Commuter Connection Newsletters:

Carpooling Program North Shore Transportation Management Association

Area construction update:
According to Massachusetts Highway sources, work continues on the interchanges between Route 128 and Routes 62 and 35 in Danvers. During the first week of September, it is estimated there may be daily lane closures on Route 128 northbound and southbound and on Route 62 (Elliott Street) for blasting at Exits 22 and 23. Blasting will take place on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The highway will be shut down for approximately five to ten minutes at the following times (1st blast = 10:00 a.m., 2nd blast = noon, 3rd blast = 2:00 p.m.). For more information on this urgently needed highway upgrade, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Transportation at 877-623-6846.

MBTA Launches Expansion of Real-time Bus Information via Smart Phones
The MBTA has taken the next step in helping bus riders answer the question, "Where's the bus?"
Click here for more information.

The North Shore Transportation Management Association
Celebrates MassCommuter Challenge/Bike to Work 2010
To promote biking as a healthy, clean, quiet, efficient means of getting to and from work, the North Shore Transportation Management Association (TMA) in conjunction with MassCommute and participating member companies sponsored the MassCommuter Challenge/Bike to Work 2010. Click here to read more.

TMA's Facebook Challenge Promotion Winner
Congratulations to Beth Melillo from Cummings Center winner of the TMA's Facebook Challenge promotion. Beth won a $100 gfit card to the Cummings Center restaurant of her choice!

MassCommuter Challenge Early Bird Registration Raffle Winner
Congrats to Patty Dillon of Monetric/Cummings Center for winning the Early Bird Bike to Work Raffle!

Gloucester Times reports: Zipcars May Arrive in Salem.
Read full article here.

If workers lived closer they’d drive less!
High Cost of Transportation in the Suburbs: NSTMA's own Andrea Leary explains to the Boston Globe how transportation costs outweigh housing savings in suburbs. How do housing and transportation costs in your community compare to other Massachusetts municipalities? Click here for a link to the Urban Land Institutes cost calculator.

Dascomb Rd - Andover/Tewksbury Park & Ride Closing
February 8, 2010
MassDOT announces Dascomb Ride Park & Ride lot to close on February 8, 2010. Click here for additional information.
Google Maps Directions to alternate Park & Ride facility.

Attention Bay State Bike Commuters

Tue Sept 9, 2008

Check out and post to our new bike commuting blog about your bike commuting tales, woes, foibles, routes, plans, triumphs, experiments, technical difficulties, fears of getting "doored," traffic nightmares, hopes, dreams and blissed out moments of rolling along beside a steady stream of cars, stopped dead in traffic.

Letter: A friend to the roads, a friend to clean air

"The city of Salem’s own Bill Woolley has the North Shore TMA flirting with first place among 10 teams, statewide, in the Fire Up Your Foot Power campaign, sponsored by MassCommute and the North Shore TMA."

Taking environmental consciousness to next level

"We’re always told that small steps help create big changes, like recycling or bringing your own bag to the grocery store or bicycling to work.

Sure, they’re great habits to fall into during your everyday life. But what about when you’re looking to go that extra inch? Consider volunteering with a local environmental organization."

"Salem is a great walking city, and residents and people who work there have traditional transportation options: commuter rail, bus line, Salem State shuttle, and a ferry to Boston. But its roads still overflow with traffic, particularly at peak periods.

So it's not surprising that the city became the first municipal partner for the North Shore Transportation Management Association, a new group that is trying to reduce gridlock and the region's carbon footprint through alternative commuting methods."

Salem goes green: City's first energy fair draws thousands

"Salem - More than 1,200 people flowed through the doors of Old Town Hall last weekend for the Salem Living Green and Renewable Energy Fair. With more than 40 vendors and exhibitors, lectures, a film, storytelling, Segways and one very bright green car, there was something for everyone at the June 14 event. The fair was the first of its kind in Salem.

Adopting a greener lifestyle can start by making small steps — sometimes literally."

Breaking the vicious cycle: Organizations promote safer streets and bike commuting

"SALEM - As gas prices push past $3.50 per gallon, local bicycling enthusiasts and a new green-focused nonprofit are working to create a bike-friendly city where more people leave their cars at home when they’re going to work."