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While I would agree, I wouldn't call that unique when talking about NYC, Boston, and Philadelphia suburbs. While Boston had the first public train/subway system, the first commuter was actually built in Chicago, followed by NYC/Philly/Boston.
Boston built the first American subway in 1897 by depressing the core portion of its congested streetcar system for a few blocks. But that's not commuter rail into the suburbs. Philly was the last of the original Big 4 (NYC, Chicago, and Boston, in that order) to develop rapid transit, but it was well advanced in commuter rail by 1907, when the Market Street el/subway went online.
... and no, I doubt Chicago had the first commuter rail line. Philly's Chestnut Hill East line opened in 1839. Chicago was a burgh at that time; established as a city a few years before that.
Boston built the first American subway in 1897 by depressing the core portion of its congested streetcar system for a few blocks. But that's not commuter rail into the suburbs. Philly was the last of the original Big 4 (NYC, Chicago, and Boston, in that order) to develop rapid transit, but it was well advanced in commuter rail by 1907, when the Market Street el/subway went online.
... and no, I doubt Chicago had the first commuter rail line. Philly's Chestnut Hill East line opened in 1839. Chicago was a burgh at that time; established as a city a few years before that.
You're right, it was New York (1868). Then Chicago (1892), then Boston (1897), then Philadelphia (1907). I had Chicago and NYC flipped.
But to the original point, all four have suburbs with dense cores dating back to the advent of their rapid transit systems. These, generally speaking, make up my favorite suburbs in NA. In the case of Chicago, places like Evanston, Park Ridge, Winnetka, Hinsdale, Oak Park, Glenview, Elmhurst, etc.
Park Ridge is a really nice example, with it's New England style town center. It became a hot bed for it's brick and clay in the mid 19th century, and was ripe for rapid transit in and out of the city. It is, to me, one of the quintessential commuter rail suburbs in the US, with much of it's lovely residential and commercial architecture still standing.
If this topic interests you, read about the village of Golf in Illinois (that original depot is where I commuted from). Albert Earling, then President of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul railroad, use to take a private car from his home in downtown Chicago to play golf at the Glen View Club. This is circa 1899, right around the time when many suburbs were becoming incorporated. Alas, the advent of the village of Golf, and ultimately many of the N/NW commuter suburbs.
I'd challenge the idea that Natick is busier than Burlington. Burlington probably has as much development now, and arguably more reasons to go there (not including downtown Natick) than Natick. Between the Mall, all of the development near Lahey,the district, all of the businesses along and on the south side of 95, third ave, etc.
In what way do you mean it's much much busier? Do you just mean more cars/regional traffic? I'd certainly agree Burlington's route 3 is not as busy as Natick's route 9 or KoPs Dekalb.
From what I've seen, KoP and Burlington are similarly developed, right down to where all of the commercial activity is in the two towns (south, along the interstate(s)).
What Burlington and KofP share is their location at a major junction where a freeway leading into the core city meets a freeway ringing it. (A secondary edge city has arisen in the former industrial town located next to the second such junction on the freeway leading into Philadelphia.)
But I strongly suspect that there is an actual town center in Burlington, away from the freeway junction. Upper Merion Township, in which KoP is located, has no such town center — the KoP edge city is it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mwj119
You're right, it was New York (1868). Then Chicago (1892), then Boston (1897), then Philadelphia (1907). I had Chicago and NYC flipped.
But to the original point, all four have suburbs with dense cores dating back to the advent of their rapid transit systems. These, generally speaking, make up my favorite suburbs in NA. In the case of Chicago, places like Evanston, Park Ridge, Winnetka, Hinsdale, Oak Park, Glenview, Elmhurst, etc.
Park Ridge is a really nice example, with it's New England style town center. It became a hot bed for it's brick and clay in the mid 19th century, and was ripe for rapid transit in and out of the city. It is, to me, one of the quintessential commuter rail suburbs in the US, with much of it's lovely residential and commercial architecture still standing.
If this topic interests you, read about the village of Golf in Illinois (that original depot is where I commuted from). Albert Earling, then President of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul railroad, use to take a private car from his home in downtown Chicago to play golf at the Glen View Club. This is circa 1899, right around the time when many suburbs were becoming incorporated. Alas, the advent of the village of Golf, and ultimately many of the N/NW commuter suburbs.
Don't you mean "hence" or "thus" in that last sentence?
"Alas" is a lament, and I don't think you're lamenting anything at all here.
What Burlington and KofP share is their location at a major junction where a freeway leading into the core city meets a freeway ringing it. (A secondary edge city has arisen in the former industrial town located next to the second such junction on the freeway leading into Philadelphia.)
But I strongly suspect that there is an actual town center in Burlington, away from the freeway junction. Upper Merion Township, in which KoP is located, has no such town center — the KoP edge city is it.
Don't you mean "hence" or "thus" in that last sentence?
"Alas" is a lament, and I don't think you're lamenting anything at all here.
Except that Route 3 dead ends at 128. You then have to drive some miles on 128 to get to I-93 or Route 2 to get to Boston.
It’s kind of moot. Burlington wasn’t much of a suburb until recently. Like a bunch of Boston suburbs, it was working class in 1980 and gentrified. Natick is similar. It was also working class starter homes in 1980. It’s now ~ 70% college educated adults so very much a white collar bedroom town. Arlington transitioned earlier because it’s so close to the Red Line. I could ride a bicycle to Alewife and take the T into the city. I lived there in the second half of the 1980s and anyone moving in had a tech job. The outside 128 working class towns took longer.
But I strongly suspect that there is an actual town center in Burlington, away from the freeway junction. Upper Merion Township, in which KoP is located, has no such town center — the KoP edge city is it.
Aside from a traditional New England "town common," Burlington also doesn't have a "Main Street" center to speak of--so it's pretty comparable to Upper Merion in that regard.
Aside from a traditional New England "town common," Burlington also doesn't have a "Main Street" center to speak of--so it's pretty comparable to Upper Merion in that regard.
Yeah Burlington’s downtown isnt as pronounced as other Metro Boston towns. But its there. Just not rather large or inviting like neighboring Lexington.
I think… i havent been to the MetroWest of Boston in years lol. That whole area is kinda blah.
Aside from a traditional New England "town common," Burlington also doesn't have a "Main Street" center to speak of--so it's pretty comparable to Upper Merion in that regard.
Yup, neighboring Bedford has done it's best to create a main street... Certainly nicer, and more functional than Burlington. But being that neither are on the commuter line, they were never developed that way.
In contrast, neighboring Woburn has a sizable main street, as does Lexington, and Arlington, and Reading.
While Lexington is not on the commuter line, it was a commercial center long before trains existed. It's really a standout, in that way. Very few suburban downtowns, in Massachusetts, exist like it.
Yeah Burlington’s downtown isnt as pronounced as other Metro Boston towns. But its there. Just not rather large or inviting like neighboring Lexington.
I think… i havent been to the MetroWest of Boston in years lol. That whole area is kinda blah.
It's not there. There is a town common, like every Massachusetts town. But there is no downtown. 3A does sit just north of the common, with some shopping etc. But it was never developed, or meant to be pedestrian friendly. It's simply just a state road with strip malls, and recent development.
Third Ave has become the towns downtown, with parking set back behind the restaraunts and stores. Very similar to these types of developments I most often see in the Midwest or South.
You're right, it was New York (1868). Then Chicago (1892), then Boston (1897), then Philadelphia (1907). I had Chicago and NYC flipped.
But to the original point, all four have suburbs with dense cores dating back to the advent of their rapid transit systems. These, generally speaking, make up my favorite suburbs in NA. In the case of Chicago, places like Evanston, Park Ridge, Winnetka, Hinsdale, Oak Park, Glenview, Elmhurst, etc.
Park Ridge is a really nice example, with it's New England style town center. It became a hot bed for it's brick and clay in the mid 19th century, and was ripe for rapid transit in and out of the city. It is, to me, one of the quintessential commuter rail suburbs in the US, with much of it's lovely residential and commercial architecture still standing.
If this topic interests you, read about the village of Golf in Illinois (that original depot is where I commuted from). Albert Earling, then President of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul railroad, use to take a private car from his home in downtown Chicago to play golf at the Glen View Club. This is circa 1899, right around the time when many suburbs were becoming incorporated. Alas, the advent of the village of Golf, and ultimately many of the N/NW commuter suburbs.
Boston's first was the Fairmount Line in 1855. Called Midland Line at the time.
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