Hey, there! Log in / Register

One day, we'll all just sit back and laugh about the problems at Forest Hills, right?

Insane traffic jam at Forest HIlls

Plenty of time to take a photo of the gridlock.

Butch reports it took him 45 minutes to go the roughly two miles from Jamaicaway to Forest Hills this afternoon.

Neighborhoods: 
Topics: 
Free tagging: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

Is there still reduced capacity due to construction, or is this how it's going to be?

Is this sea of cars supposed to be more pleasant for the neighborhood than the looming 1950s overpass with its evil shadows?
http://www.universalhub.com/images/2015/arbor-curve.jpg
http://west-roxbury.wickedlocal.com/storyimage/WL/20170816/NEWS/17081823...

up
Voting closed 0

And traffic through Forest Hills is just as advertised. I mean, it’s as the supporters of a new overpass advertised, but at least someone was right.

up
Voting closed 0

Funny, It's just as I remember it when we had a bridge. Some things just never change.

up
Voting closed 0

No, the delays are way worse now. And pedestrians and neighbors from much further away from the main intersections have to deal with the traffic jam.

up
Voting closed 0

When there was a bridge, the through traffic in the photo shown had no lights or other cross traffic from the Arboretum to Forest Hills Cemetery. In short, it was nonstop. Something tells me your memories are a bit hazy.

up
Voting closed 0

Yep. This gridlock is a disaster and is adding a lot of additional street level pollution for pedestrians and cyclists to inhale. Bummer about the overpass not being replaced.

up
Voting closed 0

...that people that don't live in Boston drive through there.

As for the traffic going the other way [to Roslindale, Hyde Park, or West Roxbury], it could be halved if the Orange line was extended or commuter rail zones were adjusted.

up
Voting closed 0

1) How do you know where they live?
2) Why does it matter if people who live in one municipality sometimes take their car into another municipality? One might say a benefit, nay, the entire point of cars is to transport yourself to places where you don't live. And would the effects of this traffic be any less horrible if 100% of the drivers were from Boston?

up
Voting closed 0

The bummer is the medieval attitude that says everything over the wall can go fuck itself. Believe me you don't want to live in the city that'd be left if everyone who works in Boston but doesn't live there took their toys and went home.

up
Voting closed 0

You know there are, like, other ways to get in and out of the city besides driving, right?

up
Voting closed 0

Not unless you live near a train station with parking or within walking distance of one without. And work near where the train goes. And half the time it'd be more expensive, take longer, and be less reliable. The 19th and 20th centuries never quite came to Boston.

up
Voting closed 0

An inexpensive device capable of transporting one several miles in any direction, with great ease of parking due to small size.

IMAGE(http://cdn.hiconsumption.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Felt-Verza-Cafe.jpg)

I used to commute from Medford to the Medical area on one of these - it took far less time and was far more dependable than taking a bus to two trains or driving.

Note that not everyone can or needs to use this magical device ... but if enough people are so enabled to utilize them we all win bigtime on pollution, health care costs, congestion, and parking issues.

up
Voting closed 0

An inexpensive device capable of transporting one several miles in any direction,

*

* the reliability and safety of which go out the window with certain weather we're shockingly prone to at this latitude. Fortunately, my boss has no trouble with my 20% absentee rate or my hours changing with the weather.

up
Voting closed 0

... we all know how reliable and safe cars are in bad weather, amirite?

And anyone who owns a bike is automatically prohibited from commuting by MBTA or car on the rare occasion that biking is icky or hazardous or difficult (and the state isn't closed anyway) or that 80 mile weekend ride in June made them too sore for a day.

up
Voting closed 0

Or, heck, even 30%.

Better?

up
Voting closed 0

Now, take that picture and remove 80% of the private automobiles. What do you see?

A solution.

up
Voting closed 0

I bike to work year round from JP to downtown. There are like 4 days out of the typical year where biking is really impossible, and those are generally the days that city tells people not to drive either. The rest of the year, with the proper clothing (which is much cheaper than a set of tires for a car), biking is completely reliable.

up
Voting closed 0

A motorcycle works pretty well, but you need some aptitude to operate one, more than many car drivers,are capable of, which is fine with me, as natural selection may pitch in to help.

up
Voting closed 0

Bikes are far safer than driving for your health.

Why the hell do you think Blue Cross Blue Shield is sponsoring them and including bike purchases as a benefit?

Do us all a favor - look at facts and statistics before posting. Easy enough to head to google scholar for the public health info that BC/BS used.

up
Voting closed 0

No thanks, I turned 16 many years ago and now opt for an adult form of transportation.

What a fucking joke, and one of the things that pisses me off about living in JP: This holier than thou attitude about bikes. Not everyone can bike to their work, and cars are way, way more reliable in the winter, heavy rain, wind, and extreme heat. Many workplaces don't have ways to clean your sweaty ass up after a 20 mile bike ride. Many people have young children and may need to drop them off on the way to work and don't want to put them in some jackass hippy bike trailer.

Also, biking is for tools.

When the construction is actually finished, I bet the traffic will be similar to what it was. Also, about a zillion more people have moved into JP over the last few years, including the introduction of that massive apartment complex on Washington, so you can't compare.

up
Voting closed 0

Yes, it is. I carry a full load of tools on the back of my bike.

Insulting other people's choices gets us nowhere.

up
Voting closed 0

Wouldn't your load hauling life be better?

You are insisting on perpetuating your own misery because you can't think outside the metal box, and can't think in terms of large numbers.

Seems like you can't think beyond your self.

up
Voting closed 0

Sounds like somebody's a little bitter about all those hippy bike-riding tools merrily passing his stationary automobile while he sits in gridlock.

Nobody said everyone should bike to work. With that said, if you're able, it's a great way to get around. Unless there's severe weather, my boss at my side job bikes from Somerville to Allston year-round, and he does so comfortably because he has the right gear for the elements.

But you don't care about any of that, because you're a big boy and bikes are for kids. Your loss.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

up
Voting closed 0

Not everyone can bike, are not walking great, but can still drive. Forest Hills is , well, hilly. And some people need trucks for their work, like, carpenters, masons, contractors, you know, those people who repair your living space. And though hundreds of condo/apartment units are being built, there is no way to restrict whether or not the new occupants drive. Yes, bikes are great, but the density of this neighborhood ... not a good scenario.

up
Voting closed 0

People who live in Boston drive through that area, too.

Also, spending billions extending the Orange Line to Hyde Park and other places will not necessarily lower traffic, unless you are planning on firing up a tunnel boring machine and digging a path up Washington Street to the Dedham Line.

up
Voting closed 0

Then we could have a subway line under a gas pipeline next to an active quarry! What could possibly go wrong?

up
Voting closed 0

You mean like the scene in Skyfall where Silva presses a remote transmitter, triggers a bomb, and aims an Underground train at 007's head?

IMAGE(https://www.cinesite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/uca_123__0050__comp_z11_v000_A.jpg)

up
Voting closed 0

We'd have to point that boring machine in multiple directions and build a brand new transit system to keep up with growth in the area and become a reliable system. Along with massive improvements on the current system of course.

up
Voting closed 0

Since JP is the place people need to live to be avoid traffic, they should replace most of it with high rise apartments like Hong Kong. Then we can ALL afford to live in JP like the trustfunders like Kinopio and co.

up
Voting closed 0

Tunnel boring machine??? It would just run along the commuter rail right of way.

up
Voting closed 0

Where is are the commuter rail tracks by High Point Village? Georgetown? The Dedham Line?

up
Voting closed 0

Be Prepared by taking these few important steps:

1) Google "City of Boston Evacuation Routes". (These are the routes you should plan on using in case of a public emergency, meteorological disaster or homeland security alert, etc.)

2) Note those locations which might be particularly congested during normal traffic situations. ( Near my neighborhood, Washington St. Roslindale, etc. is regularly in gridlock in any average rush hour.)

3) Plan on an alternative route or mode of transportation. (My bicycle is always ready. Walking shoes are good for a few miles' hike, etc.)

4) Stock up on food and water, survival supplies, because you decide, you're probably not going to be one of the early lucky ones to be able to leave the city in an orderly, calm and cooperative manner.

5) Stock up on booze and weed, and get some good music ready. Do you have good head-phones?

up
Voting closed 0

Know where your local high ground is if you are expected to evacuate for an inland flooding or coastal surge event.

You can do this in Google Earth.

up
Voting closed 0

I was waiting for the Route 38 bus back to Wren Street at the JP Monument and it took nearly an hour for the bus to arrive. The line of traffic from the beginning of South St to Forest Hills must have been horrendous.

up
Voting closed 0

like the one in Roslindale?

up
Voting closed 0

The 39, for instance, could bypass traffic on Centre Street, but it would require removing half of the parking in JP on Centre Street, and the business would scream bloody murder. Of course, it's not like anyone can get there right now, but good luck convincing a business person customers might arrive on a bus.

up
Voting closed 0

Businesses always flip out when parking is removed, and it honestly makes me wonder how well they know their customer base. I would genuinely like to know what percentage of people in say, City Feed arrived in their cars. It just can't be that high.

up
Voting closed 0

I vaguely remember seeing a study done with business owners, who mostly do drive to their locations, vastly overestimating the number of customers who arrive by car --- I want to say it was focused on the back bay?

up
Voting closed 0

Aren't there already two rather generously sized parking lots just behind the commercial buildings on Centre St? Also, nearly every house on the adjoining streets (most of which are single or 2 family) has a driveway, so parking on the side streets really shouldn't be an issue.

up
Voting closed 0

On Centre Street it might make more sense to just make the whole street (from Forest Hills to Jackson Square, or at least Hyde Square) local traffic + buses only, and cross traffic + buses only from the monument to Green. There are plenty of alternative routes for drivers.

up
Voting closed 0

The traffic is much worse since construction. The bridge was much better. The lights are not synced. You need to go in U turns rather than making right turns. It's an absolute mess. The construction trucks leaving will not eliminate these messes. Welcome to the new normal. The only benefit is driving towards Franklin Park there is a left turning lane. Literally everything else is a SS.

up
Voting closed 0

Recently we had a series of appointments early morning at a medical center in the South End. The normal route would have been Washington St toward JP and Roxbury to get there.

Through the first event and 45 mins just getting down Washington St just to Forest Hills, it was easy to see it extended beyond the horizon. We weathered it and were late.

We tried it again and faced the same issue. Once near the station we cut over the bridge near Walk Hill St and looked at Hyde Park Ave. Same problem. So I went up Walk Hill St to American Legion, inbound on American Legion to Blue Hill. Inbound on Blue Hill to Geneva, Geneva westerly to Egleston Sq, where we picked up Columbus Ave and our normal route.

We essentially drove around the perimeter of Franklin Park to get around the traffic, and guess what? We actually did it in less time than sitting in the gridlock. Sure there was traffic that way but it was moving.

The final traffic patterns are already in place at Forest Hills. The problem is that people continue to try to make left turns where now prohibited, block the box out of greed and self-entitlement, and clearly do not know that the flashing yellow arrow means ok to turn that way if no traffic is coming at you. Who invented that? No one in Boston knows what that is !

Even at off peak hours navigating that area is a problem and takes times. Traffic lights not in sync is only piece of the problem.

MassDOT played the good people of JP on this one and the adjoining neighborhoods were never considered because it was made a project only germane to abutters. Add to that all of the housing construction and construction blockages, none of which is coordinated -- and there is no regulation to require that -- and you set the stage for what you have now.

The mantra was that public transportation was the solution but even with a dedicated bus lane that won't fix it. What about the buses trying to get in from other roadways? Or get out of the station? Blocked box again.

You've all been played on this one. Don't let it happen again.

up
Voting closed 0

I have no idea what this is and why it has become the new standard. Everyone use to know that a green ball meant go and turn left if there isn't traffic approaching. But MassDOT seems to love it, and cites studies that it makes things safer, although I somehow doubt it.

up
Voting closed 0

         IMAGE(data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
A solid green ball (without a green arrow) always means traffic must yield when turning left. The flashing yellow arrow means exactly the same thing, so of course, it's going to be confusing

Some people will think it's the same as a green arrow, and incorrectly assume the right-of-way. Other people who figure out its meaning may begin to incorrectly assume the right-of-way when there's just a green ball without a flashing yellow arrow.

Adding new, superfluous signal phases to an already cluttered trafficscape is yet another distraction. Flashing yellow arrows are a bad idea. I don't like them.

up
Voting closed 0

My god, everything new is scary and confusing.

Whoever can't figure out a flashing yellow arrow - together with a sign that says "YIELD ON FLASHING YELLOW ARROW" - they should not be driving a 4-ton vehicle.

up
Voting closed 0

The fact that they need the sign demonstrates that the light makes no sense.

up
Voting closed 0

FYAs are not new and superfluous. They are intended to replace the use of a green ball for left turning traffic.

Anyone who assumes a flashing yellow arrow means the same as a green arrow should not be driving, and needs their license revoked ASAP.

And you can dislike them all you want, but they're far less ambiguous than the old method of using green balls, and there's plenty of evidence that backs that up.

up
Voting closed 1

A flashing yellow ball means caution, and is frequently used where cross traffic has a flashing red light. Traffic with the flashing red must stop and yield, but traffic with the flashing yellow has the right-of-way.

A solid yellow arrow also means you have the right of way. When it follows a green arrow, the yellow arrow warns time is running out, but until it changes to red (or a green ball), opposing traffic will be signaled to stop.

So now, instead of yellow meaning you have the right-of-way, but use caution; the meaning of yellow changes to stop and yield to other traffic. It's not a matter of drivers not learning this new meaning, it's just not intuitive, so it requires more thought and attention.

Only in this one special case where it's an arrow and it's flashing does yellow mean yield. There's nothing that can possibly go wrong.

up
Voting closed 0

Flashing Yellow Arrows have been the new standard for probably 10 years now, and most of the country now uses them exclusively.

The logic behind it is that green signal indications normally assign right of way, and left turning traffic on a green ball does NOT have right of way.

up
Voting closed 0

There are a few advantages to the flashing yellow arrow:

If you have a left turn that is both protected at one point and then permissive at another, you only need one signal. It can display a green arrow during the protected phase and a flashing yellow arrow during the other. Previously, you needed a doghouse signal, with a green arrow on one half and a green ball on the other half, with the green arrow only being displayed during the protected phase and the green ball during the permissive phase.

(I have no idea why they used a doghouse signal in the above photo. It really doesn't make any sense because you can't control the left turn separately with a red ball shared by both movements.)

It also means that you can have a permissive left that is separately controlled from the through movement. You can allow permissive left turns from the left turn only lane while keeping the through traffic in the other lanes stopped. If the left turn lane had a green ball, this could be confusing to the drivers in the other lanes that still had a red ball. The flashing yellow arrow makes it clear that only left turns are allowed during that time.

up
Voting closed 0

There is more construction activity out there right now than at almost any point since the overpass demolition. There are lane restrictions and raised manhole covers all over the area - north, south, east, west - as they get ready for final paving and striping over the next few weeks. Construction continues in the central median and on the two (!!) central plazas. The northern head house and upper busway roof are still to come, but that steel is starting to be staged for erection it looks like. Yesterday the southbound turn lane onto South Street from the eastbound Arborway was closed entirely. There is ongoing construction and ever-changing detours at every pedestrian-used corner and crosswalk from the Courthouse to the Arboretum, from St. Mark to Ukraine Way. The bike lanes are a weekday parking lot by the Courthouse since the permanent parking in the bus yard hasn't been provided yet. It is definitely no picnic for any mode right now. But because of all that I firmly believe it is too early to judge the effectiveness of the final configuration - we just aren't there yet. The whole point was to provide a multi-mode solution for all users and an improved recreational corridor for the city on these parkways - and I think it will get there before they're done.
Though horses would currently be faster than cars at rush hour, I recommend holding 'em for now.

up
Voting closed 0

I understand everything you said but it would be great if the raised castings were done in small phases rather than raising most of them closing lanes and snarling traffic until the roads are paved. This is a major thoroughfare with three main roads meeting in one location including a major hub for the MBTA. It appears to me that the Commonwealth didn't take that into consideration when the project was funded. So much for the initial impact study. When this mess is complete it will be much nicer and a pleasant parkway than the ugly metal structure called an overpass hovering over what was meant to be the connection of the Emerald Necklace from Jamaica Pond to Franklin Park by Fredrick Law Olmstead (the man that brought you the Boston Common and oh yes Franklin Park). Until then I will continue to bypass this mess of a project!!!

up
Voting closed 0

It's Olmsted. And no, he didn't bring us Boston Common. Did you really type those words? Or Franklin Park, for that matter. The land was sitting there, Olmsted didn't pay for it, and he didn't import it from France. Olmsted's park design did not include a golf course. Or ponds. Or a zoo. Or a hospital complex. Or a sports stadium. But if you squint, the rest is his. Sort of.

up
Voting closed 0

Sorry, Olmstead Designed both including the Emerald Necklace. (Wikipedia)

up
Voting closed 0

Wikipedia does not confirm your wrong statement about Olmstead. It's interesting that you cite Wikipedia , but no links to anything.

So here we go, with links
Olmstead article.No mention of Boston Common
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmsted

Boston Common article. No mention of Olmstead.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Common

up
Voting closed 0

Franklin Park is indeed an Olmsted creation. Boston Common predated Olmsted by a few centuries, so suffice to say he didn't create it.

up
Voting closed 0

it would be great if the raised castings were done in small phases rather than raising most of them closing lanes and snarling traffic until the roads are paved

No it wouldn't.

If they did it in small pieces, you'd complain about how long it was taking and the quality of the final result - seams between short segments all the way down the road, trying to match grade and pitch for each one.

up
Voting closed 0

It would be great if they installed the raised castings one day, then paved the next day.

Usually they put in the raised castings, leave it a bumpy mess for a month, then sweep in one night and pave it all.

up
Voting closed 0

Yes,but will it EVER be done???

up
Voting closed 0

Despite the contractor's best efforts to break you.

First, why is this work being done during times of high traffic volumes. Feeney are doing work that involves closing lanes of Hyde Park Ave by the Forest Hills T parking lot, but they don't do it at peak times. Heck, they get a lot of it done on Saturdays. There are roads with raised casings all over the place- just go on any parkway in the West Roxbury area and you'll see. Yet somehow cars manage to travel on those roads with a minimum of fuss.

Second, your description of what is going on does expose the lie that is the construction timetable. Major work was supposed to be completed by December, and I give them enough credit in that the lanes shifted by then, but they also said that the minor features would be done by now (ignoring the situation at the upper busway, because after all bus riders don't count.) Will they ever be done? Is it possible to have more than 5 workers on the site at one time?

Third, why the heck did they build a bike lane only to have it used for parking. I really hate to use harsh language, but that is utter bullshit. They are planning on using an existing space for parking. They've had 3 years to get it done.

In short, this is a horribly mismanaged project that proves how horribly the planning was. I really, really want them to prove me wrong, but things like this just make me think I am right.

up
Voting closed 0

A half-hearted, poky effort overall -- and next to no effort at all so far for the benefit of bus riders.

up
Voting closed 0

I was in this traffic jam. Finally got off the 39 around where James Gate used to be and walked the last few blocks to FH in order to catch my connection (passed the previous 39 which had been 10 minutes ahead of us before I even got there).

At 4pm all the traffic lanes were open. There was no construction taking place (same as many other times when I've encountered horrendous traffic). You asserion about the turn onto South street being closed at that time is false.

Also when the traffic is already crawling at ~3mph, raised castings make no additional difference. You don't see the drag effects of things like that unless the traffic is already going 20+ mph. And the fact that bike and pedestrian travel is impeded by sidewalk construction makes, if anything, a positive impact on vehicle flow, as there are fewer places where peds/bikes wait to cross.

Forest Hills is a mess, far far worse that it's been in the past. The project to 'fix' if has cost far more, taken far longer, and inconvenienced many more Bostonians than any of its defenders are willing to admit.

But hey, all you JPers living nearby get such great views when you look to the southwest now! Who cares if the (often less-well-heeled, often darker-skinned) folks of Roslindale et al are having hours, days, weeks of their lives wasted, stolen by this fustercluck, amirite?

up
Voting closed 0

Present the studies and cost estimates that prove that replacing the bridge would not have caused such issues.

That Rainbow Brite herself would have magicked away all the cars to make it all better, and made it as cost efficient in less time than building a new OMG change nothing egostructure memorial to lost opportunities.

up
Voting closed 0

...the day before I wrote my post (check the date). I'm under the impression that was also the date of the photo that I was responding to as well.

Raised manhole covers - and sketchy lane markings - throughout the project area absolutely disrupt the speed/comfort/confidence/progress of motor vehicles. Detour tape, cones and closed crosswalks, pathways and desire lines absolutely disrupt the passage of pedestrians and bikes - I don't see how you could dispute that.
Given the state of flux and confusion things are a mess right now throughout, for ALL modes - as I stated.

On the delays: The Mass Historical Commission spent a year considering the conversion of Shea Circle to 'Shea Square' before demolition even began. MBTA blew a year of work on the central plazas fumbling the platform jet fans (their original responsibility rather than the Highway Division), and another 6 months at least foot dragging the upper busway roof design and procurement (not to mention the interior station ADA work which you'll properly complain about for the next few years). MBTA and Highway are both part of MassDOT, but the lack of coordination between these state agencies/departments has been a significant factor in the timeline erosion in my view.

No one ever imagined the construction period was going to be a picnic, but many, many organizations and individuals who participated in and followed the planning process closely believed then and continue to believe now that the END result will be worth it for Forest Hills, JP, the rest of the city and the region.

And I'm not touching your classism or racism charges.

up
Voting closed 0

This kind of gridlock will keep increasing all over Boston in proportion to all the parking spaces being added to the city's supply at every new office building in the city. Walsh needs to show some leadership and reduce or eliminate parking spaces built at new office and commercial buildings. And Baker needs to stop dithering with the mbta and do more than not cancelling all of Patrick's initiatives moving forward. Baker and Walsh may be car guys too important to use public transportation, but the rest of the areas residents need more and better service.

up
Voting closed 0

How much of the gridlock was caused by folks who went through a yellow light and then had to stop in the intersection box - causing drivers on the crossing road delays?

Downtown on Oliver Street a 4 bus waited 5 minutes at Oliver and the 93 exit because with every light cycle drivers pulled out of the exit into the box in spite of the yellow light indicating to stop. So traffic that had the green signal could not move. Gridlock.

If the city BTD actually did their job they would have cops at both this intersection and Forest Hills playing parent since many drivers are playing as children.

When drivers start following simple rules and common sense of using the road then they can start kvetching about how "those people" are messing things up.

As bad as a person who didn't vote whining about Trump.

up
Voting closed 0

They really should have someone flagging at these sites. Doesn't have to be a cop - private flaggers are allowed in Massachusetts.

up
Voting closed 0

In NYC there are serious fines for "blocking the box" i.e. an intersection. I've seen a few signs in Boston like that, but very few. What a great way for the city to make money if we posted and enforced it.

up
Voting closed 0

The boxes are camera enforced, so cars that remain the intersection after the light changes get tickets in the mail (and points on their insurance). Also, there is no right turn on red allowed in New York City, so that helps reduce gridlock caused by cars entering the intersection and obstructing the way for cars with a green.

up
Voting closed 0

At least half wrong, and maybe all wrong.


there is no right turn on red allowed in New York City

Wrong. What actually happens in NYC as opposed to most other places is that that Turn On Red is legal only where specifically posted (most other places you can unless there's a No Turn On Red sign) because (in part) of all the one-way streets and special lanes.


The boxes are camera enforced

I'm less sure about that. NYCDOT website is clear that they use camera enforcement for red-light violations at some locations. While red-light violations certainly can contribute to gridlock, the most recent release I could find about gridlock and painted & signed don't-block intersections was for live, in-person enforcement.

up
Voting closed 0

You are correct, NYC does not currently use cameras to enforce 'don't block the box', but they are considering doing so, and de Blasio supports it.

up
Voting closed 0

But the vast majority of traffic lights in NYC don't have the "Right on red allowed after stop" sign. The ones that do are in very quiet areas.

up
Voting closed 0

Here is some real info I got a few weeks ago:

"There are plans for Don't Block the Box markings at South and Washington, and also at the busway intersection near Arborway and Washington Street."

I hate the construction and have been waiting for it to end for months... As a bicyclist, I love the new design, and I'll love having easier access to the other side of Arborway. Even if I didn't, that ship sailed years ago... why waste energy on something that's a done deal?

I've heard it said again and again... traffic will increase up to any new capacity that is built, which means that traffic is never going away. If you live in a city, that's a given. If you live outside the city, you'll be stuck in traffic driving in.
As an individual, you have to come up with a strategy for reducing the impact on yourself. In our household, we use a mix of public transport, a car, a scooter, and a bicycle, depending on where we're going and how far it is.

up
Voting closed 0

Lived in Roslindale and Hyde Park, too; Washington St is a cluster F of epic proportions, as are the streets around F.H. The planners who originally designed the streets and housing, I don't know what they were thinking making a main atreet so narrow going tbrough JP up to The West Roxbury Pkwy intersection; from tbat point onwards into Dedham, it turns into a Los Angeles-like Blvd.

up
Voting closed 0

so that I rarely HAVE to drive anywhere. I understand that some people HAVE to drive but it’s amazing to me that people are like “it took me an hour to drive the three blocks from my house to Dunkies!!” and then they wonder why the traffic is so bad. If you are able-bodied, think about how you can AVOID using your car for every trip to CVS and then maybe everyone will get around a little easier. If we don’t build build and plan so that people can walk, bike or T to where they need to go, this problem will never go away.

up
Voting closed 0

Nice strawman - No one here said anything like that line you "quoted".

Fyi, over a third of the city lies to the south and west of the FH 'terminal'. None of us Bostonians who live in that third are within walking distance of a regular T station.

Also fyi, a great many of us already live without cars. I, for instance, was stuck in that traffic jam, on the 39 bus, with a big-ass package, trying to get to FH so I could take *another* bus, and then walk about a quarter mile up a hill to get home. A one way trip of about 5 miles took nearly an hour and a half.

Before you spout off with holier-than-thou platitudes, take a moment to consider that unlike you, most Bostonians don't live within a couple blocks of a vibrant commercial district with multiple mass transit options at their fingertips.

And the screwed up traffic at FH really is worse than it was - much worse - and it really does affect our lives in substantial, negative ways. It steals hours of time from us every week - and that adds up to days, even weeks of our life every year.

- a former JPer who loves the neighborhood but wishes fewer smug assh*les lived there.

up
Voting closed 0

You even hint at the real problem. Instead of finger-wagging about people's transportation choices, we need to support increased building in JP and other transit-accessible areas, so more folks have viable options that don't involve a car. It's obvious that the bulk of traffic moving through FH are residents of areas south and east. They might like to live somewhere like JP and not have to deal with this mess, but they can't afford it because JP doesn't have enough housing units.

up
Voting closed 0

It is not the folks driving to CVS and back that are causing the bulk of traffic congestion. It is every day commuters, by and large, including the influx of Uber and Lyft drivers, a sucky public transit system, fewer folks being able to live near were they work, inadequate road system to handle all the traffic, etc.

up
Voting closed 0

And they need to get on bikes when they can and stfu.

up
Voting closed 0

As long as construction workers and police can stand around and make Top Dollar for another 2-3 years. "Traffic problems" who cares. Go Marty

up
Voting closed 0

You do know unions are major $supporters$ of Democratic and 'progressive' politicians and campaigns?

Disclaimer: I'm a union member.

up
Voting closed 0

Since they typically have only 5 guys out there from day to day. But they are probably all union members. All five of them.

up
Voting closed 0

... of rarely (if ever) using more than skeleton crews for the work on Forest Hills Station?

up
Voting closed 0

This is a MassDOT project. Not City of Boston.

up
Voting closed 0

nothing gets done with all those union guys just standing around on projects. Just look how many never, ever get finished.

up
Voting closed 0

LET'S ALL DRIVE TO THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT IT!

up
Voting closed 0

It's a flashmob with cars! Or a meetup ...

up
Voting closed 0

I was trying to get from Dot to West Roxbury last night at 7:00pm.

Seems like the traffic patterns are close to done but it sucked ass.

I was just trying to stay in the middle lane to get thru Forest Hills and there were left only and right only lanes popping up forcing people into my lane.
Lights seemed timed wrong too.

Traffic should flow better non-rush hour, never mind rush hour.

BTW, I'm all for bike traffic and lowering car volume. I'd stick a needle in my eye before I rode a bike thru there.

up
Voting closed 0

I'd like to hear from the cyclists who were in favor of eliminating the overpass: has cycling through this neighborhood improved now that it is gone?

up
Voting closed 0

It wasn't just cyclists.

It saved $20 million, too.

But, yeah, blame the cyclists.

up
Voting closed 0

The non bridge project is now budgeted at $10 million (and rising) over the estimated cost of the bridge proposal.

In the end, the cycling community was used to sell a project that has lead to what is pictured.

up
Voting closed 0

Then what would the bridge project have cost?

Stop living in yesterday - your rosy eyed nostalgia is sad and innacurate.

up
Voting closed 0

The overpass was built to prevent gridlock in the area. Now the overpass is down, and this is what you get.

Last week, I saw an ambulance trying to get from the Mattapan side to the Arboretum side. Lights and siren on. In traffic. Any yes, it happened (which I will admit is a coincidence that works with what happened later in the week) and no, it would not have happened if there was an overpass still.

But sure, let's ignore the evidence right in front of us. The at grade solution is working gangbusters. All the rest of us have to do is start wearing your rose colored glasses.

up
Voting closed 0

I’m a Roslindale Cyclist that was against the JP yuppie bridge haters, now look at the mess of double parked cars alongside FH. Thanks naive JP scum

up
Voting closed 0

Design is only part of the conversation. Are more people trying to pass through these days?

up
Voting closed 0

That's a good point that metrics are needed to see what's really going on. Though if I had to take a guess I would say that traffic through the area has decreased, due to people finding alternate routes due to the construction (and sticking with them).

up
Voting closed 0

Forest Hills is a chokepoint for a reason. Lots of roads come together, and between the railroad tracks, cemeteries, and of course the Arboretum, there are a lot of obstructions. At some point, the alternative routes become onerous and you hope the original routes will get better.

up
Voting closed 0

I guess there was a good reason to keep it, huh?

up
Voting closed 0

You are ridiculous. You don't live there. You don't seem to have the slightest idea of the FACT that REPLACING the overpass was STUDIED and REJECTED because it would have caused far more problems and cost far more money.

Oh, BUT MY CAR. Yes dear. You have a car. How special.

up
Voting closed 0

But replacing something with basically the same thing would not have caused "far more problems."

Of course, the original study did say that the at grade option would add no more than 45 seconds to the time it would take a vehicle to get from Franklin Park to the Arboretum, so we can see now that the study might have been a little bit off.

-signed, someone who remembers the rehab of the bridge in the 1980s.

up
Voting closed 0

Replacing with "basically the same thing" wouldn't have solved any problems either - except the possibility of bridge chunks beaning you (for a while). Bobbing and weaving around the bridge pylons and ramps placed on top of the eastbound Arborway 60 years ago was a significant impediment to surface travel, let's not forget.

We won't know whether the study calculations were "a little off" until the project as designed is delivered. Judging 'the result' before that happens, and on some of the most disrupted days of the construction period (as we've done from time to time here), is an expression of aggravation and frustration rather than reason, in my view.

up
Voting closed 0

STOP DRIVING

up
Voting closed 0

That I typically either take a bus or walk in the construction area, right?

So you stop using all caps.

up
Voting closed 0

Show your work.

Please show that the demolition and construction phases for a new bridge would have produced the miracle outcomes you claim. (the area was a shitshow before, remember)

Now demonstrate that the massively expensive other-peoples-money overpass option would be both cost-effective and would not at any time result in what we see here (even during construction)

Then tell the class: how much of a tax surcharge you would have paid for all of this on your CITY excise and property taxes and rents, because you don't get to spend my money without my input.

up
Voting closed 0

You show YOUR work. Where's your proof that it was just as bad when half the traffic got through with no traffic lights, and the other half got to use the surface capacity? And pedestrians only had to deal with that half?

How much money did the surface option save, versus shoring up the overpass, or rebuilding it using modern methods? Note the other post that says the current project has overrun its budget and is now costing MORE than the replacement overpass option.

up
Voting closed 0

I think it's reasonable to assume that the more expensive project would have had proportionally larger budget overruns.

up
Voting closed 0

Is in the photo above. The at grade option is failing.

up
Voting closed 0