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Election roundup: Conley calls for free tunnel rides for Eastie; Ross calls for thousands of apartments along Fairmount Line
By adamg on Fri, 08/16/2013 - 9:38am
Dan Conley, who lost the support of East Boston's state rep in calling for a citywide referendum on the Suffolk Downs casino, yesterday released a five-point plan for East Boston:
Move the Sumner and Ted toll plazas to Logan Airport (so free tunnel rides for Eastie residents), insist that owners of boarded up crap on the East Boston waterfront actually develop their land, re-open the Little City Hall that Kevin White pioneered, develop a grand avenue from Maverick to Orient Heights and a crackdown on cab drivers who refuse to take East Boston residents to East Boston.
Mike Ross, meanwhile, was in Uphams Corner, calling for 10,000 new apartments along the Fairmount Line by 2020:
This is an ambitious goal, but transit-oriented development is the future of Boston's growth. We need to make sure that growth and housing opportunities extend to our neighborhoods so that all Bostonians have better access to alternative forms of transportation.
NBC Latino takes note of Felix Arroyo: Can a Boricua become Boston's next mayor?
The Bay State Banner reports on a forum on housing and the homeless. The Massachusetts Associaton of Community Development Corporations posts candidates' answers to its questions on housing issues.
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Comments
ugh
just ugh..
I agreed abandoned buildings need to be fined or developed. It worked well for Revere, as now there's a ton of spurred growth. (i.e. Market Basket at the old national liquidartors, and Price Rite in the ex-Stop&Shop/Finast spot.
City-Wide referendum. Of course, because people in Roxbury really should have a say if a casino is opened up several miles away, yet is still within the city of boston's limits. Not.
And removing the tolls is a good idea however, all people are going to do is take the access road to avoid paying the toll. Don't these pol's think a little before they speak?
If you make the Sum/Call free
Then they're going to be JAMMED. You're kidding me if you think this could work. You're better off telling MassDOT to keep it free for Eastie residents, even when 100% electronic, but don't move the plaza.
Callahan tunnel
is already free. Only the Sumner and the Ted Williams have tolls, along with the Tobin, of course.
Sum/Call
I refer to Sumner and Callahan as one tunnel: Sum/Call
That toll idea is beyond
That toll idea is beyond stupid. Here's the first reason: it's not the mayor's decision. (In fact, the state is planning to eliminate the existing resident discounts on the tunnels and Tobin.)
Here's a practical idea that would actually improve the transportation situation in East Boston: overnight bus service through the tunnel when the Blue Line isn't running. If the mayor can't get the T to run it, Boston can buy a dinky shuttle bus and do it themselves.
There are no abandoned
There are no abandoned warehouses and land along waterfront, wish he ran for mayor 30 years ago, because that statement would open the ears of Eastie voters then, If he said I will have ramp torn down built a short tunnel from callahan tunnel toll booths to airport and extend greenway to porter street,with assistance from state and U.S goverment maybe voters would listen.
Boston Residents should not
Boston Residents should not have to pay a toll to get to another part of their city AND removing the tolls would spur economic development in Eastie.
Remove the tolls.
People from other parts of the city do not go to East Boston because mentally they considered it FAR AWAY even though it is as close to downtown as Beacon Hill is to the North End.
You cant walk there, you can't ride a bike there, you have to cross a tunnel or bridge (and sit in resulting traffic), and you have to PAY to go there.
These are the reasons why East Boston is always LAST LAST LAST on redevelopment (think of all those plans on the east boston waterfront that NEVER get underway because they are the last to be funded and the first to have funding pulled when times are bad)! and top of the list on public housing and subsidies, and poverty.
The tolls are the one barrier that can be eliminated immediately.
Right now the North End and South Boston get discounted rides through the tunnel as a concession for the big dig which is absolute BULLSHIT (we all suffered through the construction. One of those under the table deals that should have never happened- lets not forget the payouts to southie that were stopped when they were publicized)
Remove the tolls for city of boston residents!
So are you also claiming...
That Boston residents should also not have to pay a fare to get to another part of their city? AND also that removing the fares would spur economic development in Eastie?
Matthew - TOLL - SPECIFICALLY
Matthew - TOLL - SPECIFICALLY THE TUNNEL TOLL
not sure what FARE you are talking about unless you are talking about the transit system which is completely and utterly different. Everybody who uses the T should pay for it.
What I'm saying is eliminate the toll for boston residents going to / from East Boston because the rest of the city of boston does not go to east boston much because of all of the barriers to getting there -
and the toll is the easiest one to remove and would most likely result in more boston residents going to east boston where now they stay away
Yes, the fare to ride the Blue Line
Why should the toll be removed but the fare still be charged for riders to use the Blue Line to get to East Boston?
Wouldn't removing the fare also "help business" there?
Shouldn't everybody who uses the tunnels also pay for them?
Why one and not the other?
(note: I'm not promoting free tolls or fares; I'm just curious why you think roads should be free to use and the transit system should not)
Charge for Blue Line, But Red and Orange Lines Should Be Free
Because they charge tolls for the Harbor Tunnels and Tobin Bridge, there should be a significant fare to ride the Blue Line. However, since the Southeast Expressway and I-93 are toll free, it's only fair that the Red and Orange Lines should also be free to ride. Commuters should be treated equally so that everyone coming into Boston from the North or South pays nothing and everyone commuting from the East or West pays hefty tolls and/or transit fares.
Three birds, one stone
Build the new casino on the East Boston waterfront.
1) It will occupy/remove current empty space and spur growth.
2) The cabbies will go to East Boston to bring gamblers back across.
3) It will keep the project entirely in Boston's tax base.
Arroyo?
Arroyo won't become the next mayor of Boston. Not because he's Boriqueno but because he's got nothing to bring to the table.