In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.
These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.
In today’s edition – Tuesday, August 30 – vote early today at the Unitarian Universalist Church, take the MassDOT Beyond Mobility survey, the WRTA suspends Route 12 service to Edgemere Crossing Plaza in Shrewsbury, apply before today’s deadline to take the Massachusetts Civil Service firefighters exam and gas prices fall another 10 cents this week.
Early Voting Today at the Unitarian Universalist Church
Early voting for the Sept. 6 Massachusetts state primary is underway from now through Friday, Sept. 2.
Here’s a schedule of early voting locations in Worcester:
- Tuesday – Aug. 30 – 9 AM to 7 PM – Unitarian Universalist Church, 90 Holden St.
- Wednesday – Aug. 31 – 9 AM to 5 PM – Stearns Tavern, 140 Mill St.
- Thursday – Sept. 1 – 9 AM to 7 PM – Worcester Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 2 Airport Dr.
- Friday – Sept. 2 – 9 AM to 5 PM – Central Community Branch YMCA, 766 Main St.
For more information on the early voting locations, use the map below:
Take the MassDOT Beyond Mobility Survey
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has launched a new online survey to kick off the second phase of public engagement for the 2050 Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan, entitled Beyond Mobility. Community members across the Massachusetts are encouraged to help craft the plan by submitting feedback through the online survey tool.
The survey, which is offered in all major languages spoken in Massachusetts, is available here.
This second round of engagement provides residents the opportunity to provide views on how to prioritize limited resources across transportation investments. The online survey will be open through Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, with results helping MassDOT identify the priorities for future transportation investments and determine the most important elements of a seamless transportation system.
More about the “Beyond Mobility” program can be found here.
WRTA Suspends Route 12 Service to Edgemere Crossing Plaza
The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) announced on Monday that due to active construction at Edgemere Crossing Plaza in Shrewsbury, Route 12 will be ending all trips at Southwest Commons/ Department of Transitional Assistance until further notice.
Application Deadline for the Massachusetts Civil Service Firefighter Exam
The deadline to apply for the next Massachusetts Civil Service Firefighter Exam is today, August 30. Find more information here.
The application deadline for the @MACivilService #Firefighter exam is Aug. 30! Get involved, serve your community, and make a difference! Learn more: https://t.co/BGrCo6iFZV pic.twitter.com/mBgi6fpKhy
— Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (@MassDFS) August 27, 2022
Gas Prices Fall Another 10 Cents, Down 42 Cents in a Month
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
Massachusetts’s average gas price is down 10 cents from last week, averaging $4.06 per gallon. That price is 42 cents lower than a month ago ($4.48) and $1.01 higher than on August 29, 2021 ($3.05). Massachusetts’s average gas price is 21 cents higher than the national average.
“Gas prices remain relatively high here in the northeast, where inventories are lower than in other parts of the country,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Director of Public and Government Affairs. “Prices continue to fall steadily, however, and that’s good news for motorists planning their last summer driving trip over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.”
AAA Northeast’s August 29 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be five cents lower than last week ($3.90), averaging $3.85 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 40 cents lower than a month ago ($4.25) and 71 cents higher than this day last year ($3.14).
