Transportation

Forest Hills Upper Busway On Washington Street Razed Over The Weekend

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Barletta Heavy Division Inc. brought in the enormous tracked demolition claws and jackhammers at 2 a.m. Saturday. By 5 a.m., the first canopy sections crumpled, and by the end of the day, the upper busway on Washington Street opposite Asticou Road was down. By Sunday afternoon, the surface busway was open again for passengers, but this will only be used for about a year. A new busway is being built where the old MBTA parking lot used to be, set on a platform that will extend over the Hyde Park Avenue parking lot. The changes are part of the massive Casey Arborway project that is changing the face of Forest Hills and Jamaica Plain.

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File photo: The upper busway at Forest Hills on Sept. 19, 2015.
Transportation

Demolition of Bus Canopy to Be Done Around the Clock This Weekend

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Workers have removed several canopy panels already and hoe rams were at work Thursday preparing the way for full demolition of the roof over the upper busway at Forest Hills. State officials announced that night work on the project would begin at 1 a.m. Saturday. Work will go on 24-hours-a-day through Monday at 5 a.m.

Officials promise that the loudest jobs in removing the remaining structure would be done during the day. While all this is happening, every bus out Forest Hills Station except for the 39 will leave from the lower busway. Forest Hills is a major hub for buses going to Roslindale, Mattapan, Dedham, West Roxbury and beyond.

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The bus canopy, or what was left of it as of Sept. 21, 2015, as demolition of the shelter proceeds.
Transportation

Taking a Bus at Forest Hills? Bring an Umbrella

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If you commute through Forest Hills Station, you've gotten used to abrupt changes this fall. With rain expected all the rest of this week, that's going to mean soggy wait periods at the upper busway. Crews have removed portions of the canopy over the upper busway, leaving open air where panels once stood. Beginning this weekend the rest of the canopy is slated for demolition. Already, bus stops for all the upper busway routes have been condensed to one lane (the one that happens to already have its roof removed.)

As we recently reported, cabbies aren't happy about new arrangements that temporarily have them exiled down near the corner of Ukraine Way and Washington Street.

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Transportation

‘No One Can See Us Here’ — Cabbies Hate Stand’s Move Away from Forest Hills Station

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The cab stand opposite Asticou Road was originally a straight walk away from the entrance to the Forest Hills terminal. That ended Wednesday when the taxis moved to a new reservation further south on Washington Street at the Ukraine Way intersection. A new traffic lane on Washington Street was created over the summer. The original tree-lined stone-faced terrace was removed and an asphalt sidewalk built against the train wall. All lights and utilities were moved over towards the wall and a new lane paved. But for what purpose? No one could answer that at the Massachusetts Department of Transformation open house held at Curtis Hall last Thursday.

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Transportation

The Ever-Changing Forest Hills Station

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To paraphrase Mark Twain's comment on New England weather if you don't like Forest Hills Station just wait at a while...in this case 25 years. The top photograph was taken on Oct. 19, 1987, five months after the new Forest Hills Orange Line terminal opened. The switching tracks and old station were razed in the next year. The elevated track bed was replaced by the surface parking lot and the lower Hyde Park Avenue busway replaced the old elevated station.

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Transportation

Surprise! Upper Busway Canopy Work Began Saturday

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To the surprise of many, the upper busway opposite the Arnold Arboretum began being taken apart on Saturday. Riders had to look for their bus in the temporary lot further down Washington Street. T personnel were on hand to direct riders transferring off the Orange Line. MassDot notified the community Friday that demolition would begin over the weekend of Oct. 3-5, but contractors are taking down panels two weeks earlier.

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Transportation

Forest Hills Busway Canopy to be Razed Beginning Oct. 3

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MassDOT  announced that beginning 1 am Sat Oct 3 through 5 am Monday Oct 5 working around the clock , Barletta Heavy Construction will remove the canopy over the upper busway (opposite the Arboretum). All buses will be diverted to the Hyde Park Avenue busway during that week end. The upper canopy was designed as an integral part of Forest Hills Station by  Cambridge Seven Associates. It  opened in 1987.  

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A protester holds up a sign at a May 7, 2015 meeting on the Casey Arborway.
Transportation

Baker Admin: Casey Arborway Project Should ‘Proceed as Planned’

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Residents who want the state to rethink not rebuilding a bridge over Forest Hills recently learned the new Baker Administration backs the existing, at-grade scheme. The advocacy group Bridging Forest Hills posted to its Facebook page on Thursday a letter from Mindy d'Arbeloff, deputy chief of staff for Governor Charlie Baker. Below is a copy of the letter:

Dear John and Edward,

Thank you for your visit on Monday. A lot of important issues were raised and your groups’ involvement in this project is commendable. We have spent the past couple of days engaged with MassDOT staff, gathering all relevant documentation and evaluating the planning and design processes.

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From the Community

How the Chicken Crossed the Street

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Hi, has anyone found a good way to get around the Forest Hills T station, specifically how to get from the Hyde Park entrance to South St towards Centre St, when the crosswalks are all blocked off (such as when they do night work)? I cross at Hyde Park/New Washington/Washington and then have to walk along side new washington (parallel to the southwest corridor). This area is isolated because of the tall grass which blocks visibility from the street, and especially in the evenings feels a bit unsafe. Any good alternatives? See all our Casey Overpass/Casey Arborway coverage here.

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