Driving

Menino: Casey Overpass replacement will be 'second Big Dig'

adamg — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:48:54 +0000

The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports Hizzona hates the plan to tear down the overpass in Forest Hills, but says, hey, it's not his project, so blame the state when the work turns the neighborhood into a living hell.

Citizen complaint of the day: The tow driver can probably read, he just chose not to

adamg — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:08:38 +0000

An irate citizen reports from Mt. Ida Road in Dorchester:

This morning I parked under a sign that said I would be towed on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. It is the 4th Thursday. I came out to see my car being pulled onto a flatbed truck. The 'supervisor' driving a public works truck with license plate number MB 2278 said he could not cancel my ticket and that I had to dispute it. He also said "Life isn't perfect". They lowered my car off the flatbed truck and quickly drove away. This is the second time the signs on my street have been wrong. Please fix.

Hey, buddy, I think you dropped something!

adamg — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:23:10 +0000

For the second time in three days, Robinite reports a bad crash at Allston's demon intersection - Comm. Ave. and Allston Street, shortly before 11 p.m.

Looks like there was just a hit & run at Comm & Allston... Where the Jeep running left his front bumper w/ plate behind!

Earlier:
Car, cab collide, close Green Line.

What's JP got that Somerville doesn't?

adamg — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:40:50 +0000

A state plan to rip out a collapsing overpass, of course. Some folks are arguing the state should do the same thing to the McCarthy Overpass on McGrath Highway, rather than spending money on repairs to extends its life for another 10 years.

Natick amped for electric-car dealership

adamg — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:36:38 +0000

The MetroWest Daily News reports Natick selectmen approved a plan by Tesla Motors to open its first Massachusetts showroom for its battery-powered cars at the Natick Mall. Company officials said they chose Natick because its residents are particularly discerning - and have lots of disposable cash.

About those cars parked on the median of Cambridge Street in front of City Hall

adamg — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:49:56 +0000

They're members of the elite Municipal Protective Service, forced, they say, to park there because their normal spaces on City Hall Plaza were taken up by, first, the Big Apple Circus and now construction fences, Karen Cord Taylor reports.

Isn't it grand that City Hall Plaza has finally just turned into a parking lot? Beats being a windswept, soulless brick nothingness, one supposes.

People in wheelchairs chain themselves across Beacon Street to protest T fare increases

adamg — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:21:53 +0000

Steve Annear at BostInno posts a photo of chained Ride riders across Beacon Street today, protesting fare increases scheduled to go into effect on July 1. Alternatives for Community and Environment has more photos.

State Police have asked the city DPW to send somebody over with a bolt cutter.

Child seriously injured when hit by car in Dorchester

adamg — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:28:32 +0000

Brian D'Amico reports a five-year-old was taken to the hospital in bad shape after being hit by a car outside 34 Whitten St. shortly before noon.

Car, cab collide, close Green Line

adamg — Sun, 20 May 2012 01:44:07 +0000

Robinite reports the two vehicles collided pretty much on top of the Green Line at Comm. Ave. and Allston Street around 9:30 p.m. That shut the inbound tracks; arriving emergency vehicles shut the outbound tracks as well.

Ed. question: Is that intersection cursed, or what?

Court rules with conviction: Tosses tougher OUI penalty against guy who'd had earlier case dismissed after admitting he would have been found guilty

adamg — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:31:28 +0000

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled today a man improperly had his license suspended too long under the state's drunk-driving law because after the first time he was arrested, he didn't actually plead guilty to drunk driving.

Following a 1997 arrest, Paul Souza admitted to sufficient facts for a finding of guilty of OUI. Souza's 1997 case was continued without a finding and the charge against him dismissed after he completed an alcohol education program.

Citizen complaint of the day: Metro-selling dude

adamg — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:04:10 +0000

A dumbfounded citizen complains, from Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard:

Dude is selling copies of the metro, the free paper. Somewhat aggressive in his approach, knocking on car windows.

Councilor wonders: If the T lets you pay for parking with your phone, why not Boston parking meters?

adamg — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:11:25 +0000

City Councilor Tito Jackson (Roxbury) says it's time for the city to look at installing parking meters that let motorists pay via their smart phones.

At its regular weekly meeting tomorrow,the council will vote on a request from Jackson for a hearing into technology to enable phone-loving meters, similar to the phone payment system now in place at MBTA commuter-rail parking lots. He notes Boston already has meters that accept credit cards and CharlieCard-like smart cards.

Meter maids might not like Jackson's proposal, however - he says the meters could be set up to send text alerts to parkers when their time is almost up.

OMG

adamg — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:22:39 +0000

Spotted on the West Roxbury Parkway in West Roxbury today.

State bans gasoline tankers in Boston during daylight hours

adamg — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:08:25 +0000

The Globe reports the state Department of Transportation today banned hazardous cargoes from Boston streets between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., a victory for city officials who had tried to get trucks limited to highways around Boston, such as 128.

Thieves target airbags in Acura SUVs in South Boston

adamg — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:24:03 +0000

District C-6 reports at least four Acura MDXs were broken into in South Boston on May 6 and 7 and their airbags removed. A fifth MDX had its airbag removed on May 1. A sixth Acura also had its airbag stolen on May 6, but police did not specify if it was an MDX.

The break-ins and thefts are scattered across the neighborhood west of L Street.