Dramatically increasing housing near the commuter rail station might be a big mistake if thinking long term. I know self-driving cars have been overhyped, but they are coming, probably within 10 years (they already exist and are operating in Chandler Arizona). When they do come, the commuter rail may become a less enticing option for those who can afford a self-driving car (or to rent a ride in one), as one can just sit there (as on the commuter rail), but does not need to be restricted to the limited schedule of the commuter rail or wait/face delays. And that will apply to more people as prices come down. If this undermines ridership of the commuter rail, then the commuter rail will further reduce service, and possibly eventually shut down. This would force those in central lincoln to find another way to work, stressing roads near there, especially since, by some quick calculations, the proposed housing would add about 40% more housing units to the town of Lincoln, all located in central Lincoln.
Relatedly, if self-driving cars become common, and the commuter rail shuts down, that would dramatically change the optimal location for denser housing, both for traffic and climate reasons. In that case, the ideal location of denser housing would be closer to major roadways (route 2, 128). Or even better, if closer to people's work locations. On Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 8:06 AM Lis Herbert <[email protected]> wrote: > I agree. > > I'd like to push back on the idea that you can't live in Lincoln without a > car. We moved here in June 2016 with two young kids, and I didn't know how > to drive. I got them around town using a bike trailer -- to camps, to > school, to playdates, etc. It wasn't ideal, and I would have much preferred > an electric cargo bike, but I had to get myself to and from Cambridge via > Porter Square and inbound trains involve stairs. (It would have been too > heavy for me to lift onto the train, and I couldn't leave it in Lincoln at > the station for days on end.) > > All of that is to say that you can probably manage most, if not all, > erranding around town with an electric or regular old bicycle, and that > includes transporting other people, but for that I'd recommend the > electric. > > If, on top of an electric or regular bicycle, people living without cars > in Lincoln had access to a number of Zipcars, located at the train station, > I think they could forgo owning a car altogether. (If you are wondering how > much I drive now that I have a license, I can tell you that I have put 168 > miles on my car since January 1.) > > I'd also like to push back on the idea that Lincoln can't support more > housing. I grew up in New York City, and moved to a very small town in > Westchester County called Bronxville when I was in 7th grade. Bronxville, > like Lincoln, is a very desirable place to live, with a much-admired school > system, in close proximity to the city, and served by the commuter rail. > > Unlike Lincoln, Bronxville has, like virtually all towns along the train > tracks in Westchester County, a terrific commercial center > <https://www.bronxvillechamber.org> with an impressive number of shops, > restaurants, and services. Within walking distance of the train station, > there are several hundred apartments, many of which are by and large much > less expensive on a per square foot basis than single family houses in > town. Metro-North is relied upon by most people to commute or go into the > city since street parking is a nightmare, garages are expensive, and Grand > Central is a treat. And (a different conversation but worth mentioning) the > bustling commercial center and greater housing density both help pay for > things like the school and community services. > > According to Google, Bronxville and Lincoln have a near identical > population of a little more than 6,000 people. Bronxville is 1 mile square. > Lincoln (again according to Google) is 15 square miles, of which something > like 35% of the land in town is held in conservation. My point is that > Lincoln, unlike Bronxville, is rural, and it is going to stay rural, > whether we allow 10 units of housing to be built near the train station, or > 100. And Lincoln could, I think, support -- with its similar population, > both size-wise and socioeconomically -- at least half a dozen more of > something (anything!) near the train station. > > I draw this comparison between two very desirable and familiar-to-me towns > with similar populations and demographics to say that Bronxville's mayor > sort of, maybe, has a leg to stand on when she says > <https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/opinion/new-york-housing-crisis-kathy-hochul.html> > that the state housing mandate is going to be very difficult to fulfill, > and besides, they already have a lot of apartments. From the standpoint of > this very late-to-drive, public-transportation-loving relative outsider, it > is hard to believe that anybody in Lincoln is trying to make a similar > claim. > > Lis > > > On Wed, Apr 19, 2023 at 12:16 PM Sara Lupkas <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> I agree. And it seems to be a chicken-or-egg scenario. I believe it is >> more likely that the region would see better transit services if we build >> more housing and have a greater consumer base demanding those services. I >> don't see why the MBTA would invest in upgrades when there's no population >> to service. >> >> On Wed, Apr 19, 2023 at 10:57 AM Bob Kupperstein <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> It's not accurate to suggest that it's not possible to live in Lincoln >>> without a car - and rather 'auto-centric' IMO. Transportation may be >>> expensive (as is purchasing, maintaining and fueling a car) and >>> inconvenient, but it IS possible. There are and have long been people who >>> commute to work on the commuter rail - and most necessities are available a >>> couple of stops away in Waltham. >>> >>> Many hourly and low-wage workers face significant transportation hurdles >>> and excessive commuting times living in/around the greater Boston area. >>> Compared to that, the cost/inconvenience of depending on the commuter rail >>> (as it is now) looks significantly different. >>> >>> When considering the appeal of housing near our transportation hub, we >>> need to look at it through the lens of those with significant housing >>> and/or transportation challenges, rather than current town residents. >>> Again, IMHO. >>> >>> Suggesting that rail improvements must come first is just a smokescreen >>> for delay, delay, delay. >>> >>> -Bob >>> >>> On Tue, Apr 18, 2023 at 9:19 PM Robert Ahlert <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> If this vision came to pass, especially 10 to 30 minute electrified >>>> service into and through Boston to other regional locations, then we would >>>> have a modern system which could coax folks out of their cars. >>>> >>>> >>>> https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/moultons-ambitious-expensive-and-enthralling-transportation-vision/ >>>> >>>> Until then, I think it is really unfair to be forced to build housing >>>> when the current MBTA service does not make it possible to live in Lincoln >>>> without a car. We will just end up with more cars and same train service. >>>> Maybe it will be worth it by 2050? >>>> >>>> Rob A >>>> -- >>>> *Robert Ahlert* | *781.738.1069* | [email protected] >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>> 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 [email protected]. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> >> >> -- >> *Sara Lupkas* >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> 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 [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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