Some insight into the MBTA's funding priorities: https://mbtaadvisoryboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FY24MBTACIPOversightReport05-16-23FINAL.pdf
On Mon, Oct 30, 2023 at 8:54 AM gail o'keefe <[email protected]> wrote: > This comment brings up a reasonable question... > > Why can't Lincoln and other towns band together to demand that *before* any > radical zoning changes take place the MBTA must get its act together? > The HCA is based on public transportation, and it's on the MBTA to provide > that; affordable, reliable transportation to complete the mission of > reducing auto traffic. As it stands now, the Commonwealth is making demands > on many communities, altering these towns which have been shaped over > decades by local voters. > > The HCA is a heavy handed, centralized, trickle down method for improving > housing opportunities, yet it jeopardizes communities without providing > the critical element for success- reliable transportation. Why aren't we > asking for the state to hold up its part of the bargain? > > Gail > > On Sun, Oct 29, 2023 at 3:09 PM Rachel Shulman <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> For what it's worth, until our move this week, I lived a 2 minute walk >> from the Commuter Rail station, but I found that the train didn't run often >> enough to be helpful to me (I work in Cambridge). I've taken the train a >> few times when using my car wasn't a choice and it was miserable. Based on >> reports from friends, it is also not reliable enough for me to plan to take >> it when, say, I have to be on campus on time to teach - there's no wiggle >> room on that one. Finally, I need to take the Red Line a few stops, and it, >> too, has not been reliable enough to count on. And, personally, I find the >> noise of the train and the T overwhelming and incredibly stress-inducing. >> This doesn't even take into account the cost - even with a heavily >> subsidized pass, I wouldn't save enough money on a per-trip basis to induce >> me to stop driving. Since early 2017, I have worked in climate education, >> with the goal of fighting the climate crisis, and even I can't bring myself >> to use public transport anymore. My goal now is to budget wisely enough to >> be able to buy an electric vehicle in the next few years - I can't even >> wrap my head around how much would have to change to get me back to taking >> public transport on a regular basis (before the pandemic I lived in >> Arlington and ONLY used the bus/T to get to work. Even then the noise and >> the crowds were awful, but given that my T-pass was free, I couldn't >> justify EVER driving to campus.) >> >> Building more housing by the train station (or in other parts of Lincoln) >> is, in my own opinion, truly necessary for a host of reasons, but for it to >> really work, we need to figure out how to get our elected officials to make >> the train easier to use - it needs to run more often, more reliably, at a >> more affordable rate, and, for me, at least, it needs to be quieter. >> Without serious improvements to our public transport infrastructure, >> building more housing only solves one part of the issue (the stupidly tight >> housing market) without considering the larger structures in which that >> housing is situated. >> >> Just my $0.02. :) >> >> Best, >> Rachel >> >> On Sun, Oct 29, 2023 at 1:54 PM Marjorie Dashef <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> With all the talk about the commuter rail and HCA I would like to add >>> that I cannot use the commuter rail because the east direction dies not >>> have a platform to step into. It is not ADA complaint. I used the rail >>> when much younger but at 4'10" stepping off it is not safe for me. Last >>> trip to sister (when car was not working) in Charlestown was done via Uber. >>> -- >>> 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. >> >> -- > 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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