NIGHT WORK: Mt. Auburn Street from Bigelow Avenue to Arlington Street

The City of Watertown has contracted the services of Commonwealth Construction & Utilities, Inc to perform water spot repairs on Mt. Auburn St from Bigelow Avenue to Arlington Street. This work is part of ongoing efforts by the city to improve our water system infrastructure and is scheduled to begin WEATHER PERMITTING on Sunday, August 20, 2023 between the hours of 9 PM and 5 AM. Work is scheduled overnight to minimize the impacts to traffic, businesses, and residents in the area.

From Sunday, August 20th at 9 PM through Friday, August 25 at 5 AM, the water will be shut down on Mt. Auburn Street from Lloyd Road to Arlington Street from 9 PM to 5 AM. Water will also be shut down on Templeton Parkway between Mount Auburn Street and Maplewood Street and Bigelow Avenue between Mt. Auburn Street and Merrifield Avenue from 9 PM to 5 AM. Not all locations will lose water access every evening depending on work progression. Water services may still be impacted past 5 AM.

Please plan accordingly to store some water for drinking and cooking during these hours.
The department will try to minimize the amount of time that service will be discontinued to perform this work.

Please note that during the construction period there will be parking restrictions within the work areas from 9 PM to 5 AM.  The Police Department has been notified of the construction work in the area.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, contact the Watertown Department of Public Works at (617) 972-6420.

The City of Watertown thanks you for your cooperation.

Mount Auburn Street Final Design Open House: June 20

The Mount Auburn Street Complete Streets Project Team is pleased to announce that the final roadway design plans have been submitted to MassDOT. These designs include construction-related details such as traffic signal layouts, utility upgrades/modifications, and site grading to ensure the roadway and sidewalk improvements match existing conditions at the limits of work. The project remains on schedule to go out to bid later this year, allowing construction to begin in early 2024. The project team continues to coordinate with MassDOT on the project schedule for the next steps.

Join us at an Open House on the
Mount Auburn Street Final Design
Date: Tuesday, June 20
Time: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Perkins School for the Blind, Grousbeck Center
55 Beechwood Ave, Watertown
Parking available in lot off Beechwood Ave; follow signs for event parking

Watertown Department of Public Works invites you to attend an interactive Open House on the final design for Mount Auburn Street. Stop by any time between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to review the final roadway design plans for the corridor and discuss your questions with members of the team and City staff. You can also share your input on the landscaping and streetscape concepts for the placemaking areas throughout the corridor. The project team will share examples of proposed site amenities, such as benches and bicycle parking, as well as plantings to be installed.

We will post recorded presentations outlining the final roadway design and the landscaping concepts, as well as updated plans, on this website in advance of the Open House. These can be viewed at home and will also be on display during the Open House. They will be announced with a separate email in the coming weeks. Sign up here if you are not already subscribed.

Please download a meeting flyer and help us spread the word. 

Work Continues to Advance Mount Auburn Street

We would like to share some updates on behalf of National Grid and the City regarding other work taking place on Mount Auburn Street to advance the project.

Update from National Grid

National Grid continues to replace the gas main that runs down the center of Mount Auburn Street. This work is taking place in advance of future Mount Auburn Street road reconstruction.

National Grid has encountered some unexpected conditions and has provided an updated timeframe for completion of the work:

•  Taylor Street to Walnut Street:  Estimated completion in mid-June 2023.

• School Street to Arlington Street:  Estimated completion in October 2023.

• Arlington Street to Cambridge line:  Estimated completion in October 2023.

Work between Walnut Street and School Street has not begun yet.  It is anticipated to begin in October, 2023 and last through January, 2024.

We understand that this work has been impactful and appreciate residents' and businesses’ patience as construction continues.  Please contact National Grid with questions regarding the work at 508-760-7533.

Upcoming Water and Sewer Upgrades

The City will begin a water and sewer upgrade project for the Mount Auburn Street corridor later this spring. The water and sewer mains on the street have been inspected and are generally in good condition. The project seeks to improve reliance and resiliency by replacing and/or installing new water valves at various locations that allow the City to turn on and off the water mains.  Limited repairs on the sewer mains will also be performed.

Mount Auburn Street Project Update: 75% Design Plans Submitted

Mount Auburn Street Project Update: 75% Design Plans Submitted

The Mount Auburn Street Complete Streets project team is pleased to share some exciting progress updates. The project remains on schedule to go out to bid later this year, allowing the project to begin construction in early 2024. The project team continues to coordinate with MassDOT on the project schedule for the next steps.

75% Design Plans Submitted to MassDOT

On October 17, 2022, the project team submitted 75% design plans to MassDOT for their review. MassDOT is planning to send out responses to public comments on the 25% design in the coming weeks. Since these plans have progressed from 25% to 75% design, the project team has:

• Begun working with a landscape architect and City staff to develop landscaping and streetscape concepts which we expect to bring to the community for your input in the coming months. This includes creating opportunities for placemaking in commercial areas throughout the corridor, providing site amenities such as benches and bicycle parking, and protecting and expanding the existing tree canopy and vegetation.

• Continued to coordinate with the MBTA on enhancing transit operations, safety, efficiency, and service, which could result in some minor design changes.

• Canvased local businesses in Coolidge Square to understand vehicle and truck loading needs to develop a loading plan for the district. Learn more about this below.

• Performed a detailed review of the water system on Mount Auburn Street, including sampling and inspecting sections of the water main pipe. While the water main in the street is old, it is in very good condition. The City will be installing additional valves on the main to improve operational efficiency later this year. The MassDOT project will replace and/or relocate hydrants along the corridor based on condition and location with respect to on-street parking.

• Developed more detailed designs suitable for construction such as traffic signal layouts, utility upgrades/modifications, and site grading to ensure the roadway and sidewalk improvements match existing conditions at the limits of work.

• Began the Right of Way acquisition process. To complete the project, it will be necessary to acquire both permanent and temporary easements from private property owners along the corridor. The project team is identifying necessary easements and will work with a qualified appraiser to determine their value to ensure property owners are compensated properly. In the coming months, the City will reach out to property owners if an easement is needed on their property. Learn more about MassDOT’s Right of Way acquisition process here.

Once MassDOT has fully reviewed the 75% design plans it will host a Public Informational Meeting to present the project to the public.

Work Continues on Loading Zones

Over the summer, the project team conducted a survey of area businesses to better understand business operations, deliveries, and loading needs. We are using the results of the survey and the feedback we received as a guide to incorporate loading and delivery zones in the final design. The team will be reaching back out to businesses with proposed loading and delivery zones and looks forward to ongoing conversations about these issues.

Update from National Grid

National Grid continues to replace the gas main that runs down the center of Mount Auburn Street. This work is taking place in advance of future Mount Auburn Street road reconstruction.
The main is aging and full replacement will eliminate the need for future repairs. There are benefits for customers – an upgraded system and improved, reliable performance and fewer leaks and more safety devices – and for the environment – reduced methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the older leak-prone system.
The work area is approximately 2 miles long and spans from Summer Street to the Cambridge City line. National Grid currently anticipates completion of this work in spring 2023. We understand that this work has been impactful and appreciate residents' and businesses’ patience as construction continues.  Please contact National Grid with questions regarding the work at 781-907-4006.

Updated Functional Design Report Now Available

In January of 2016, a preliminary Functional Design Report (FDR) was submitted to MassDOT and the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, prior to beginning work on the 25% design plans for the Mount Auburn Street Corridor Project. This was necessary to gain early acceptance of the concept of a road diet along Mount Auburn Street and to obtain funding for the project. 

The FDR is an evaluation of the current Mount Auburn Street corridor from Patten Street, just east of Summer Street to the Cambridge City limits. It also includes a section of Arlington Street, beginning north of the intersection with Mount Auburn Street and continuing south to Grove Street terminating at Merrifield Avenue. It assesses existing conditions, identifies operational and safety deficiencies, and recommends an improvement strategy to address any deficiencies identified. 

During development of the concept plans, it was evident a revised FDR would be necessary to capture changes in the design as a result of our robust public participation process, recent changes in traffic volume projections, and incorporation of bus transit priority. This FDR, prepared in June of 2021, replaces the previous version with updated crash data, revised traffic volumes, traffic operations analyses, concept plans for the corridor, and ultimately supports the 25% design plans. 

You can view the updated Functional Design Report here. 

Coolidge Square Business Survey Results

In June, the Mount Auburn Street project team hand delivered surveys to Coolidge Square businesses to better understand business operations, deliveries, and loading. The feedback received will be used by the City to address delivery and loading needs in the project design. 

The project team reviewed the results of the survey and identified several themes: 

• Deliveries are made throughout the day, without any one period of time being most popular

• Businesses have little to no control over when deliveries are made 

• The time it takes for deliveries varies greatly 

• Delivery vehicles use Mount Auburn Street and/or side streets most frequently 

Based on survey feedback, we are now evaluating parking and loading options to better accommodate delivery and loading vehicles. The project team’s focus is to designate loading areas on side streets, recognizing the importance of preserving customer parking options along Mount Auburn Street.

We would like to thank all Coolidge Square businesses that submitted survey responses. They will lead to an improved project design.

Coolidge Square Business Owners: We want to hear from you!

MassDOT recently approved the Mount Auburn Street 25% Design plans. As we advance the design, the City of Watertown is looking to better understand business operations, deliveries, and loading. Because double parking and other illegal parking can be dangerous, the City would like to accommodate your delivery and loading needs in the project design to the extent possible.

The City of Watertown is distributing a survey to business owners in Coolidge Square. The results of this survey will be reviewed by the project team and considered as the team develops plans for parking and loading on Mount Auburn Street in Coolidge Square. Individual responses will not be shared publicly.

You can take the survey online here until June 22, 2022.

This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

We are also distributing print versions of the survey. If for some reason you did not receive a print version, please request a copy by emailing us at: Team@MountAuburnStreet.com

Project Update - 25% Design Approved by MassDOT - April 2022

We hope you are having a good start to your spring. The Mount Auburn Street Complete Streets Project Team is pleased to share some exciting progress updates. Our project recently reached an important milestone – MassDOT has approved the 25% Design which defines the general layout as presented at MassDOT’s November 2021 Public Hearing. This means the project team can move forward with the 75% Design, including tasks such as:

• Bringing a landscape architect on board to develop landscaping and streetscape concepts

• Continuing to coordinate with the MBTA on enhancing transit operations which could result in some minor design changes

• Reviewing loading/delivery issues in Coolidge Square

• Developing more detailed designs suitable for construction such as traffic signal layouts, utility upgrades/modifications, and site grading to ensure the roadway and sidewalk improvements match existing conditions at the limits of work

MassDOT is in the process of responding to public comments from the November hearing and remains committed to holding another public informational meeting once the 75% Design is ready for review.

The project will be funded through the state’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  To maintain the funding schedule, the project team recently provided a readiness update to the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) supporting a Fall 2023 project bid date.

Additionally, you may have noticed two recent changes on Mount Auburn Street. Late last month, the MBTA de-energized the overhead catenary wires and began temporarily replacing trolley buses on Route 71 (and 73) with diesel-hybrid buses due to a total of five roadway projects in Watertown, Cambridge, and Belmont.

Around the same time, National Grid began replacing the gas main that runs down the center of Mount Auburn Street. The work is a critical step to improving infrastructure and a prerequisite to the future Mount Auburn Street road reconstruction project. The presentation from National Grid’s March 21 public meeting provides the street work locations list, work schedule, and answers commonly asked questions about the work and how to reach National Grid if you have questions (781-907-5158).

We greatly appreciate your continued support of the project and look forward to providing you with additional updates as we advance the design.

National Grid Gas Main Work Started on Mount Auburn St

Starting on March 21, National Grid began replacing the gas main that runs down the center of Mount Auburn Street. The work will take place in advance of future Mount Auburn Street road reconstruction.

The main is aging and full replacement will eliminate the need for future repairs. There are benefits for customers – an upgraded system and improved, reliable performance and fewer leaks and more safety devices – and for the environment – reduced methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the older leak-prone system.

The work area is approximately 2 miles long and will be broken into 4 sections for construction. Work is beginning at Mount Auburn Street at Arlington Street, with one crew proceeding towards the Cambridge City line and a second crew proceeding towards School Street.  At the same time, work will begin at Mount Auburn Street at Walnut Street and proceed towards Taylor Street.  At a later date, the section between School Street and Walnut Street will be replaced.

The presentation from National Grid’s March 21 public meeting provides the street work plan, work schedule and answers commonly asked questions about the work and how to reach National Grid if you have questions (781-907-5158).

Notices were distributed to abutting residences and businesses along Mount Auburn Street. Work begins this month and will extend until July 2023, with three crews working on the project.

National Grid plans to maintain at least one travel lane in each direction on Mount Auburn Street. The disruption to parking will be minimized and police details will assist with vehicle and pedestrian access through the work zones, and be available in case of unplanned street closings. Work times will be 7 am – 3:30 pm, Monday-Friday; work may be limited in school zones.  There is a possibility of Saturday work, which would start at 8 am. National Grid will coordinate with the MBTA if there are any bus stops impacts.

During construction, National Grid will provide weekly project updates to the City. You will be able to review that information posted on the Department of Public Works’ website: www.watertowndpw.org

Changes Coming to Route 71 Buses on Mount Auburn Street

The MBTA recently announced that trolley buses on Routes 71 and 73 will be temporarily replaced with diesel-hybrid buses this spring due to Mount Auburn Street and four other roadway projects in Watertown, Cambridge, and Belmont. In Spring 2024, the MBTA expects to begin operating battery electric buses, as announced in the MBTA’s news release:

“These projects require an anticipated five-and-a-half-year shut down of the overhead catenary wire system used to power the MBTA’s only remaining trolley bus service on Routes 71 and 73. While the trolley bus service on Routes 71 and 73 will be replaced with diesel-hybrid buses for the first two years of this shutdown period, the MBTA expects to begin operating battery-electric buses (BEBs) on Routes 71 and 73 beginning in spring 2024.”

The MBTA’s announcement also mentioned the upcoming National Grid project scheduled to take place on Mount Auburn Street before our project begins construction. National Grid will replace and upgrade its new gas infrastructure on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Watertown Square. This project is expected to take two years to complete and is necessary step before we start construction. We will provide contact information for National Grid once the utility work begins.