A plan for a massive reconstruction of Washington Street between Beacon Street and Route 9 is slowly moving forward, amid tensions between prioritizing bicycle safety or parking. One of the largest and most controversial changes as the plan now stands would put a curb between bicycles and cars by adding sidewalk-level separated bike lanes to… Continue reading Major Washington Street redesign stirs debate over bike lanes, parking
Category: Transportation
Audit of Brookline post office finds thousands of delayed pieces of mail, two dozen missing master keys
An audit of the Brookline branch of the United States Postal Service found significant problems with its performance, including thousands of delayed pieces of mail, packages scanned as delivered while still at the office, and dozens of missing mail keys which can be used for thefts. The audit of the Coolidge Corner post office, issued… Continue reading Audit of Brookline post office finds thousands of delayed pieces of mail, two dozen missing master keys
Is there enough parking in Coolidge Corner? A new study says yes
There is more than enough parking in Coolidge Corner to meet the demand that new development might create, according to a draft study on parking and curb use released by the town’s Department of Economic Development & Long-Term Planning at a recent public workshop. The study, begun in May and carried out in conjunction with… Continue reading Is there enough parking in Coolidge Corner? A new study says yes
Blessing of the F(l)eet honors mobility and community
Canes, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters took center stage at an event in Brookline last week, a “Blessing of the F(l)eet” that celebrated the mobility devices that help people get around. The lobby was festive with chatter and laughter as attendees entered, each moving at his or her own pace. A few rows of chairs were… Continue reading Blessing of the F(l)eet honors mobility and community
Brookline man killed in Coolidge Corner crash involving motorcycle, car
A 31-year-old Brookline man died on Monday after the motorcycle he was riding crashed into another vehicle in Coolidge Corner, according to Brookline police. The man, who police identified as Andrew Stipicevic, was riding the motorcycle east on Beacon Street at around 7:40 a.m. Monday when he crashed into another car that was stopped in… Continue reading Brookline man killed in Coolidge Corner crash involving motorcycle, car
A new family-run store in Brookline Village wants to power up your pedals
Looking for a bike with a little boost? A new store that opened in Brookline Village last month might do the trick. Boston eBikes, located at 242 Washington Street, is a family-run business founded by Gerry Maiella, an engineer who has been tinkering with electric bikes for years. “It started with helping friends and family,… Continue reading A new family-run store in Brookline Village wants to power up your pedals
From potholes to rodents: How Brookline responds to residents’ complaints, in four charts
When Mark Lowenstein hit a pothole on Rawson Road and went over the handlebars of his bike, he immediately opened the BrookONline app on his phone and filed a service request asking the town to repair it. BrookONline, the town’s version of a 311 system, is an online customer request and service management program. Since… Continue reading From potholes to rodents: How Brookline responds to residents’ complaints, in four charts
MBTA paints the street red as long-awaited bus lanes arrive near Brookline Village
The MBTA has painted a red bus-only lane in both directions on Washington Street between Station Street in Brookline Village and the Brookline-Boston border, the start of a year-long pilot to try to speed up buses coming through the frequently-logjammed intersection. The so-called “Gateway East” project, first proposed in 2020, is a partnership between the… Continue reading MBTA paints the street red as long-awaited bus lanes arrive near Brookline Village
Driver cited after crashing into ballet school on Beacon Street
A pickup truck driver drove into the front window of the Brookline Ballet School on Thursday afternoon, with his vehicle landing partially inside the building. The 30-year-old driver told police he was trying to hit the brakes of his Toyota pickup truck, but hit the accelerator instead, causing him to strike the vehicle in front… Continue reading Driver cited after crashing into ballet school on Beacon Street
MBTA will use federal grant to make 14 Green Line stations more accessible, including nine in Brookline
The MBTA will use a $67 million grant from the federal government to upgrade accessibility at 14 stations on the Green Line, including 9 in Brookline. The project will raise platforms at some ground-level stations on the B (Boston College) and C (Cleveland Circle) branches of the Green Line in order to remove a 14-inch… Continue reading MBTA will use federal grant to make 14 Green Line stations more accessible, including nine in Brookline
Town plans to narrow lanes on Lee and Clyde Streets to slow traffic, protect bicyclists
The town plans to narrow all four lanes of Lee and Clyde Streets in South Brookline, aiming to slow down traffic and make the road safer for bicyclists. Drivers routinely travel 10 or more miles per hour above the 25-mph speed limit there, according to a Transportation Division memo. The new plan marks an effort… Continue reading Town plans to narrow lanes on Lee and Clyde Streets to slow traffic, protect bicyclists
The story behind Washington Street’s never-ending road work
Washington Street, a main thoroughfare through Brookline, has been overtaken by utility work for months, frustrating neighbors and users of the road. There are more changes coming down the line. After being repaved about a year and a half ago, the street has recently been torn up again by National Grid, as the utility company… Continue reading The story behind Washington Street’s never-ending road work
‘Bike buses’ aim to help students safely skip the car ride to school
On a Wednesday morning in February, Yugo Shimada, a third-grade student at the Lincoln School, bundled up in his winter jacket, gloves, and helmet to go to school. He did not hop on to a school bus or into a car: he grabbed his bike and joined a group of students and parents in a… Continue reading ‘Bike buses’ aim to help students safely skip the car ride to school
Bus-only lanes coming soon to stretch of Route 9 near Brookline Village
After years of debate, Brookline and the MBTA have finalized an agreement to try out a bus-only lane for a year on a busy stretch of Route 9 near Brookline Village. The Gateway East Bus Priority Lane, first proposed in 2020, is set to launch in the coming months. The MBTA will paint one lane… Continue reading Bus-only lanes coming soon to stretch of Route 9 near Brookline Village
Paying more to park: town increases meters to $2 per hour
Get ready to pay more to park in Brookline. The town will raise its parking meter rate to $2 per hour across the board, after the Select Board unanimously approved the increase at its Tuesday meeting. Of the 2,266 meters in Brookline, 1,716 are currently set at $1.25 an hour, with 135 meters at $2… Continue reading Paying more to park: town increases meters to $2 per hour
News in brief: Former Lincoln principal dies, Green Line closure coming next week
Long-time Lincoln principal dies Barbara Shea, who helped transform the Lincoln School during her 16 years as its principal, died on Nov. 28. Shea was appointed principal of the school in the fall of 1990, and she oversaw a physical move and a cultural shift that led the school to raise its academic achievement. She… Continue reading News in brief: Former Lincoln principal dies, Green Line closure coming next week
BCF’s new database illuminates the numbers behind Brookline
The Brookline Community Foundation unveiled its new Community Indicators Database at an event at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School on November 2. It tracks various data about life in Brookline over the years, and compares it to several nearby cities and towns. Check out this video for an overview of the database and this guide… Continue reading BCF’s new database illuminates the numbers behind Brookline
Biking Down Barriers Club promotes a safe alternative to cars
Editor’s note: This story is being published in partnership with The Cypress, the student newspaper of Brookline High School. Read the original story here. It is 7 a.m.. The alarms waking up the high school’s 2,080 students ring. Students get dressed, eat breakfast and prepare their backpack for the busy day ahead. Now, imagine a world where those… Continue reading Biking Down Barriers Club promotes a safe alternative to cars
News in brief: New EV charging fees, storm drainage study, and United Parish repairs
Select Board sets fees for town-owned electric vehicle chargers The Brookline Select Board voted last week to charge $.25 per kilowatt hour at the electric vehicle chargers it owns, which have previously been free to use. That fee will cover the cost of electricity and potentially provide a “very small profit” to the town, said… Continue reading News in brief: New EV charging fees, storm drainage study, and United Parish repairs
New public electric vehicle chargers coming to Brookline this fall amid town’s infrastructure push
In a ceremony last month, town officials cut the ribbon on seven public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Brookline Village, as part of a broader effort to build out infrastructure that some EV users say has been inadequate. The new chargers are located in the town-owned parking lot on Webster Place. Combined with the… Continue reading New public electric vehicle chargers coming to Brookline this fall amid town’s infrastructure push