate action to hold these employees accountable when this misconduct came to light,' MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said in a statement. 'Their actions do not reflect the values of the MBTA, and they will not impact the improvements we continue to make across the system. We are taking these allegations very seriously, as we have an obligation to the public and to our workforce to ensure that every employee meets the highest standards of conduct.' All five defendants face charges of making false statements and falsifying records. Inspections typically take place using MBTA-issued cellphones and an app called MaxTrax, according to the indictment. An inspector opens the app and walks the relevant length of track, recording any issues they observe, then confirms the process is complete by touching a finger to the phone and signing their name. The MBTA is overseen by the state Department of Public Utilities and by the Federal Transit Administration. The T conducted a major track overhaul campaign last year after a series of problems thrust infrastructure woes into the spotlight. Officials announced in November that successful repairs allowed the Red Line to run end-to-end without speed restrictions for the first time in at least 20 years. Also on Thursday, former MBTA Transit Police Sgt. David Finnerty was convicted of aiding and abetting the filing of a false report. Finnerty had been charged for helping to cover up the physical assault of a man by Transit Police Officer Dorston Bartlett. 'Finnerty helped Bartlett draft a false arrest report regarding the incident, with the intent to impede any federal investigation of Bartlett's unconstitutional use of force,' Foley's office wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Next stop, Houghton's Pond. MBTA to expand Saturday bus service this summer to Blue Hills Reservation
Houghton's Pond features an accessible beach for swimming and fishing. The area also has hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. Recreation facilities include ball fields, a concession stand, a playground, picnic areas, restrooms, and a visitors' center. Advertisement 'We encourage everyone from near and far to grab your beach towels, leave your cars at home, and hop on the 716 to Houghton's Pond this summer,' said the MBTA's general manager, Phillip Eng. No other changes to the route are expected this summer. During the pilot program, the MBTA will gather feedback from riders and data to make future improvements. Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Five things to do around Boston, June 2
June 4 Petal Talk Stroll the beautiful grounds of the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill during its Spring Horticulture Walk & Talk. From 11 a.m. to noon, enjoy nature as you wander through the trees and blooming flowers with guidance from expert horticulturist Hunter Blanchard — learning about local ecology, pollinators, and more along the way. $5 for members, $25 for non-members. Advertisement June 5-8 Greek to Me Celebrate Greek culture at the Arlington Greek Festival. This four-day extravaganza, at St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church, showcases cuisine such as roast lamb, gyros, and souvlaki. Enjoy live music and see the Sons and Daughters of Alexander the Great troupe performing traditional dances. Food and drinks available for purchase. 5-9 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Free. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up June 6-8 Crafters' Coven Enjoy local art, music, dance, and theater at the 17th annual Salem Arts Festival. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Salem, join in on interactive art-making, shop for original local art pieces at a crafters' marketplace, watch a live mural slam, and listen to pop-up music performances. Events are all accessible from Boston via MBTA commuter rail. Free. Advertisement June 8 Dragon Dash Celebrate East Asian culture as you watch nearly 70 teams from around the globe compete at the 46th annual Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. From noon to 5 p.m. at Harvard's John W. Weeks Footbridge, participants will race ornate boats on the Charles River, in a sport that has been around for over 2,000 years. Also: Shop for traditional Asian arts and crafts, enjoy lion dance and martial arts demonstrations, listen to traditional Japanese Taiko drumming, and sample a wide variety of Asian cuisine. Free, with food and drinks available for purchase. Share your event news. Send information on Boston-area happenings at least three weeks in advance to week@ Adelaide Parker can be reached at
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Mass Pike construction could back up traffic for hours this weekend. Here's what Boston drivers should know.
A major construction project on the Mass Pike near Boston could have drivers sitting in traffic for hours this weekend. Starting later today and lasting through early Monday morning, work to replace a highway bridge will require lane closures in both directions. The construction work will be a headache not just for drivers on I-90, but for MBTA and Amtrak riders as well. Transportation officials are urging people to plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel in the area. Here's what you need to know about construction on the Mass Pike this weekend. Where is the Mass Pike construction happening? Crews are demolishing and replacing a Mass Pike bridge over the MBTA railroad on the Newton/Weston border. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between exits 123 and 125. A map of lane closures on the Mass Pike this weekend. MassDOT This is part of a $400 million project to replace and repair eight bridges at the I-95 interchange. Mass Pike construction time This is the first of two weekends of lane closures in this area of the Mass Pike. The lane closures this weekend start at Friday, May 30 at 9 p.m. and last through Monday, June 2 at 5 a.m. A second weekend of lane closures begins on Friday, June 20 at 9 p.m. and runs until Monday, June 23 at 5 a.m. Residual delays could extend into the Monday morning commute, transportation officials said. How bad could traffic be on the Mass Pike? The affected area of the Mass Pike typically sees more than 100,000 cars on a weekend day. If that many drivers try to pass through this weekend, there could be delays that last between two and three hours, highway administrator Jonathan Gulliver says. That's why highway signs have gone up around the Boston area urging drivers to seek alternate routes. Gulliver said if traffic can be limited to about 50% of normal levels, then the delays will be "manageable." "We're looking for you to just stay away from the area," Gulliver said at a news conference Tuesday. Commuter Rail, Amtrak service affected by Mass Pike construction The construction work will require a temporary shutdown of train service on the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail line, as well as Amtrak service between Boston and Albany on both weekends. Shuttle buses will replace trains between Framingham and Boston. Click here for a bus schedule.
