As lovely as this would be, I think elevated train lines would probably have more pushback than at-grade or subway lines.
Normally yes, but as long as it dives under at or before Sweetser circle there really isn't anyone to object. It's a polluted hellscape at the moment so there are no residents whose views will be impeded.
Encore is a pretty big money interest that might object to an EL.
Perhaps, but frankly I would be surprised if that was the case. I don't think any part of the building actually looks out onto Alford St, and it would be at least 350 ft away from the building itself.
Why would we be following the street grid for anything rail when the Eastern Route is right there? I mean...it's one thing if you want to divert off-ROW after Sweetser into Downtown Everett. Crayon away at those dreams for what they're worth. But for actually getting across the river and as far as Sweetser...Urban Ring ROW along the Eastern no questions asked. It's cheaper, less obtrusive, MUCH more intensively-studied to save on paperwork, physically easier to integrate a station into Encore, and serves more catchment by being able to span a station entrance to a TOD'ified Gateway Center. 1000 ft. walk from there to the new stadium is plenty close for rapid transit stop spacing.
But if you care about more than just Encore, this is an area likely to be redeveloped into something, stadium or no stadium, then the Eastern Route kinda sucks. Getting to any development east of Alford St would require either going around, through, or under Encore. The first is a rather long walk, at least half a mile just to get to Alford St, the second seems much more objectionable than just building an elevated, and the third would be a huge drag on any cost savings. Yes for Gateway Center it's better placed, but I don't think that's where we're more likely to see new development, and it's ultimately a smaller area than the space east of Alford St.
But is it though? Yes the El would need some kind of skybridge for a direct connection, but the Eastern Route isn't amazing either, that side of the resort is meeting rooms, delivery bays, and the kitchens of a few restaurants. Would it be easier than a skybridge? Probably at least somewhat, but by how much?
By how much though? I'm willing to bet it's not tons. The existing bridge is only for two tracks, so there will need to be a new bridge across the Mystic regardless, and getting to Alford St doesn't really require a longer bridge. So it comes down to how much 3500ft of concrete elevated costs, compared to 3500ft of laying new tracks and slightly widening the existing ROW, plus removing the level crossing between Gateway Center and Encore.
You don't need smaller rolling stock to do curves like that. It's a radius of around 1000-1500ft, around double the curve radius between Savin Hill and Fields Corner.
It makes way more sense to go under the CR tracks in my opinion. From crossing under the Newburyport/Rockport line tracks, you could rise 60ft before crossing the Mystic. I can't find the actual height of the Mystic River MBTA bridge but just eyeballing it in comparison to the Tobin, it seems like that should be fine.
I would love that route for an elevated GL branch to Everett or LRV urban ring to Chelsea. It would serve the Revs stadium and that whole area east of Alford St really well.
