I’ve held back on commenting, but the bus stop at Hanscom has definitely been on my mind since the HCAWG meeting where there was agreement to expand options beyond the “C” versions.
As discussed in this thread, North Lincoln has access on Hanscom Drive to MBTA Bus #76 that goes to Alewife Station. The commute to Alewife is about 30 minutes and the cost is $1.70 each way—less than 1/4 the cost of the Commuter Rail from Lincoln Station to North Station ($8.75 each way!). In the 25 years I’ve lived in Lincoln, I’ve used the commuter rail less than a handful of times—but I can’t count the times that we’ve parked at Alewife to hop on the Red Line to get into Cambridge and Boston. While this is beyond the scope of the HCAWG, I’d welcome more bus options from Lincoln to Alewife via the Rt. 2 corridor—and even a commuter lot for it. Also, for car-access from North Lincoln to major transportation-arteries such as 2A, 2 and 95/128, there would be no need to drive through the center of town. The prospect of increased traffic congestion on Lincoln Road is a real concern if the bulk of the 635 units are concentrated only in the Lincoln Station area, as Option C rezoning could result in. Anyone spending the market rate of $4000/month for a two-bedroom apartment in Lincoln will have two cars. How else would they get to the doctor, the dentist, the soccer games, the pharmacy… and all the other places that we all go? Will people really take the commuter rail to go to the hardware store in Concord Ctr. (at $2.75 each way)—or will they drive their cars? And what about going to Verrill Farm or Costco or any number of other places not close to public transportation? These new Lincoln residents will drive. The “hub and spoke” configuration of our main roads doesn’t give anyone needing to get to the schools or the Mall/Station along Lincoln Road an alternative route. Likewise accessing major-arteries like Rt 2 can involve a trip down Lincoln Rd. for many residents. Combine the added cars with the need to stop for train crossings (on one end at the station) and a five-way stop (at the other end in the Old Town Center), and it seems reasonable to predict that you will have some regular major bottlenecks on your hands that will also impact residents on Upland Field, Beaver Pond, Pierce Hill, Macintosh Lane, Todd Pond, Wells Rd, Meadowdam, etc… and further along “downstream” along Bedford Rd., Trapelo Rd., Sandy Pond Rd., Weston Rd. Etc. due to line ups at the flowerpot/five corners… It also seems reasonable to suspect that there also would be more cut-through traffic on Tower Rd. to avoid backups. I realize the variables are complicated, and I thank everyone who is puzzling over this act and its requirements. Dispersing additional housing beyond the 20% at Lincoln station seems prudent. > Message: 51 > Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:12:21 -0400 > From: Scott Clary <scottclar...@gmail.com> > To: David Cuetos <davidcue...@gmail.com> > Cc: Lincoln Talk <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> > Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] [HCALinc] Re: 15 units per Acre: Part 4 - > Alternatives > Message-ID: > <ca+zammf8m6-jxkokynoublrdjwteg_x9_a8se1y9ekcfevu...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Definitely needs to be looked into further with the state. > > Kind Regards, > > Scott Clary > 617-968-5769 > > Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors > > On Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 6:20 PM David Cuetos <davidcue...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> There are strong reasons why the Hanscom bus station should be considered >> a valid transit station: >> >> 1) The EOHLC cannot go too far astray from the letter of the Act. As it >> has been shown in previous emails, the Act just states ?Bus station? as a >> valid transit station. The EOHLC must know that trying to exclude certain >> bus stations could lead to successful challenges from towns affected, and >> should therefore act with restraint. >> >> 2) Even if we assume that the ?high capacity? qualifier is valid, we can >> argue the Hanscom bus stop fits the bill as a bimodal line (connected to >> the T red line), with service every ~40 minutes during morning and >> afternoon peak times, in-line or more than our commuter rail during those >> critical periods. >> >> 3) The guidelines do not state that only Silver Line stations will be >> considered as valid transit stations. We should request the State to >> consider the Hanscom station as a valid transit station as it meets the >> criteria for sheltering and high-capacity. >> >>> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 4:15?PM Robert Ahlert <robahl...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> Bus stations are defined in the guidelines but I think you are right, it >>> doesn?t apply to us. Our bus stop meets some of the criteria, but not all >>> of them to be considered. It could still be checked with the state just to >>> get a final ruling. >>> So I?ll have to revise these options again, but still, we have many more >>> alternatives than folks are thinking of which don?t place everything in >>> South Lincoln. >>> Keep the debate going! >>> Rob >>>> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 4:08?PM Don Seltzer <timon...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> Commuter Rail Station is the only one that applies to Lincoln. >>>> Bus Station is very narrowly defined as certain high volume Silverline >>>> stations. >>>> Bus stops are mentioned nowhere in the law or guidelines. >>>> Don Seltzer >>>> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 1:35 PM Robert Ahlert <robahl...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>>> These are just ideas, any permutation and combination could be >>>>> considered. Personally, I think the Village center should be redeveloped, >>>>> but not everyone agrees. >>>>> The regulation does not require the 20% to be near the commuter rail, >>>>> it can be any mass transit. At least that is my understanding, correct me >>>>> if I?m wrong? >>>>> Rob >>>>> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 1:30?PM John Mendelson < >>>>> johntmendel...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> Am I reading this correctly in that only one of the new proposals >>>>>> (E11) includes the "Village Center" land owned by the RLF? >>>>>> Also, can you clarify how E1, E2, E7, E8, E9, and E10 meet the "20% >>>>>> within .5 mile of transit station" criteria? >>>>>> Finally, how do you arrive at the total Option C max units number of >>>>>> 1,347. >>>>>> Thank you, >>>>>> John >>>>>> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 1:04?PM Robert Ahlert <robahl...@gmail.com> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> Hi all - >>>>>>> We put together a list of alternatives that comply with the HCA but >>>>>>> just do so in a way to attempt address the concerns I raised in my >>>>>>> previous >>>>>>> email. There are many combinations and permutations of parcels around >>>>>>> town that would allow us to fully comply with the requirements, each >>>>>>> with >>>>>>> their own pros and cons which should be debated. >>>>>>> This is a very difficult regulation to try to respond to so I >>>>>>> sympathize with the Working Group, they are trying to hit a moving >>>>>>> target. >>>>>>> But let's slow down and not get to March town vote and then have an >>>>>>> up/down >>>>>>> vote on a bad solution (e.g. Option C). Hopefully D1 and D2 are good >>>>>>> solutions however we have created E1 to E11 just in case. Please attend >>>>>>> Tuesday Planning board meeting to see what Options D1 and D2 look like. >>>>>>> Here is our list, happy to send as Excel if folks are interested. >>>>>>> [image: image.png] >>>>>>> I have sent this list to the HCA Working Group and hopefully at some >>>>>>> time in the near future we'll get the chance to review these ideas with >>>>>>> them. >>>>>>> If you have similar concerns, please voice them in whatever way you >>>>>>> are comfortable. If you would like more info on the HCA or Alternative >>>>>>> solutions, please let us know by emailing >>>>>>> i...@lincolnresidentsforhousingalternatives.org >>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>> Rob Ahlert >>>>>>> 185 Lincoln Rd >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> *Robert Ahlert* | *781.738.1069* | robahl...@gmail.com >>>>>> -- >>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "HCALincoln" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to hcalincoln+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hcalincoln/CAEpGxk_XLrCTrUcNS8JqdOkXFGaueUJcdmAyUwkoJL8jFEy_5A%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hcalincoln/CAEpGxk_XLrCTrUcNS8JqdOkXFGaueUJcdmAyUwkoJL8jFEy_5A%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . Best Carolyn -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
