Town Manager Tuesdays: Talking Trash, Transportation and More

Bridge/Bowman Schools Renovation Project – Last week the Town opened bids for the and schools renovation project. The low bid is . Work is expected to begin in April.

Electric Vehicle Charging Station – On Monday, February 27 at 5 p.m. the Board of Selectmen hosted a in the NSTAR parking lot, off of Grant Street and Edison Way.  There is no cost for a vehicle charge, but users well be responsible for regular hourly parking meter fees.

MBTA Service and Fare Proposal – This week, Board of Selectmen Chairman Hank Manz, town staff and representatives from Bedford and Burlington met with state Rep. Jay Kaufman and state Sen. Ken Donnelly to discuss at hearings around the state. We conveyed to the Senator and Representative that the proposed service reductions would be devastating to our region, but that we believed that the MBTA cannot solve their $161 million budget shortfall on its own. They recommended that the town, residents and businesses contact the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House and Secretary for Economic Development and convey the very direct connection between the MBTA, the regions’ economic development base, and the impact service reductions will have on other transportation modes. 

Solid Waste/Recycling Contract – Public Works staff are close to concluding negotiations with JRM, the town current trash and recycling collection firm, for a new five-year contract. The new contract will expand the number of weeks of yard waste collection from 18 to 24. Even better news, however, is that there will be virtually no increase over the current yearly cost for trash and recycling collection.

Minuteman Bikeway Update – Here is the latest on the work the Town is undertaking on the : The next phase of construction will be limited to four areas: east of Hartwell Avenue, both sides of Revere Street, west of Maple Street, and west of Bow Street. There will be periodic closures of sections of the Bikeway. The Bikeway between driveway and Maple Street is now re-opened, however there are gravel sections so please use with caution. Beginning Monday, Feb. 27 through Friday, March 2 the section between Revere Street and Bedford Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.