One Thing You Wish Boston Had More Of (Cambridge, Somerville: unemployment rate, college)
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The T is the cheapest Northeastern system with NYC and DC tied for having the most expensive systems. Here are my suggestions for the T...
1. Extend the Blue line to Lynn and to Charles / MGH better connectivity makes a system more attractive to use and reduces car use
2. Extend the Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line to Hyde Park & Fairmount , once again its about a better connected system , there should be any gaps within the system
3. Extend the Green line Riverside Branch to Needham and replace the Needham line will the Green line service.
4. Extend the Green line to Somerville , Medford , Everett , and Chelsea , Connectivity and under served areas are behind these expansions.
5. Extend the Newburyport line to Portsmouth , this corridor is supposed to from a dense line of suburban towns spanning from Boston to Portland by 2050 so more Rail transit will be needed to meet congestion demands and handle the increased growth.
6. Extend the Lowell Line to Concord,NH , the reasons are similar to extending the Newburyport line to Portsmouth.
7. Restore Seasonal Rail service to Cape Cod running from April to October to as far East as Harwich.
8. Build a North - South Tunnel and make then Regional Rail system a through service like in Philly. Unlike Philly , Boston's system would probably see a huge increase in usage due to the amount of jobs located in the CBD as opposed to the burbs.
9. Place a canopy over the platforms at South Station , something similar to the ones they have in Europe or the LIRR Jamaica station.
10. Add more bathrooms at south station , only 4 stalls for such a large station?
11. Tear down and rebuild Back Bay station that terminal.....
Dont extend the green line, i think, but the redline's already branched at one end, why not have it split at the other so at either harvard sq or porter there's a split that runs east through somerville medford everett and end in chelsea in a hook shape, or extend all the way to the blue line in revere. thats what id focus on, but definitely not through the green line, it has it's own section in the southwest, shouldnt converge with the northeast.
6. Extend the Lowell Line to Concord,NH , the reasons are similar to extending the Newburyport line to Portsmouth.
7. Restore Seasonal Rail service to Cape Cod running from April to October to as far East as Harwich.
10. Add more bathrooms at south station , only 4 stalls for such a large station?
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I agree with these, especially number 7. extending the lowell line is a long term project though, i dont see an immediate need for it.
I'd just mention the things you typically find of a MAJOR US city of the same size.
1. More Late night eating options: they tend to be scarce and limited to pizza joints, IHOP and drive-thru McDonalds. It sucks because you get to these places and they are always full. Obviously there is demand for it by all the late-night revelers after 2 AM last call, I don't get it why more just don't exist. Fast food franchises for instance - why doesn't any exist where you can eat inside within the late hours?
2. Happy Hour Pricing for drinks: crossing my fingers that this will be enacted after the casino bill goes thru.
3. Patio Heaters installed outside bars: this whole sturdy New England mentality braving the cold is ridiculous. It just proves we are outdated and backwards. Its just the sign of the times to have them outside entrances just like how elevators replaced stairways inside hotels and other large buildings. Sun Belt cities where their need is not so necessary typically have them and we don't.
4. Roofdeck bars: really we dont have enough of them in this city. Our skyline is impressive and what a shame that the options are limited on places where we can dine and wine and admire the views.
-as mentioned, more 24/7 food options. That includes more 24/7 supermarkets
-either 24/7 transit (doesn't have to be the whole system) or at least later hours
-I think the orange line should be extended past Forest Hills. Hyde Park and West Roxbury are two Boston neighborhoods sorely lacking in rapid transit beyond the commuter rail.
-build a connection between the blue line and red line
-better zoos and aquariums. I know FPZ can't really be expanded upon, bu the Stone zoo should either be expanded or closed and a better zoo could be built closer to city limits. the aquarium just needs an all over redo
-better stores in the downtown Boston area. This area has just gotten depressing over the years w/ the loss of a lot of major anchors.
-more Southern style restaurants. It saddens me that Redbones is the place people think of when they say "Southern food"
-I know this is more of a Hollywood issue, but it was brought up in another thread: more movies based in the city and NOT centered around Irish mobsters. As someone else said previously, you'd think Boston had zero minorities based on some of the movies that come out set in Boston. It's almost as bad as Friends!
-BostonJad reminded me of a good point-I'd like to see outdoor heaters at T stops. Chicago has them at most L stops (they're disabled during warmer months). sure they get crowded quickly, but they are such a relief during long waits outside and could be quite useful at commuter rail and street level green line stops
-I know this is more of a Hollywood issue, but it was brought up in another thread: more movies based in the city and NOT centered around Irish mobsters. As someone else said previously, you'd think Boston had zero minorities based on some of the movies that come out set in Boston. It's almost as bad as Friends!
-better stores in the downtown Boston area. This area has just gotten depressing over the years w/ the loss of a lot of major anchors.
Yes totally.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eevee
-BostonJad reminded me of a good point-I'd like to see outdoor heaters at T stops. Chicago has them at most L stops (they're disabled during warmer months). sure they get crowded quickly, but they are such a relief during long waits outside and could be quite useful at commuter rail and street level green line stops
I agree that it would great to have that. The winters can be brutal waiting for the green line considering so many of those stops are above ground.
3. Extend the Green line Riverside Branch to Needham and replace the Needham line will the Green line service.
What do you do to replace service for Roslindale and West Roxbury? A Green Line branch to Needham makes sense, but only if you do an Orange Line extension for Roslindale/West Roxbury.
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4. Extend the Green line to Somerville , Medford , Everett , and Chelsea , Connectivity and under served areas are behind these expansions.
I really like this idea. The central GL subway already handles four lines, why should most of them terminate downtown? It should branch North of Boston into as many distinct destinations as it does West of Boston.
Quote:
11. Tear down and rebuild Back Bay station that terminal.....
There's nothing wrong with Back Bay Station (not a terminal, by the way). It may be a bit ugly, but it is very functional. I'd advocate for a pedestrian tunnel via Dartmouth to connect the Orange Line station with Copley Station (similar to the Winter St. Concourse connecting DTX with Park Street).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bostonmania
Dont extend the green line, i think, but the redline's already branched at one end, why not have it split at the other so at either harvard sq or porter there's a split that runs east through somerville medford everett and end in chelsea in a hook shape, or extend all the way to the blue line in revere. thats what id focus on, but definitely not through the green line, it has it's own section in the southwest, shouldnt converge with the northeast.
See my comments earlier in the post about branching the Green Line. It makes sense for the same reason that you've suggested a Northside branch for the Red Line makes sense. Let's keep the Green Line suggestion and send the Red Line branch to Watertown or Brighton.
So let's see, I'm now advocating for 6 extensions on three lines!
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