Nice to see you back, Dave.
...good to be back??
I'm actually around daily, but I'm finishing up my thesis, preparing to move out of state, etc, etc. So my only posts tend to be out of frustration when I think I'm going to click on a topic I'm interested in, and instead read two pages of unrelated drivel rehashing yhe same thing we talked about last year.
..and the year before that
.....and the year before that
.............and the past five years before that.
General forum decorum is thst a quick off topic tangent (question and an answer or two) is okay. But once you start delving into details or an actual discussion about the tangent topic, you announce you will be discussing it in the relevant thread (existing or newly created) and link to it. That way topical discussion continues in the appropriate places, aiding clarity of the whole forum, as well as searching in the future.
Here's a hint. Go to google and in the search bar type
site:
www.archboston.org "whateveryoursearchis"
Then instead of reading through "years of insanity" you can quickly find the actual fact based discussion, with official engineering documents, analysis, etc.
I also wouldn't be so quick to dismiss our discussions. A big chunk of the whole Peoples Pike advocacy for the mass pike realignment started right here. And a few people I know in planning departments, and MassDOT lurk here. Or at least did.
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As much as the branching to Union has over inflated this particular project, and probably would have been served just fine by a stop on Washington street, I think the future proofing of having a grade separated flyover will be of benefit to future generations looking to expand. Load balacing at terminals is also another fringe benefit, and also ensures at least two lines are required to go beyond North Station.