HelloBostonHi
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The classic Massachusetts strategy of hiring an expensive consultant to do your job and take the blame if it goes wrong
The classic Massachusetts strategy of hiring an expensive consultant to do your job and take the blame if it goes wrong
Am I the only one who's surprised Harvard tops the list?Per Globe article above, top ten busiest stations (by entry) in Oct 2022 (out of all 63):
10. Back Bay (Orange), 184k
9. Kendall/MIT (red), 214k
8. Copley (green), 240k
7. Maverick (blue), 241k
6. Central Sq (red), 250k
5. Park St (red, green), 251k
4. Downtown Crossing (red, orange), 276k
3. North Station (Green, Orange), 282k
2. South Station (red, silver), 291k
1. Harvard (red), 325k
Not really at all, it's been in the list of top 3 to 5 stations with highest activity for a long time.Am I the only one who's surprised Harvard tops the list?
I was surprised, but it does actually make sense. Most of the stations on the list feature at least one of three different factors that stimulate utilization:Am I the only one who's surprised Harvard tops the list?
I was surprised, but it does actually make sense. Most of the stations on the list feature at least one of three different factors that stimulate utilization:
I think Harvard might be the only one that fits all three criteria.
- proximity to high demand destination
- proximity to high density residential
- serves as a major system transfer point
Per Globe article above, top ten busiest stations (by entry) in Oct 2022 (out of all 63):
10. Back Bay (Orange), 184k
9. Kendall/MIT (red), 214k
8. Copley (green), 240k
7. Maverick (blue), 241k
6. Central Sq (red), 250k
5. Park St (red, green), 251k
4. Downtown Crossing (red, orange), 276k
3. North Station (Green, Orange), 282k
2. South Station (red, silver), 291k
1. Harvard (red), 325k
All the people are saying that Thursday is the new Friday and I'm starting to believe them.Some notes that I personally find interesting and I hope others on the board do as well.
Harvard - On Saturday, October 22, during the Head of the Charles Regatta, Harvard Station recorded 17k validations, 19% higher than any other day since May.
South Station - The 291k validations includes both Silver Line (87k) and Red Line (204k).
North Station - The six highest ridership days in October were all Bruins or Celtics home games.
Downtown Crossing - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in June.
Park Street - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in June.
Central - Set new COVID-era highs in ridership on consecutive Thursdays: October 20 and October 27.
Maverick - Set a new COVID-era high in ridership on Friday, October 7.
Copley - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in September.
Kendall/MIT - Set new COVID-era highs in ridership on October 6 (Th), October 19 (W), and October 20 (Th).
Back Bay - Highest ridership day each week was Tuesday or Thursday.
I've read mixed things about Fiandaca.
Uh. Context?I've read mixed things about Fiandaca.
I recall liking the Go Boston 2030 plan (2017)Fiandaca oversaw the release of the city’s first major transportation plan in decades, “Go Boston 2030,” a 15-year, $4.74 billion undertaking that included mobility projects and policies.
From the Boston Herald:
I recall liking the Go Boston 2030 plan (2017)
IIRC, it made the first big political statement that the City was willing to reallocate space from general travel (SOVs) to pedestrian, bike, and bus. It also asked for frequent Fairmont service and Regional rail.Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan released
Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released the Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan that will direct the City of Boston's transportation agenda for the next decade and beyond. The plan is comprised of 58 transportation projects and policies that are designed to expand access to a variety of...www.boston.gov
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Another article on new State transportation team;
Healey goes with a team approach on transportation
GOV.-ELECT MAURA HEALEY named two women to head the state’s transportation bureaucracy on Friday, appointing Gina Fiandaca as secretary and Monicacommonwealthmagazine.org
Great info, Arlington, thanks! Still not sure what the unelaborated/mysterious “mixed things” heard by an above poster were (Rum and coke? Gin and tonic? - seriously why type unexplained opinions? What purpose does that serve?
I’m impressed by these two hirings and their experience levels reflect well on Healey maybe working better with Wu than previously portrayed by the Globe (”OMG they haven’t had a one to one meeting yet!!”- until last week).
What jumps out to me as notable here is the new Deputy - Tibbits-Nutt - not only having a good business liaison experience (the 128 shuttle thing) but also having led the charge with the low-income means testing MBTA fare thing - - something Mayor Wu has prioritized and actually implemented on a limited basis with those free 3 bus lines earlier this year. This says a lot about Healey possibly fitting in like a perfect puzzle piece with Wu (as opposed to Governor Studebaker) and I like that they could actually work together to tackle the problems at the T. I’m encouraged.
OL+1to RozSq was the 5th most popular project, but they bustituted it to be in-scope for the City:I swear that included the Orange line +1 to Rozzie Square, but can only find the green line to Hyde Square. Both of which would be great improvements.
I am thinking about the 2015 to 2019 era in Boston streets. The things I recall point to an era of declining transit ridership, Uber's disaster on the streets, and several horrific fatalities of people riding bikes (in particular the death of Anita Kurmann on Mass at Beacon). GoBoston2030 was published and seemed good, but, I'm struggling to see that the agency did much from 2017 to 2019. It only seems after Fiandaca and Marty left before they started getting work done, in particular, Mayors Janey and Wu pushing forward on transit and cycling.
If the positions were switched - Monica Tibbits-Nutt in the chief and Gina Fiandaca in the deputy - i think I would be less concerned.