$8M Plan Addresses Framingham Traffic, Rail
The state will spend $8 million to help ease traffic congestion in downtown Framingham and upgrade signal equipment in the neighborhood to improve commuter rail transportation at and around the intersection of routes 126 and 135.
Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray announced the initiative Friday. The money, which will come from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), will help fund an upgrade of Route 126 between Lincoln and Irving streets, now in the design phase.
The improvements will include upgrades to existing signal equipment next to the Framingham train station, installation of improved crosswalks and handicapped-accessible ramps, and upgraded traffic signals.
The announcement came just a day after Murray and MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey announced an increase in commuter rail service on the Framingham/Worcester line starting Oct. 29 with the goal of having 20 round trips between Worcester and Boston by October 2013. Currently, there are only 12.
That announcement came as part of an agreement with freight carrier CSX Corp. The state has assumed ownership of 45 miles of track along the rail line that had been owned by CSX. Meanwhile, CSX is moving much of its freight operations from the Allston section of Boston out to Westborough, Worcester and Springfield.
In Framingham, the agreement calls for a reduction in railroad gate down times in the downtown area from about 21 minutes to 11.5 minutes during peak commuting times on weekday mornings, and from 9.5 to 6.5 during the peak evening commuting window.
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