A report by several do-gooder groups says the state needs to do more to improve public transit inside the core of the state's economy - Boston and the other communities clustered around it within and along 128.
The report, by A Better City, with funding from the Barr Foundation and the Boston Foundation, comes just two days after state officials re-affirmed their commitment to building a new commuter-rail line between Boston and Fall River.
Although the impending new cars on the Red and Orange Lines, when paired with signal improvements, will dramatically increase capacity on those lines - 50% on the Red Line and 30% on the Orange - the rapidly growing 20 "core communities" of the greater Boston area need far more to keep the region growing as the state's economic engine, the report says, estimating good public transit pays for itself several times over, through such things as reduced travel times, crashes and vehicular emissions
One possible solution: Purchasing new commuter-rail cars with their own diesel engines, which would allow for subway-like "urban rail" service on current rail lines. The Patrick administration had proposed these; the idea was one of the first things Charlie Baker killed when he became governor.
The report also calls for development of "bus rapid transit" corridors, similar to the theoretical Silver Line "rapid transit" service between Dudley Square and downtown.
BRT could connect places like Forest Hills, Blue Hill Avenue, Dudley, the Longwood Medical Area, Kendall, Lechmere, Everett's Lower Broadway and the Seaport.
The complete report (7.5M PDF).
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Comments
Speaking of BRT
By Parkwayne
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 12:02pm
What's next for the Roslindale/FH dedicated bus lane concept?
It would be a huge
By Kinopio
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 12:32pm
It would be a huge embarrassment for the city of Boston if they don't implement the rapid bus project to Forest Hills this year because a few entitled drivers complained about fewer free parking spaces.
So no information then
By Parkwayne
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 1:40pm
Just the usual harangue? Thanks anyways.
Here is a visual aid to help you understand
By spin_o_rama
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 2:09pm
https://www.boredpanda.com/space-required-to-trans...
Whoosh
By Parkwayne
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 5:49pm
I posted a question asking for more information a project which is important to me as a Roslindale resident and the response was that it would 'embarrassing' if it wasn't funded with provides zero new information. Hence, my post.
Anyways, thanks for explaining that buses carry more people than cars. I had thought until just now that cars and buses were the exact same thing.
Hey, is it cheeper to move stuff on freighters or airplanes? That one is also puzzling me...
The google
By formerlyTheSoBo...
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 12:50pm
didn't give me much info on this.
it would be interesting to see the results of the trial. is it over?
Next step is sometime this spring
By adamg
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 1:00pm
The earlier test was basically just to see if they could set up/break down a lane. They discovered they could.
The next is supposed to be a longer pilot, in both directions and rush hours, with any luck taking advantage of the new traffic-signal timing near Forest Hills.
They haven't yet announced specific dates.
Spring?
By Waquiot
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 1:03pm
I recall that the idea was to roll is out "in the spring," which means any time between March and June.
I still don't get why outbound isn't a part of this, but what do I know?
Bus Rapid Transit
By Elmer
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 2:55pm
[youtube]r4u1tL1MmoA[/youtube]
I have a feeling this will replace the Mattapan trolleys
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 1:38pm
Mattapan gets new vehicles but is downgraded to a bus line
Anyone Live In Bristol County Here?
By John Costello
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 12:08pm
If you do, would you mind calling whatever toupee wearing back slapper who is your state rep / state senator and tell them stop holding up the rebuilding of the existing T because they want their cousin Manny to get a job rebuilding a bridge somewhere in Freetown? Please.
Easton and Norton don't want the commuter rail going through their towns. There have been options over the years of running a train to Fall River from the over crowded Providence line, leaving at Mansfield, through Norton and down to Fall River, and then onto New Bedford. This means a 2.25 hour trip to Boston from New Bedford.
Commuter rail is great. I take it at least three times a week. It works where it works and I'm sure it will be great someday when it is needed in the City of Sweatpants, but for now, how about fixing Quincy Center station rather than a brand spanking new railroad?
You could have said all that
By anon
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 1:10pm
You could have said all that without a dig towards Portuguese folks.
CR to Fall River
By Bugs Bunny
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 3:09pm
It's such a waste barely anyone would ride it. The T Pass would be around $400 + parking, plus an 60min+ commute. I think the politicians that push for this rail extension just want to do it as a jobs program.
Mass should freeze all CLF expansion, but not all expansion
By anon
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 3:41pm
The bane of South Coast Rail has been these insane Conservation Law Foundation commitments for electrified service to Bristol County. The rest of the commuter rail network is diesel. Yet, they propose electric service for one of the most tepid line proposals. The same goes for the Green Line Extension. The little Somerville spur to Union Square? That was actually developed as a way to get Somerville on board with the CLF GLX. The actual CLF GLX, aka the Medford Line, is just as insane as the SCR electric car demand. A new massive four track trench for four miles of local service. The Somerville Green Line spur will cost around $500 million. The Medford Green Line extension will cost around $2 billion. Baker needs to separate the pragmatic expansion proposals from the crazy CLF proposals. The Greenbush Line was a big enough disaster. Let's not have Greenbush 2.0 and Greenbush 3.0.
Umm
By bgl
Thu, 02/08/2018 - 11:21pm
You seem to be all over the place on Cambridge vs Somerville, but, either way, the GLX is very well studied and one of the best projected ridership/bang for buck that one could get going through some of the densest neighborhoods in Greater Boston.
Imagine how much more bang
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 1:04am
Imagine how much more bang/buck the GLX would provide if it cost a fraction of the current estimate. The money saved could be used on more rail expansion.
Yes. bgl seems to have an electrification or nothing policy
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 2:42pm
Somerville is open to DMUs as an alternative. It would save the Commonwealth between 1.5 and 1.7 billion dollars.
Sure
By Waquiot
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 3:14pm
Construction has begun on the Green Line extension. Federal funding has been secured. Contracts have been signed. Let's just can the whole thing now and lose all the federal funding that is dedicated to the GLX and start from scratch.
Seriously, guy, why do you hate the GLX so much?
Saving 1.5 to 1.7 billion is a bad thing?
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 3:26pm
Lower taxes is a bad thing? Sound spending is a bad thing? I'm for more transit in Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford. But if there are ways to have the same level of service and save billions, I'm in.
Lol
By bgl
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 1:04am
As I already pointed out in my other reply we aren't going to save anything with the magic DMU plan - in fact with the loss of federal matches, we would probably end up spending more in local/MA tax money on it. Again though, the DMUs even at best aren't going to provide the same/better service than the GLX, and the GLX helps the entire line. Somverville/Cambridge are, again, some of the densest neighborhoods in the great Boston Area and it makes sense to expand actual rapid transit to them and it is pretty much the most sound spending we could do. I for one don't mind paying my current taxes (and I certainly pay enough between state and Federal) if it means real investments in real transportation and infrastructure - unlike say the half-assery that was the Silver Line.
State would pay less than half if it went with a GLX alternative
By anon
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 1:43pm
The state's GLX match is just over 1.1 billion. It looks like California just built a 40 mile fra compliant mu rail line for $450 million. 40 miles compared to 4.5 miles. Its safe to say a DMU GLX alternative would be less than $450 million, which is less than half of the $1.1 billion state match. So no, the state would pay less if it went with a GLX alternative. In addition, Allston, Grove Hall, Downtown Chelsea, Dudley all have higher densities than Somerville's Union Sq and Western Medford. Its best to improve transit in those four areas alongside Somerville and Medford
Wrong
By SwirlyGrrl
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 5:33pm
Bullshit on the "blah blah denser blah blah". You are denser between the ears. People have shown and cited census information REPEATEDLY to show that you are WRONG. Please check census figures - NO GERRYMANDERING - and try again.
Or just take your fact-free bullshit and go the fuck away. On a DMU, if necessary.
You may be interested in this data
By anon
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 3:08pm
https://statisticalatlas.com/place/Massachusetts/B...
ACS, US Census data. Somerville and East Cambridge are in the middle of the pack
Good reference, but ...
By CensusTaker
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 1:03pm
You used it incorrectly.
The entire GLX corridor is very heavily populated. The other places have small foci of higher population density,but their overall density is nowhere near what Somerville and the GLX corridor in particular maintain.
You cannot compare small blocks or small areas to a larger area that is consistently densely populated. That is ridiculous.
If you are going to cite things like this, you really should read them first. Learning how to read them is also important.
No
By bgl
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 12:53pm
Pretty much incorrect. BTW, with DMUs, you still have to do the the stations, which... are a huge part of the price tag. Oh, and then no union square spur? No improvements to the entire green line with the new maintence facility? BTW - you, as I have pointed out, are again leaving out the North Station Expansion that would be needed for any increased service/capacity that even push/pulls would bring, let alone DMUs.
Riiiiight
By bgl
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 12:59am
If by that you mean cost even more than the GLX, then sure. DMU dingy service? So lets see - cost to buy them, cost to build/upgrade maintence facilities for them, oh, and North Station is already at/beyond capacity so it would also require the North Station expansion project or the NSRL and still wouldn't provide anywhere near the service levels or convenience that the GLX is providing. Plus the GLX enhances the entire line and all branch service with the added maintence facility - this way they now have one at both ends of the line, along other things that will help out ops on the green line.
BTW, the green line is already funded and paid for, including basically dollar for dollar matching federal funds. None of the work for DMUs or to support them have this funding.
The state has an active urban rail study
By anon
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 1:49pm
Which includes multiple unit analysis. In addition, only a fraction of the GLX is funded. The feds handed over $100 million, not $1 billion. They can cut off funding at anytime. The state has yet to come up with a full matching plan
$100 million handed over
By Waquiot
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 5:48pm
But another $896 million has been committed by the feds. Once again, you are proving that your grasp of the facts is tenuous.
???
By bgl
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 12:54pm
For the initial work, and with another ~$900 billion committed. What are you even talking about/grasping at here?
If you think $515 million per LRT mile is bang-for-your-buck
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 11:22am
Then you have expensive taste my friend. There are new construction heavy rail subways in the US with lower cost-per-mile amounts. Even the lead GLX advocates admit the line is expensive.
OK
By bgl
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 12:55am
It is - but then again it includes 7 stations, the community path, remediation work, an entire new yard and maintenance facility, the Type-9 rolling stock order, multiple bridges, and work done literally next to an active heavy rail line. Again, the line hits one of the densest areas without rapid transit and is a hell of a lot bigger bang for the buck than the SCR.
Not OK. That's Green-At-Any-Cost
By anon
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 1:51pm
Its too expensive. Even after the Baker cuts.
So
By bgl
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 12:57pm
Basically you just don't want to expand service then at any cost? The GLX is the right way to go and was studied (along with alternative) ad nauseum. Good transit costs money and ends up paying it back pretty easily.
Baker's Cuts?
By anon
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 1:14pm
That's strange - it is the Great and General Court that decides what money gets spent.
More evidence that you don't live here.
Consider this:
MA House: 35 Republicans, 125 Democrats
MA Senate: 4 Republicans, 36 Democrats
They could fix the system. They just don't. They could override Baker. They just don't.
Have a problem with transit spending? Talk to these guys.
Fine then
By anon
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 2:46pm
Storrow Drive is too expensive to maintain. Way more expensive per mile!
Rip it up.
The CLF had nothing to do
By DTP
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 8:17am
The CLF had nothing to do with the electrification requirement - that was mandated by the Army Corps of Engineers as a condition of granting the necessary wetlands permits.
That is not true
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 11:25am
If it started with the Army Corps. Then Providence CR would be required to electrify as well.
You and the other anon can
By DTP
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 4:07pm
You and the other anon can read for yourselves: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-To...
This is an established fact that has been known for years.
Understand this
By Waquiot
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 4:23pm
The GLX troll does not accept established facts.
Also, I think both anons are in fact the same person, but that's just a theory. I mean, we could say they all look the same to us and be right, too.
Yeah I really need to stop
By DTP
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 8:35am
Yeah I really need to stop taking the bait. I mean 3 new, very similarly worded replies from anons after I posted a link to the EIS still claiming otherwise.
Honestly I don't even understand why Adam still allows these trolls to post.
Ya know
By Waquiot
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 9:29am
When Adam posted this (and it is an interesting report) my first thought was "that guy who hates the GLX is going to (phrase that is rather crass) when he sees this. It's like chum to a shark.
california seems to have found a way around this
By anon
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 11:24am
good news for pacheco, taunton, fall river, and new bedford
Apples to oranges.
By DTP
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 3:41pm
Apples to oranges.
The Army Corps of Engineers approves permits on a case-by-case basis, and can slap on whatever requirements they want. In this case, they added a requirement for electrification.
I don't even understand what you're arguing at this point. Have you now accepted that the Corps are responsible for the electrification requirement rather than the CLF, but think that the Corps' requirement is invalid because it didn't apply to another project across the country?
What are you saying?
By Waquiot
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 4:16pm
That two different projects in two different ecosystems emerged from their environmental review with two different results? Crazy.
You're right
By anon
Thu, 02/15/2018 - 4:26pm
The Cali train runs through miles of extremely fragile wetlands within a state with extremely harsh environmental guidelines. Great news for Mass
They got approval from the agencies that oversee this
By Waquiot
Thu, 02/15/2018 - 5:27pm
And from what I gather, California is pretty strict with their environmental policies.
Oh, and the route is in the median of a highway, not in the middle of a wetland.
New diesel train in California's Bay Area, wetlands, no elec req
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 12:17pm
A new diesel train started running just north of San Francisco in Cali's Bay Area. It crosses through miles of wetlands in the counties of Marin and Sonoma. There was no federal electrification requirement barrier. Its one track most of the way. The train connects small cities and crosses miles of sparsely populated terrain. I also believe its an MU. The train A Better City mentioned in its report. It might be a good model for South Coast Rail. Massachusetts should get in touch with Cali. See how they got things done.
That's the SMART train
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 2:52pm
It was estimated at $500 million for 40 plus miles of rail service. It came in under budget at around $450. Roughly $11 million per mile. After a few months, they're already adding cars to meet demand
The CLF pushes electrification 24/7 via third parties
By anon
Sat, 02/10/2018 - 11:16am
They always pester residents in Mattapan and Roxbury to advocate for Fairmount electrification.
Conservation Law is so sad
By anon
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 11:53am
They always target poor communities. Believing they don't have any knowledge of city and state operations
The CLF tried the same Army Corps line during Greenbush
By anon
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 1:54pm
Hingham kicked out of that in mere days. There's nothing at the federal level preventing SCR from becoming all diesel
There's no law preventing it,
By DTP
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 8:34am
There's no law preventing it, no, except for the fact that the Army Corps of Engineers needs to approve wetlands permits, and the Corps only did so on the condition that the line must be electrified.
I linked right to the EIS above. Read it for yourself.
I'm sorry the facts contradict your narrative.
Oh
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 9:42am
You again.
I'm not even sure you have ever been TO Boston, let alone outside of it.
You are ridiculous. The CLF didn't "order" the GLX - IT WAS MANDATED BY A COURT ORDER AS A MITIGATION TO THE BIG DIG THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPOSEDLY PAID FOR.
Also, look at a fucking map sometime, why don't you? One of the most densely populated areas IN THE UNITED STATES is not served by rapid transit.
Dolt.
1991. Dukakis Admin & the CLF
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 4:56pm
something to look up
The GLX Troll is right
By Waquiot
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 11:08pm
Much like a stuck clock, he speaks the truth for once. The Conservation Law Foundation did fight for the extension of the Green Line into Somerville and Medford, along with the revival of the Old Colony commuter rail and a few other things.
And technically, at the time all of the mitigation requirements were unfunded, but of course projects like these typically get federal funding, which all of the mitigation projects that have been done, or in the case of GLX are being done, have received.
GLX Troll?
By anon
Sat, 02/10/2018 - 10:57am
what?
All I’m saying is this
By Waquiot
Sat, 02/10/2018 - 5:19pm
There’s someone too cowardly to post with a name who insists that the Green Line extension is the worst thing in the world. Since he repeatedly does this, he’s the GLX troll. If he was brave enough to just register with a fictitious name (like I have) or even just post with a name without registering (like the SoBo Yuppie) I would just call him by that name, but he doesn’t, meaning I assume every anti GLX comment is by him.
That's a bad policy
By anon
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 2:00pm
Have you seen the housing lotteries in Somerville? Gentrification is hitting Somerville hard. Over two decades I have met hundreds if not thousands who are displeased with the GLX.
I know of only one person who opposes this
By Waquiot
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 5:10pm
And his names is “anon (not verified)”
If the people of Somerville really opposed this, we’d be hearing from different people with real names.
You know what?
By SwirlyGrrl
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 5:37pm
I find it really hard to believe that you live around here, have ever been to any of the places that you mention, or know anything whatsoever about any neighborhood but your own if you do.
You clearly know nothing about the demographics or cartography of any place you make these statements about. You just repeatedly chant your mantras like they will magically become true if you repeat them often enough.
Perhaps you should apply for a position in the current regime, given your passion for DIY "facts".
I live in Somerville, within
By DTP
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 8:38am
I live in Somerville, within walking distance of one of the GLX stops, and everyone I talk to is either indifferent or supports it.
I've also met hundreds if not thousands of people who are displeased with it, but they tend to not be the ones who actually live here and would actually benefit from it.
WGBH covered one of the Somerville housing lotteries
By anon
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 3:12pm
Back in 2016. The reporters were right. It was heartbreaking to watch.
Latest 2018 Somerville lottery: 500 candidates for 2 slots
By anon
Sat, 02/17/2018 - 2:17pm
Its getting out of hand. Capuano and Curtatone need to act
Actually its a little bit higher
By anon
Fri, 02/09/2018 - 11:19am
When you factor in detour costs and lost revenue from cancelled or diverted trains north of the GLX. Town assessments will be adjusted during the construction period.
Don't forget the Seaport and Fairmount areas
By anon
Sun, 02/11/2018 - 1:45pm
The Conservation Law Foundation mucked up the transit there too
Wrong again
By anon
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 2:51pm
Menino mucked it up by building out according to a 1950s template for Redevelopment.
One that left out the fact that many workers would want to get there from North Station, and many more by South Station, and not so many by car.
You should look up the South Boston Piers Transitway initiative
By anon
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 3:19pm
Menino isn't at fault
No. That's like blaming Walsh for the current state of the T
By anon
Mon, 02/12/2018 - 4:35pm
Boston mayors have limited T & DOT reach
I can still hear the Conservation Law screaming
By anon
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 11:50am
What could have been a useful GLX from the Back Bay trunk to the Seaport, aka the original South Boston transit-way concept, turned into the plop you see today. The city and state wanted a Seaport rail connection to boost waterfront activity. Conservation Law demanded another transit link to Logan. Presto. You get a half-completed GLX tunnel with a bus running through it.
GO AWAY
By anon
Tue, 02/13/2018 - 12:48pm
JUST GO AWAY
Filling in a missing space in one of the most densely populated areas IN THE NATION is what we NEED from transit.
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