You're given complete control over the MBTA and a budget of say $10 Billion. What are you top 3 projects you get done first?
I was hoping you'd ask.
#1: Put three bus drivers and a mechanic in a windowless room near the docks in Charlestown and get them to count it for me (and give me an estimate to within the closest ~100k of how much of it is already missing).
#2: Moar BRT
#3: Call in sick
You're given complete control over the MBTA and a budget of say $10 Billion. What are you top 3 projects you get done first?
I was hoping you'd ask.
#1: Put three bus drivers and a mechanic in a windowless room near the docks in Charlestown and get them to count it for me (and give me an estimate to within the closest ~100k of how much of it is already missing).
#2: Moar BRT
#3: Call in sick
You're given complete control over the MBTA and a budget of say $10 Billion. What are you top 3 projects you get done first?
Ok, its in an interesting question so here's a serious answer. Like Arlington I'm going to focus on the 10B rather than the 3 projects. Call it 'Heavyx, CRX, and the Emerald Network:
$2.5B | Heavy X: Heavy Transit Expansion
- $2B BLX from Wonderland to Lynn Riverworks and Lynn Center
- $0.5B Red-Blue Connector @MGH
$5B | Commuter Rail Expansion
- $1.5B SSX & NSX (MBTA Share)
- $3.5B CR NSRL (Tunnel + Electrification + Rolling Stock)
Hopefully we get more details beyond this blurry slide. It looks like they are proposing a walking and biking deck over the top of the existing road, a bus tunnel built into existing buildings alongside, and rail in a tunnel beneath? Very high modernist of them.
You're given complete control over the MBTA and a budget of say $10 Billion.
You're given complete control over the MBTA and a budget of say $10 Billion. What are you top 3 projects you get done first?
- I'd look at whether I could build a 3% max grade double track alignment roughly along I-90 from approximately Dark Brook in Auburn to approximately the Quabaog River, and whether that could get Springfield to Back Bay under 90 minutes and make that a viable commuter rail route.
Just doing the Auburn-East Brookfield section should be a big improvement over what's there now, and some other minor improvements should get you pretty close to 90mins. Would require 110-120mph running though.
- I'd order a pair of ferries that would each be capable of carrying a pair of 60 foot buses plus a bunch of pedestrians and bicyclists, and build docks for them at Charlestown Navy Yard and Lo Presti Park to extend bus route 89 to Maverick and Logan Airport.
Tunnel projects:
Quincy-based streetcar network - almost certainly existed decades ago! - a route from Quincy Center down Washington/3A to Hingham and up to Nantasket/Hull.
Beyond streetcars I don't know how you'd get light rail there unless there is room next to the Greenbish ROW, which I doubt.