Because nothing says "we're going to finish this multi-billion dollar project on time and on budget" like hiring the guy who used to oversee the MBTA.

But I'm sure the inevitable

By roadman on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 5:49pm.

smartphone apps for spectators to gain entry to the events will work just fine.

Getting to events by a carless guy

By Markk02474 on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 10:07pm.

Davey bragged that he didn't own a car (why not, when he got one with the job!), so I'm sure the MBTA will get everyone to events on time with no breakdowns.

Davey did a decent job bringing the MBTA's administrative costs down, we're now one of the most efficient cost-per-mile-traveled transit agencies in the US (also the most debt laden thanks to the Big Dig). There could be far, far worse people heading up Boston 2024.

Thanks to Conservation Law Foundation, not Big Dig

By Markk02474 on Sat, 01/24/2015 - 12:58pm.

They are the ones who sued to include the $2.3B Green Line Extension and Silver line with the Big Dig because they claimed air pollution would increase due to the project.

EPA data shows air pollution has DECREASED since the Big Dig project was finished! So, their projections were wrong, yet they still burdened the MBTA with a heap of debt.

They are also costing electric customers a pile of money by suing and forcing the Salem power plant in its planned conversion from coal to gas to an uber low CO2 producing one - the lowest in the country. Its to cost electric users $1B, far more than a simpler conversion project.

thanks to the CLF and EPA, air qulaity is better

By anon on Sat, 01/24/2015 - 1:29pm.

Actually it was Baker who diverted the debt from the Big Dig to the MBTA to help Weld balance the books (short term) so he could win reelection. The silver bus was replacement for the 1980s promise when the elevated orange line was taken down for an equal or better replacement. As far as air quality being better now after the big dig, you can thank the EPA (for more emission controls on vehicles) and the Conservation Law Foundations lawsuit, forcing the state to restart many of the commuter rail lines (especially along the south shore), allowing more suburban commuters to take the T instead of driving, leading to cleaner air.

Wrong readings

By Markk02474 on Sat, 01/24/2015 - 5:31pm.

I was looking at the EPA data for the data collection stations closest to Somerville where CLF claimed the air would be worse than before. Well, its better and unlikely that south shore stations had anything to do with it or much of the added debt.

The big ticket item is the Green Line Extension, and that wont start running for years yet, so makes no improvement to air quality now or anytime soon.

Baker traded old debt of the MBTA carried by the state back to the MBTA in exchange for 20% of the state sales tax. Since central, southern, cape, islands, and western Mass are not served by the MBTA (with trivial exceptions), those taxpayers get a raw deal from either carrying MBTA debt or the portion of sales taxes they pay.

I hope that clears up the facts for you, because CLF is definitely a terrorist organization when it comes to state and residents' finances.

Perhaps he can educate Boston 2024 about the T?

By Ron Newman on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 11:08pm.

for instance:

- there isn't, and never has been, any proposed branch of the Green Line Extension running west from Lechmere down Cambridge Street towards Inman and Harvard Squares

- the Assembly Orange Line station doesn't currently have an east (Mystic River-side) entrance or exit

- the Franklin commuter rail line doesn't currently stop at Forest Hills

Franklin Line

By HenryAlan on Sat, 01/24/2015 - 3:50pm.

Some of the Franklin line trains follow the Fairmont branch, and stop at Four Corners/Geneva, which I assume is why the line is mentioned regarding access to equestrian events at Franklin Park. That station is about the same distance to White Stadium as is Forest Hills. However, they certainly could stop any NEC line train at Forest Hills for event purposes. The reason that the station is only served by Needham has mostly to do with usual ridership patterns. It's not that the other lines couldn't also serve that location.

Forest Hills and NEC trains

By Ron Newman on Sat, 01/24/2015 - 6:20pm.

Could both inbound and outbound trains stop at Forest Hills? Unfortunately the relevant part of the railroad is in a tunnel and therefore not viewable in Google Maps.

Maybe?

By HenryAlan on Sat, 01/24/2015 - 7:47pm.

There is only one platform and four tracks. The platform is between the track that outbound Needham trains use, and a track that serves both inbound Needham and outbound NEC trains. Inbound NEC trains are usually two tracks further from the platform. However, there are switches on each side of Forest Hills that in theory enable any train from any track to reach the platform. I don't know whether operational problems would prevent doing this as a scheduled service, but in theory it's possible.

Former transportation czar to head up private Olympics effort

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