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Congressman to pay for two weeks of free rides on the Fairmount Line
By adamg on Sat, 04/29/2017 - 10:04am
The Dorchester Reporter reports that US Rep. Michael Capuano will spend roughly $50,000 in campaign funds to promote the Fairmount Line by letting everybody ride for free between May 8 and May 21.
Earlier:
Report lists ways to put the Fairmount Line on the map.
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Comments
Way to go
I live in Arlington, but I'm going to get down there and ride at least one round trip to get my fair share of the public coffers.
Politicians didn't need that money to pay for any vacations or houses, right?
What the heck, and I'll see some parts of town I've never been to, too.
Not public money
So you can put your tender Arlington mind at ease. Campaign funds.
And if you are serious about seeing the sights, well, there is a mural recounting Hyde Park's history near the Fairmount stop. Then walk up Fairmount to River to take in some of the interesting architecture and lunch at Zaz. But you're not really serious, are you?
I wonder if two weeks is long
I wonder if two weeks is long enough to get a measure of maximum ridership potential at this time. I doubt it.
Adam, maybe an occasional reminder to anons
to read before typing.
At the Fairmount Station
Get off and enjoy some of the best Italian food in the city at Antonio's Bacaro.
Mass Pike Tolls
Didn't someone do this for the Western MA Pike tolls maybe 15 years ago?
Regardless this is a much better use of funds then a few TV spots.
Yes
It was a company whose name escapes me. I believe they did it around Thanksgiving to boot. Not quite free advertisement but good job getting your name out there (a name I would have off the top of my head about 15 years ago.)
And since he always runs effectively unopposed
He has nothing else to spend it on.
Not a comment on the generosity, but who is giving him $50k so he can spend it on this?
People run unopposed in China. Democracy is in trouble when it happens on your doorstep.
This is a problem with the T though. They run too many services that are overkill. This MIGHT be one of them (I'll let others determine that). You can add the Plymouth extension on the Kingston line and all the station stops on the green line as two examples of unnecessary and wasteful maintenance requirements. I'm sure there are others.
Somebody with cajones needs to shut down some of the rampant system redundancy so we can focus on things that need the money like the GLX and OLX.
Who gave him the money?
Check it out yourself?
The surprising thing is that his campaign spent almost $700K for "re-election." The $50K is interestingly the difference between what he raised and what he spent last cycle, though of course it will be counted as campaign spending in this cycle.
It is neither overkill nor
It is neither overkill nor redundancy.
Yah, sure, overkill
Maybe they should just cut all in-city service because you can just walk?
Pull that aynian pseudoleger you carry out of your backside and your head with it - it seems to make you thoroughly blind to the reality of regional transportation planning and the regional nature of services like the MBTA.
You must have missed the memo
Part of the reason for this largesse is that very few people use the service. You also missed the part where I disclaim any pro or con stance on the issue. For someone who claims to make their livibg on statistics and measurements, you don't read much.
The fact is it costs roughly $10-$12 per ride JUST to cover the costs of the $200 million in upgrades to the line made a few years ago. I have no expectation that transit should "make" money, but that seems pretty inefficient considering it doesn't include operating costs and other ongoing maitenance.
2x post
2x
As someone who lives on the surface green line...
You'll be happy to hear that the green line surface stops aren't actually being maintained.
I think it was Citizen's Bank
I think it was Citizen's Bank - or was it that they got their name put on some of the early Fast Lane and/or EZPass signs?
Fabulous!
Wonderful gift, marketing, promotion, all good things.
There is free service on the Fairmount line regularly.
It's free when the train doesn't show up.
No train no service
.
Hypothetical
service.
i suppose if you call service
i suppose if you call service standing on the platform waiting for no train to come
So, all the commuter riders
So, all the commuter riders who have to buy monthly passes anyway won't have saved a dime?
Write to your congressman
.
I like Mike
Great promotion, next up Marty and Tito!
Wonder if this is legal
Or if the people who donated those funds for his CAMPAIGN agree with using the money this way.
Yes, it is
The FEC said so, the Globe reports.
No say
When you donate to a candidate you have no say in what they do with the money. Regardless, this is far more effective then spending the money on TV ads and staff pizzas.
i am pro pizza
i am pro pizza
also
lmao at "no say"
just lmao
Go, Cap! That is awesome.
Go, Cap!
That is awesome.
They should have coffee
Coffee would be nice