Radical Ideas for the T and Housing Affordability (Boston, Newton: house, find a job)

[BosYuppie]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Makes zero sense, are you talking about switching locomotives mid trip??? Electrify the whole dam thing.

No, diesel and electric can run on the same track. Have the electrics only run to 128. Have the diesels stop at 128 for anyone switching to local electrics, then have the diesels run Express to the downtown termini.

Eventually the system should be 100% electric but this is a way to phase in the system until such time the technology and/or demographics make the case for getting rid of diesels.

[bugelrex]

Is there any chance a bus only solution could work? Bus only lanes on the highway and leading into downtown. Bus only lanes from large towns into the freewway.

No infrastructure needs to be built, just massive restrictions on the bus only lanes.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

Is there any chance a bus only solution could work? Bus only lanes on the highway and leading into downtown. Bus only lanes from large towns into the freewway.

No infrastructure needs to be built, just massive restrictions on the bus only lanes.

It would work but it wouldn't be politically viable. It would create crushing traffic jams for private automobiles.

[bugelrex]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

It would work but it wouldn't be politically viable. It would create crushing traffic jams for private automobiles.

It would also create massive demand for bus services i guess there are no real SJW politicians willing to die on this.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

It would also create massive demand for bus services i guess there are no real SJW politicians willing to die on this.

When autonomous cars actually happen, it's probably more politically viable to have autonomous-only lanes where the cars can run bumper-to-bumper at 60 mph.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

When autonomous cars actually happen, it's probably more politically viable to have autonomous-only lanes where the cars can run bumper-to-bumper at 60 mph.

We’ll both be dead by then ... I really prefer shorter term solutions.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

When autonomous cars actually happen, it's probably more politically viable to have autonomous-only lanes where the cars can run bumper-to-bumper at 60 mph.

Honestly it's never going to happen though.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

We’ll both be dead by then ... I really prefer shorter term solutions.

There is no short term solution. There is no political will to raise taxes to spend the hundreds of billions on infrastructure that solves the problem. You could redirect half of the money spent on poor people and have a good medium term solution since more than half of state spending is on the bottom 10% but I don’t see that happening.

[mdovell]

Self driving will happen. When major tech companies, shipping companies, insurance Vos and dept of defense want something theyll get it.

5G is part of it. I don't think we'll be driving in another ten years.

[bugelrex]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

There is no short term solution. There is no political will to raise taxes to spend the hundreds of billions on infrastructure that solves the problem. You could redirect half of the money spent on poor people and have a good medium term solution since more than half of state spending is on the bottom 10% but I don’t see that happening.

The only solution which doesn't cost much money and could be fully implemented in 12 months is the bus only lane from towns to highway to downtown.

But yes, the outrage from drivers would be too much for any politician to bare.