How will Worcester be affected by Boston's growth? (Springfield, Brockton: tax, to live in)

[KoNgFooCj]

I just thought of this again after learning Worcester actually got the Pawsox. Related to this, 10,000 seats seems like kind of a lot for a minor league stadium. I saw some videos from a few years ago highlighting some improvements going on in downtown Worcester and they look great. Worcester's probably the best alternative to ever-expensive Boston and commuting will be even better once MBTA finally electrifies the commuter rail system. Worcester also has pretty large city limits compared to most large New England cities so I think it could hit 200,000 people sometime next decade. That Amazon Headquarters definitely was too good to be true. That would have switched the city into hyperdrive. It's a well connected city to Boston and even to New York.

[tenderbuttons]

I can see Worcester improving over the long term. However, this improvement is not likely to be due to an influx of people who work in Boston moving there. During peak hours a commute from Worcester to Boston by any means is >1.5 hours each way. Which carries its own additional direct costs along with it as well, a monthly Zone 8 commuter rail pass is $388 per month/$4565 per year.

If Worcester sees a substantial increase in property values and development over the long term it will be because of an increase of office space and commercial development in the Worcester area. Which admittedly is something I can see happening given its relative proximity to Boston and increase in development as you mentioned.

[mdovell]

Any urban area that's connected to Boston by any form of Transit is going to be bound to have a higher property valuation. It could be loyal to be Brockton could be worse there could be even Lawrence. Not everybody wants to live in a town and if they want to live in a cheaper City and still have connections to Boston then so be it.

The only issue I see it it's one that I think eventually is going to be addressed that hasn't mentioned here many times before he's at the Rail between Springfield and Worcester is not up to the standards for more frequent travel. Eventually I think it's going to be updated. Not next year or the year after but I'd say within 10 years it is going to happen. As prices increase in Worcester it's bound to drive some people out and without some form of further Transit they going to have nowhere else to go. I've heard of people in Brockton getting priced out that are going to Fall River in New Bedford so the likelihood is there that once this gets set up we'll see people priced out of Worcester going to Springfield and other areas north and south such as hartford or maybe Holyoke

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Any urban area that's connected to Boston by any form of Transit is going to be bound to have a higher property valuation. It could be loyal to be Brockton could be worse there could be even Lawrence. Not everybody wants to live in a town and if they want to live in a cheaper City and still have connections to Boston then so be it.

The only issue I see it it's one that I think eventually is going to be addressed that hasn't mentioned here many times before he's at the Rail between Springfield and Worcester is not up to the standards for more frequent travel. Eventually I think it's going to be updated. Not next year or the year after but I'd say within 10 years it is going to happen. As prices increase in Worcester it's bound to drive some people out and without some form of further Transit they going to have nowhere else to go. I've heard of people in Brockton getting priced out that are going to Fall River in New Bedford so the likelihood is there that once this gets set up we'll see people priced out of Worcester going to Springfield and other areas north and south such as hartford or maybe Holyoke

Seriously, how many people do you think are dying to take a train from Worcester to Springfield or vice versa every day?

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by tenderbuttons

I can see Worcester improving over the long term. However, this improvement is not likely to be due to an influx of people who work in Boston moving there. During peak hours a commute from Worcester to Boston by any means is >1.5 hours each way. Which carries its own additional direct costs along with it as well, a monthly Zone 8 commuter rail pass is $388 per month/$4565 per year.

Remember, almost no one is paying that much. At worse it is pre tax money.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Remember, almost no one is paying that much. At worse it is pre tax money.

That's not true at all. A lot of companies don't offer huge subsidies and the federal pre tax cap is about $230/month so people in zone 4 and higher are paying anything above that post tax, even if their employer provides a subsidy.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Dm84

That's not true at all. A lot of companies don't offer huge subsidies and the federal pre tax cap is about $230/month so people in zone 4 and higher are paying anything above that post tax, even if their employer provides a subsidy.

So, in fact, they are not paying that much, just as I said. Thank you.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by timberline742

So, in fact, they are not paying that much, just as I said. Thank you.

Not everyone gets a subsidy... And remember most CR riders have to pay for parking on top of the monthly pass cost.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Dm84

Not everyone gets a subsidy... And remember most CR riders have to pay for parking on top of the monthly pass cost.

I never said nor implied "everyone" does. Of course there are a few people that do not. Very few.


Geez, people like to be argumentative here. Sigh.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by timberline742

I never said nor implied "everyone" does. Of course there are a few people that do not. Very few.

Disagree, I think most companies don't offer a subsidy anymore. At best you get the tax break.