By HarryMattison on Wed., 12/6/2017 - 10:25 am 
Galen Mook with three years of meeting minutes - "make this not just a highway project"
Support for better bus and rail transit dominated last night's meeting hosted by MassDOT on the Mass Pike Allston reconstruction project.
State Representative Michael Moran (Allston/Brighton) recalled the excitement of the 2014 West Station ribbon cutting, recalling the history of Allston and Brighton being overlooked by the commuter rail system. "There are winners and losers" in MassDOT's I-90 project, he noted. "Certainly Harvard, they get all the land underneath this that they get to develop" will be a winner, referencing the 91 acres under the existing highway interchange that Harvard purchased in 2003 from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority for $75 million. But without West Station in the first phase of construction, "I don't see much in this for us", Moran said. "It's now time for us to let MassDOT know how disappointed we are".
Moran was followed by dozens of people who spoke in support of West Station and improved bus service. The vision they expressed has much in common with the City of Boston's Imagine Boston 2030 plan and the State's 2014 plan for West Station. By building a new North Allston-Comm Ave bus route over the rebuilt Mass Pike and connecting it to West Station, regional transit would be greatly strengthened. Buses could run from Porter Sq and Harvard Sq through North Allston on dedicated bus lanes, stop at West Station, and continue down Comm Ave to Longwood.
Allston resident Galen Mook concluded the meeting with observations about the many ways this project needs to improve. Considering the trip on Cambridge Street from Pizzeria Regina to the Charles River by walking or biking, Mook said "You are going to cross a four lane intersection, another four lane intersection, another four lane intersection, then a five lane intersection, then a three lane intersection, then a five lane intersection, and then another five lane intersection. This is not the off-road multi-use pathway we've been talking about for three years."
Mook also questioned MassDOT estimate that only 250 people a day would use West Station. "If you modeled West Station connecting Harvard Sq to Longwood, West Station to Kendall Sq, maybe 250 people would use the first train each day." Without new bus and rail transit, Allston may not be able to handle the new development that could come to Allston if true transit oriented development is possible, he warned.
Comments on this project can be sent to:
Matthew Beaton, Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Attn: MEPA Office
Alex Strysky, EEA # 15278
100 Cambridge St Suite 900
Boston MA 02114
[email protected]
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And I am not sure what you are responding to...
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 5:42pm
So let us call it a day.
Car Culture is evil
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:42pm
Designing our cities and mobility around them have created a culture of dependency. We can build and design our communities around multi-mode transit options and still keep cars, we just need to stop prioritizing everything a single mode of transit.
Unfortunately, many folks feel entitled to drive and park where ever they want, which is just plain silly and not conducive to building vibrant communities.
Well, yes,
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:55pm
but the majority of people who say drive to work, drive by auto. And right now it is a priority as our the roads and highways are getting choked with traffic. And we need solutions to that problem.
Interesting that you and others are spewing this entitlement crap which does nothing to solve the problem. People who have to drive have the need to drive for a wide variety of reasons. I do not think they believe they are entitled. And as I car driver, I just can't park wherever I want. Using broad characterizations is not helpful. Or as you say, silly.
Few things
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:02pm
Agreed.
Pot meet kettle.
You ARE traffic.
LOL!
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:08pm
Well, this really has been an interesting, um, discussion, with you all.
Yes, I am traffic but definitely not feeling entitled although you and others think that way. Good luck with that line of tact. Unfortunately, you are not helping in the solution.
I'd say its a two way street to a solution
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:17pm
But I'm afraid you'd be upset if its only 1 lane going each way.
I'm NOT traffic, since I don
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 2:33pm
I'm NOT traffic, since I don't have a car.
But I still prefer transportation systems that reduce traffic jams, especially in neighborhoods.
Yeahbut
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:19pm
The ONLY way you are going to
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:36pm
The ONLY way you are going to get cars OFF the road is by having a better transit infrastructure system. We need options for everyone in this city, not just the drivers. Yes we need to fix bridges and roads; I agree 100% but the transit infrastructure has been ignored to the point where we get excited that we get a new stop/station once every 30 years (Assembly Row for Orange line)? It's pathetic. Silver line was a billion dollar bus with no dedicated lane.
Cars have been the priority in this city/country for far too long. We need to have a better vision. We need to look forward. There are plenty of tax payers that take the T, walk, bike, etc...they deserve to have reliable, safe service as well. And more of it.
Do it right or don't do it at all.
By Ron Newman
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:49pm
The highest priority should be improving the neighborhood around this project for the benefit of both current residents and businesses, and those who will move into it in the future.
It is so frustrating that
By Kinopio
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:02pm
It is so frustrating that Boston is planned around the desires of subarbanites who don't feel like taking public transit. They should be the last group considered. Drivers should be ashamed with how much land and money they hog. Plan cities for people who actually live in them!
You know what is frustrating?
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:14pm
Folks like you making broad assumptions.
I am a suburbanite who takes both commuter rail and the MBTA. Daily. Hopefully you are aware that they both have major issues. Perhaps you might of seen a report this past year of ridership being down on the MBTA for many reasons. Just in case you are not aware, here you go:
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/mb...
So, what does that mean? It means that many folks will choose drive into the city, by one way of an example. It is not a choice for many due to the many issues with public transportation.
So before you insult broad swaths of the population, please check yourself, hokey?
Thank you.
What does this have to do with anything?
By boo_urns
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:16pm
All of what you said doesn't negate the fact that Allstonians want options they were promised such as West Station and don't want I90 to take higher priority over the area than them, much in the same way the residents of Somerville and Cambridge didn't want the proposed I695 to take priority over them and their neighborhoods.
Boo_ums
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:26pm
I was directly responding to the previous post and the broad assumption made by Kip. So it does have something to do with that.
In regards to West Station and what the Allstonians want, well, the powers that be see I90 as a bigger priority.
And...
By boo_urns
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:34pm
Those who live there are challenging that power. Not sure what's so hard to understand about that.
Irrelevant "rebuttal"
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:41pm
Seems like Whyaduck is carefully stepping around her desperate need to have her own VIP lane by nonsensically attacking people today.
Riiight...
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:10pm
Keep thinking that, Swirls.
Why don't you smoke a joint, it might make you a nicer person.
She's not the only one thinking that
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 2:17pm
Did someone make your car break and force you to take public transit today?
In vs Out of the City
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 2:23pm
Keep in mind that many people who live in the city (hi!) work outside of the city. And while public transportation is available to the current place of business, it wasn't to the previous one. And it's not on the best time schedule for the place of business. And turns a 30 minute drive into 90 minutes.
In the case of this project, moving cars is kind of baked in
By UHub-fan
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:09pm
The entire project is being made possible by moving the Pike. By definition, automobile flow is an unavoidably huge component. The "focus" as such cannot be turned away from autos. What can happen is that balance can be significantly shifted.
If we want this area to
By cden4
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 11:40am
If we want this area to develop as a new transit-oriented neighborhood, we need transit FIRST! West Station is a no-brainer and should be built now.
Furthermore, MassDOT needs to shrink the size of the streets in their plan. Most of them are nearly as wide as Cambridge St today. The whole point of a street network is to distribute traffic. Therefore, the streets themselves should be able to be smaller as well.
MassDOT is well on it's way to repeating the same mistakes we made in the Seaport: Poor transit service and streets that are not human scaled. Have we learned nothing?!
Spot the fatal flaw
By EM Painter
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 11:38am
You asked a government to create a neighborhood. You have learned nothing.
The Back Bay
By John Costello
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 11:44am
It was a joint creation of the State and City of Boston. Turned out a wee nice I'd say.
Allston Stalinists
By EM Painter
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 11:55am
Exception proves the rule. Divided plots lead to individual character. Leads to nimbyism which our present day Stalinists want to stamp out.
Spot the fatal flaw?
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:08pm
Between your ears?
I don't think the words "Stalinists" and all those other lovely scripted polysyllabic things you saw at Bratfart and love to throw about because you think they sound good mean what you think they mean.
Remember folks: spewing vocabulary doesn't make you look smart if you have no fucking idea what any of it means.
Will not be
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:28pm
as climate change progresses.
When you have to go back over
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:30pm
When you have to go back over a century to find a project which worked and there have been decades of failed projects, including the urban renewal debacle, it doesn't look good.
Suburbs were designed by government
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 2:40pm
Highly subsidized highways. Acre zoning. Etc.
Not sure
By bgl
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 11:48am
But, seemed to work out pretty well in the Back Bay all things considered. This, also, is not the government creating a neighborhood - it is only moving and condensing infrastructure freeing up land that is owned by a private party that will then probably develop it.
If people think it's pleasant
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:31pm
If people think it's pleasant to live in the city's western neighborhoods and have access to the joys of the Worcester commuter rail, accessed by a station not near any retail district and not served by useful local transit, they're welcome to move to Boston Landing.
Still better than most of the Southern neighborhoods
By bgl
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 5:04pm
At least Boston Landing is within a mile of rapid transit (and Lower allston less than a mile to the green, mile to the Red). Hyde Park, Westie, and Rozzie have nothing except for CR stops.
Wow dude
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 6:17pm
Move if you don't like it - is living in Allston part of your parole? If you actually live there, you will note that there is tremendous construction upgrading this Western neighborhood specifically because of Boston Landing, they're just not done yet. Not a coincidence - if you build it (transport hub), they (retail, restaurants, condos, apartments) will come as the trend is towards less dependence on cars. This, and safer streets, were promised to the people of Allston with the West Station (which would be adjacent to existing retail, restaurants, condos, apts, etc btw). It would also allow students & staff to/from BU & Harvard without having to drive (both have very limited parking) and the area residents (hi!) to get downtown quicker as the green line is slow & congested during the school year. Try driving down Cambridge Street at the pike on/off ramps - there currently is not a safe crossing for bikes & pedestrians on either side of Cambridge. People have to take their chances crossing with cars on/off ramping at highway speeds - people have actually died. The current "improvement" project has added painted crossings with no lights to signal cars to slow down/stop - better than nothing but still dangerous. The pike repositioning was sold to the neighbors (hi again) with the promise of a transit hub to help get into/out of the area without driving and safer streets - they were promised to get the project approved and now they're reneging. We're allowed to be mad about it.
You are aware, of course...
By UHub-fan
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 7:42pm
that there's a fair amount of retail already next to Boston Landing, and more on the way? Heck, it's practically unrecognizable from three years ago.
North Allston?
By Cedric
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 11:48am
Is that near Lower Allston?
Allow me to summarize
By Gary C
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:19pm
Blah, Blah, Blah.
Cars are evil.
No they are not.
You're an idiot.
No YOU are.
Did you read what I typed?
No. Did you read what I said?
No. Why should I? You're an idiot......
Or:
By cden4
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:37pm
Or:
We need to think about more than just cars. Our population is growing and we have terrible traffic congestion already. We need to create better non-car options along with repairing our existing car infrastructure for a whole variety of reasons.
Why are you bike nazis always trying to force me not to drive?! I love driving, and most people drive, and transit ridership more recently is down, therefore funding transit is a waste.
If you want to drive, that's fine, but not everyone does.
I will never give up my car!
I'm not asking you to.
Why are you forcing me to ride the crappy T?
I'm not. I just want to give people options.
OK whatever car hater.
Nailed it!
By tofu
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 1:58pm
Nailed it!
This.
By Neal
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 4:44pm
Boom.
Boom Redux
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 5:19pm
n/t
...or...
By Rob
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 9:22pm
...or...
https://media.giphy.com/media/yPG6YsKgTDBE4/giphy.gif
Very well said, Gary.
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 5:08pm
It is really too bad that some can't seem to engage in a productive, non-insulting conversation. Alas, I try to go high when others go low but I am not perfect.
I'm definitely on the side of
By Rob
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 2:00pm
I'm definitely on the side of West Station having to be in from the beginning (though they really need to sort out DMUs and signals and the prospect of getting anything approaching half-rapid service on CR lines like Fairmount Line and anything between Auburndale and Back Bay on the Framingham/Worcester Line).
I wish the people were making a more coherent argument, though. West Station connecting Harvard Sq to Longwood? Connecting to Kendall?
The first has nothing to do with rail - so just call it the 66"X" and be done with it.
The second is hypothetically possible as rail - but may never happen even if/when West Station is built.
The Best Way to React to an Insult
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 2:15pm
Ahem,
Since some of us seem to have a proclivity to insult, perhaps for the rest of us who are on the receiving end?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-a...
"People with narcissistic tendencies tend to be particularly likely to hurl an insult your way so that they can feel better about themselves."
Hmm.
Now, search for "whyaduck" in page
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 2:32pm
Read all the comments.
Pretty amazing that this would get posted during a particularly acute flurry of attacks on anyone who dares cite facts that point to private cars as causing problems and being a poor solution to moving people.
QED
LOL!
By whyaduck
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 5:25pm
Oh, anon...
I think there is a big difference about calling one "stupid" as opposed to pointing out ones foibles, no, or challenging ones statements when I feel they are loosy-goosy and/or not realistic and/or not productive. I have not called anyone names on this thread, i.e. "stupid", "idiot" or whatever, in contrast to others. So my post was relevant since I was the recipient of those insults.
In regards to your words, let us see, "acute flurry of attacks on anyone who dares to cite facts (well, that is debatable) that point to private cars as causing problems..." Ahem, all I said, more or less, in between defending myself against said insults, is that in order to have a more productive conversation we should acknowledge that cars are not going to disappear any time soon and to incorporate said cars into any solutions.
So you say "private" cars are a "poor solution to moving people", um, hokey, well, what alternative modes of transportation other than cars do you suggest that can move the same number of people (very important) in and out of the city on a daily basis and please let us know how you will pay for it ('cause that is also a major issue where many fear to tread).
QED
Again, willful ignorance
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 6:36pm
Trains, subways, light-rail, buses, BRT, cycling and walking are alternatives that can provide reliable transit networks when funded and planned properly but you've carefully setup your strawman, wrapped in the armor of convenience and funding so that it appears that private cars are THE only solution.
Motorists don't pay their fair share, you do not pay for the true cost of driving, gas, road construction, upkeep, external impacts on the health and the environment etc. Cause thats a major issue that motorists fear to acknowledge.
Lets try what London has done, where congestion pricing has reduced traffic and travel times in the city center. Automobiles down 44% and yet total number of people entering GREW 23%.
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2017/12/05/london-traf...
This would even address one of your biggest complaints, traffic! More transit alternatives removes more cars from the road and means more open roads for you to drive on, yay!
But I really don't expect you to give a genuine response to this, I do think its partially willful ignorance and the other part is willful trolling. Plenty of sound solutions have been presented to you but you still keep hammering on about your feelings being hurt because Swirly called you stupid? Welcome to the internet I guess.
Trust me, if viable public
By anon
Thu, 12/07/2017 - 9:24am
Trust me, if viable public transportation were available, LOTS of drivers would gladly use that instead of driving. Until public transportation can provide an adequate level of service and reliability, people are going to drive.
It has to be said
By anon
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 10:06pm
Keep Allston Shitty !!!!!!
Am I the only one
By Bob Murphy
Wed, 12/06/2017 - 10:14pm
Who thinks the guy in the photo is a real life version of Shaggy from Scoobie Doo?
I happen to agree with him that solid public transit options should be the (not just a) priority, but when I see his picture, all I can think about is Scoobie snacks.
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