Noteworthy News: July 30, 2008

N. Providence Public Works Garage gets Makeover: Eighteen months ago, North Providence officials were ready to sell the land that the current public work garage sits on to a developer to be turned into housing. However, after a closer examination, it was determined that the city could save more money be renovating the garage rather than selling the land and building a brand new one. Crews have been paving the parking lots (previously all dirt) and working on a 5,000 square foot expansion to the property. Other plans for the public works facility include a new 35-foot high salt shed, adding additional space for vehicles, and equipping the facility to be the main maintenance sight for police and fire vehicles. For the most part, the entire project has been undertaken by public works employees, which obviously saves the city a good deal of cash. The complete renovation will cost about $200,000, far less than the estimated $2.1 million it would have cost to build a new facility. Source: Providence Journal

Bus Line could Connect Green Line to MetroWest: The MetroWest Regional Transportation Authority has plans to put a bus service that would connect the Green Line’s D Branch with the MetroWest region. The plan is to have buses run from Framingham to the end of the D Branch, allowing for more flexibility for the commuters in that region. While the MWRTA has received the initial go ahead, they will now go after funds from the Federal Transportation Authority, asking for as much as $750,000 for operating and capital costs (including four buses). Source: Metro

IMAX Coming to Common Theater: The AMC Loews Boston Common theater has announced that, in September, an IMAX screen will be coming to the cineplex. This is just one of 100 new IMAX screens coming to AMC theaters across the country. When it opens, it will be the only IMAX screen in the city to show studio films, as the screens at the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium show primarily educational films. Source: Metro