Re: Green Line to Medford to start in 2011
Funny thought. Judging by the headlines, what's driving these projects is federal money. I'm going to assume this is indirectly cause by having a Democrat for a president. Republicans are historically known to be hostile to public transit, especially the last president if my understanding of the history is correct.
However, Massachusetts is enjoying roughly none of the Democrat friendliness to transit.
Therefore, I find it fitting if we manage to send a former Massachusetts governor for president. If Romney lives to the reputation of Republicans, at least if we can't enjoy more public transit, at least the rest of the country won't either.
You kind of have to want it and advocate for it. These cities are getting the investment because their pols are unified at working the squeaky wheel.
MA is getting ample funding for the Knowledge Corridor, Downeaster, and freight upgrades to CSX and Pan Am/Patriot Corridor. What's the common thread on those? Amtrak, and private freight carriers. You don't see the MBTA's name attached to those initiatives, even though they're siphoning off them with the Fitchburg and Haverhill upgrades and Worcester Line sale. Yes, there have been exceptions (Fairmount), but look at where the spoils are going regionally. It's a far cry from what RIDOT and CTDOT have gotten and will continue to get for instate commuter rail (dear god...even that awful busway in CT!) because every stakeholder is
on-fucking-point about going for it.
What are they pushing? South Coast Rail, South Coast Rail, South Coast Rail. A project with no private or intercity stakeholders, which the feds have shown little interest in batting an eyelash at. Where's Patrick's facetime with fed officials? Dan Malloy in CT made multiple trips to D.C. to pitch NHHS and the busway to Roy LaHood's face, and even invited the normally hostile Republican members of the House transportation committee to come visit for some wooing...and surprise endorsements for NHHS from the Congresscritters holding the purse. Rhode Island does the same. NNEPRA is already fiercely beating the drum for Auburn as the next Downeaster extension before Brunswick is even open. Vermont's already bagged track rehab funding for a Montrealer restoration, and has their Congresscritters pushing Customs reform legislation to streamline passenger rail border crossings.
Every New England state except third-world New Hampshire is running circles around our leadership on the visibility front. Act like you're only half-interested, and you don't even get half-funded. Why should the feds fund our rapid transit system when the T and City Hall telegraph their passive-aggressiveness and reluctance to move on their own proposals? There's 10 cities and transit districts acting way hungrier and more coordinated than us.
GLX is a remarkable story in context. Beacon Hill, the Governor, and the T have been giving it relatively muted play all along...but the local advocacy has been fierce enough to push it almost alone (even Capuano, in between scaring the shit out of everyone with his period "take what you can get and forget the rest" comments). Effort matters. A lot.
