Moving to Brookline (60k) from a small suburb (20k)? Thoughts on Middle & High school? Neighborhoods?

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by fabfan84

Yeah, Newton is kind of backwards in that the northern end is considerably more dense but it's the southern part (or at least the middle) that has the Green Line. I agree that in the middle part you usually are not walkable to more than one village center, but the sheer frequency of the Green Line gives you a lot of flexibility (on the E-W axis at least, if not the N-S axis). Very easy to hop on and off and just go a stop or two.

The A Line of the Green Line used to run through Newton Corner from Brighton onto Watertown along Tremont and Galen Streets. You could tell that part of Newton was what amounted to a genuine streetcar suburb just like much of Brookline. Actually I would recommend looking at that part of Newton too if Brookline does not suffice. Depending where you live, North Newton has commuter rail and/or express busses to take you into town. While admittedly not as convenient as the Green Line, they are still better than no options. Newton has similar demographics to Brookline, maybe only slightly more whiter and its public schools and libraries are also excellent.

[bugelrex]

Originally Posted by fabfan84

Yeah, Newton is kind of backwards in that the northern end is considerably more dense but it's the southern part (or at least the middle) that has the Green Line. I agree that in the middle part you usually are not walkable to more than one village center, but the sheer frequency of the Green Line gives you a lot of flexibility (on the E-W axis at least, if not the N-S axis). Very easy to hop on and off and just go a stop or two.

I found the density around the green line backwards too. I just thought it was due to rich white privilege. Technically the commuter rail on the north can have 15 min intervals if they switched to smaller trains... but the mbta is mismanaged

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Urban Peasant

The A Line of the Green Line used to run through Newton Corner from Brighton onto Watertown along Tremont and Galen Streets. You could tell that part of Newton was what amounted to a genuine streetcar suburb just like much of Brookline. Actually I would recommend looking at that part of Newton too if Brookline does not suffice. Depending where you live, North Newton has commuter rail and/or express busses to take you into town. While admittedly not as convenient as the Green Line, they are still better than no options. Newton has similar demographics to Brookline, maybe only slightly more whiter and its public schools and libraries are also excellent.

Do you know when they got rid of the A line? It must have been a LONG time ago because I'm pretty sure it was before my time.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

Do you know when they got rid of the A line? It must have been a LONG time ago because I'm pretty sure it was before my time.

'69 for the service.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

Do you know when they got rid of the A line? It must have been a LONG time ago because I'm pretty sure it was before my time.

Wikipedia says it was shut down in 1969. The 57 bus largely runs the same route that A did.

[fabfan84]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

I found the density around the green line backwards too. I just thought it was due to rich white privilege. Technically the commuter rail on the north can have 15 min intervals if they switched to smaller trains... but the mbta is mismanaged

I don't think that's why. The Framingham-Worcester line has always been the main rail line. What is now the MBTA Green Line used to be heavy rail as well, known as the Highland Branch, which broke off from the Boston & Albany main line and then turned around at Riverside. In the late 1950s they shuttered the Highland Branch, then the MBTA bought it and converted it to light rail, which it remains today. Likely more of a historical quirk than any concerted effort.

And yes, more frequent commuter rail service is something a lot of people want. Was perhaps even gaining a little momentum before COVID hit. Now, who knows.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_branch

[bugelrex]

Originally Posted by fabfan84

What is now the MBTA Green Line used to be heavy rail as well, known as the Highland Branch

Interesting! So the current commuter rail could technically be converted to a T stop too and its just a matter of incompetent management and outrageous budgets.

I suspect we'll see full self driving cars(and taxis) before they ever fix the commuter rail

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

Do you know when they got rid of the A line? It must have been a LONG time ago because I'm pretty sure it was before my time.

June 21, 1969 was the last day of revenue service. The wires and tracks except for what is in the still extant trolley yard were taken out by the mid-90's. Somewhere deep in this forum, I posted a picture of an old 1967 MBTA wall map that featured it. The A Line branched off the B Line at Packards Corner and ran through Brighton Center, Oak Square, and Newton Corner to get to Watertown.

[sawyer2]

All you need to know about the A line.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Line_A_branch

Too bad they took it out. The 57 bus runs that route today.