You have to use rail to get enough surge capacity for a stadium. And that bus/rail reservation better be absolutely car proof, otherwise game day drivers will cluster it up.The MBTA should start politicking and present the cost for a Green Line branch to Everett via the Lechmere Viaduct, the Grand Junction right-of-way, Sullivan, and a new bus/rail reservation along Alford St and Broadway. Buses are not enough to serve this site alone. The Green Line system could be:
EDITED TO ADD: This is tongue-in-cheek, but I wish I lived in a world where this would be a reasonable proposal.
- B: Boston College - Park St
- C: Cleveland Circle - Everett
- D: Riverside - Medford/Tufts
- E: Heath St - Union
The MBTA should start politicking and present the cost for a Green Line branch to Chelsea via the Lechmere Viaduct
Whether it terminates in Chelsea or Everett, the concept is the same.I hope that when the MBTA present next year that in addition to the SLX busway and bridge to Assembly that they bring up commuter rail infills at Sweester Circle and potentially Sullivan as well. I believe that Kraft is expected to match funding for public infrastructure projects associated with the construction of the stadium so this could be a great opportunity to make big steps for transit in this area and towards Everett especially.
I agree that light rail to Chelsea alongside the commuter rail ROW should be a long term goal, but I prefer an Urban Ring proposal connecting the Chelsea busway to the Grand Junction with a super station at Sullivan. This seems like a really long ways away though.
Whether it terminates in Chelsea or Everett, the concept is the same.
A Sullivan superstation on the Haverhill, Newburyport, Rockport Lines would complement this proposal well regardless.
- ...
- Encore / Revolution
- Sullivan
- Lechmere
- Science Park / West End
- North Station
- ...
Even if it is not the service pattern, you need to allow some level of interlining at Innerbelt and Brickbottom. You don't want the rolling stock on the Grand Junction isolated from the rest of the Green Line.I meant the Grand Junction section in Cambridge. I was thinking more along:
- ...
- Encore/Revolution
- Assembly
- Sullivan
- East Somerville (Green Line E)
- Brickbottom (Green Line D)
- Cambridge Street
- ...
- Kendall (general area)
- ...
- West Station
- ...
Having CR infill stations at Sweester and Sullivan going to North Station, it feels kinda redundant to send another line on the same path when you could connect the North side of the urban ring. Additionally, it looks rough trying to link into the flyover toward Lechmere. Granted the alternative through Innerbelt and Brickbottom isn't a cakewalk but that's why it seems to me like any light rail in this area isn't coming anytime soon.
(f) The construction of the professional soccer stadium and waterfront park and any site redevelopment, pursuant to subsection (a), shall include improvements to increase the availability of public transportation through the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to access the stadium and waterfront park; provided, however, that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall develop a plan on to [sic] how to provide access to the professional soccer stadium and waterfront park through public transportation, including, but not limited to, bus routes and shall publish said plan to its website not later than March 1, 2025.
