| I grew up riding Metro-North, and I understand that by comparison the Fitchburg line is not great. The frequency is a problem, and that in large part dictates the degree to which people depend on it, and their attitude towards it.
But it’s not getting any better if we don’t comply. I think we can be sure of that, both because the demand won’t be sufficient, and we’ll have thumbed our noses at the idea of being a mass transit-oriented community.
It’s not clear to me how somebody can wish for improvements to the commuter rail in Lincoln and not see that concentrating density around the train is the answer. (I’m not saying you’re a somebody, by the way, just pointing out that I’ve heard plenty of people trying to play both sides of the coin.) Sent from my iPhone On Nov 21, 2023, at 6:25 PM, V Saleme <bmwkbi...@gmail.com> wrote:
Those of us who commuted into the city for work from here, have been waiting for decades for improvements, frequency of service and reliability to occur.
The waiting continues.
Vic Nowhere does it say that the train has to stop in Lincoln. We might not have a sense for how the state plans to approach the MBTA shortfalls, but I think it's a certainty that unless Lincoln demonstrates a commitment to meaningful density around the station, we can bet against improvements in service and frequency for Lincoln commuters. I hope we can all at least agree that improvements aren't happening if we vote to avoid rezoning much of that area in favor of car-centric development (that will, let's be honest, not happen) located (according to Google maps) an 8 mile, 15 minute drive away.
While I am happy to see some recognition that our MBTA needs investment, I would like to point out the magnitude and likelihood of the dollars we are talking about. Regrettably, we are many, many years away from a properly functioning and reliable MBTA and commuter rail in Lincoln.
According to the Boston Globe:
"The MBTA needs a gobsmacking $24.5 billion to repair and replace its decrepit track, stations, trains, signals, and other assets, an agency analysis released Thursday shows, providing the long-awaited tally of how broken the transit system is."
"The next most expensive is the commuter rail system, at about $8 billion, with the bulk of investment needed for stations, followed by the Green and Mattapan lines — which need $4.7 billion."
List to the article:
After she was appointed permanent Transportation Secretary last week, Monica Tibbits-Nutt directly stated on Radio Boston that the Commonwealth would invest in communities that build around Commuter Rail stations.
At 5:20, the Secretary also talks about how the "inner core" needs to invest in housing so we can invest more in connecting places like Worcester.
I think the whole segment is worth listening to, as she directly links housing to transportation.
Diana Giles Rd
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