Results tagged “massdot”

The least surprising personnel change in some time occured on Tuesday as outgoing transportation secretary Jeffrey Mullan fired district highway supervisor Helmut Ernst after an investigation into the collapse of a light fixture earlier this year. Ernst reportedly learned of his termination from media reports and hasn't heard from the Department of Transportation. more ›

The Big Dig tunnel system is troubled by extensive leaks that could cost millions of dollars to correct, according to a blunt report from recently suspended lead engineer Helmut Ernst that the Boston Globe obtained. The Globe stressed that the tunnels are currently safe despite what Ernst described as "salty ground water that seeps in through cracks and other openings in the tunnels." more ›

The CEO of PepsiCo., Indra K. Nooyi, told the Boston College Chief Executives' Club of Boston that the proposed soda tax in Massachusetts is a bad idea. Bourne welcomed home 160 Massachusetts National Guard soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment to Otis Air National Guard Base after 12 months in Iraq. Remember to follow Bostonist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. more ›

For the second time in two weeks, Boston firefighters rescued a trapped transportation worker who fell while at work. more ›

According to emails released by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, engineer Helmut Ernst referred to the existence of corroded overhead lights as a "big deal" and said 5% of the lights are "no longer safe." Records and testimony of other T workers proved Ernst discussed it with Frank Tramontozzi on February 9. Tramontozzi resigned on Friday from his job as acting state highway administrator because of a "complete communications breakdown" after a lighting fixture collapsed in the Thomas P. Tip O’Neill on February 8. more ›

Having cowritten an amazing semi-rap song called "Where the F*** Is the Motherf***ing Bus?" during an hourlong bus wait in college, this Bostonist can relate to the need to know where the effing bus is. After years of long (cold) waits and confusion, the MBTA has committed to providing real-time bus tracking data sometime this summer. Tomorrow night, MassDOT developers will meet with regular folks to discuss how data is made available to external developers for the creation of useful applications and services. Held at the Microsoft NERD Center near Kendall, the event starts at 6pm and will feature tech types talking about data and its uses. Only a few spots are left, so sign up now to get informed. more ›

• Coast Guard Beach in Eastham was rated the seventh-best beach in America. A beach in New York was ranked number one. Really? [CapeCodOnline.com]

• Legal Sea Foods CEO Roger Berkowitz said BP's oil spill hasn't affected the chain's prices. Yet. [Boston Herald]

• The MassDOT has postponed all highway construction projects until after the Memorial Day weekend. [Boston Herald]

• Almost 200 Bay State soldiers returned Thursday after a year-long deployment in Iraq. [MyFoxBoston.com]

Riders stuck in between subway lines are getting a gift from the T this week as a new fleet of diesel hybrid buses debut from East Boston to Roxbury. The eight new buses are 20% more fuel efficient than standard buses, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and were purchased with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as "The Stimulus." The delivery marks the first purchase of 60 foot-long articulated buses in five years. The first hybrid bus in service, a 39 bus, made its inaugural trip from Back Bay Station yesterday. [MassDOT] more ›

We're not ready to say "New New Appalachia," but fill out those census forms today, kids, because Massachusetts is falling apart! more ›

• After a near collision yesterday and another mishap involving trains in Massachusetts today, does Jeffrey Mullan really want to run the new MassDOT when it opens up for business on November 1? Really? [Boston Globe]

• The Massachusetts House of Representatives may vote as early as Thursday on a bill that would allow Gov. Deval Patrick to pick a temporary replacement for Sen. Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. Channel 5 reports the bill would pass the House but not necessarily the state Senate. [WCVB]