I put that as a reasonable transit pitch, not a crazy one. It makes imminent sense on several fronts, relieving LRV traffic from the GL central subway, and providing direct transit access from the Back Bay to the Seaport and convention center.
So, I guess...
Isn't the central artery alignment the only one that has protected right-of-ways for portals for all commuter rail lines? Don't you sacrifice some network connectivity (which is what NSRL is really all about, valuable network connections we cannot anticipate before deployment) in the other alignments?
My understanding is that under the 2018 Baker Feasibility Assessment, whether Fairmount and Old Colony get NSRL portals mainly depends on 2-track vs 4-track, not the alignment (Central Artery, State-Congress, Pearl-Congress). They excluded the South Bay portal from the 2-track alternatives likely due to capacity constraints in the tunnel.
Well take into consideration if the Amtrak downeaster issue can be rectified quickly and cheaply, Amtrak could then force its way into Concord New Hampshire the via Lowell /Nashua. Lets see New Hampshire try and stop the Feds from investing in rail infrastructure. The Mega-corridor doesn't need to stop at Boston.
The NSRL really wouldn't be able to work if it was built piecemeal. The approach to SS under coming from Back Bay requires a tunnel boring machine for a large portion of it. That would be too difficult to remove downtown and it can only travel in one direction (so reversing out the way it came is not an option). The tunnel boring machine used for East Side Access was left abandoned somewhere underneath Grand Central as it was deemed too costly to disassemble for removal. So if you've got the boring machine here, there's really no other option than to dig to the other side of NSRL.
I believe that there are a couple options for partial build, though, that could be considered. For example, you could bore both tunnels for 4-track. but only build out one of the tunnels initially. Perhaps not include Central Station initially (becomes part of the second tunnel build out). Also I am not sure you have to build all the portals to the south at once. As long as they are planned for they might be staged.
Agreed. And to be honest, I see the question as kind of meaningless. The Commonwealth could afford to do it without federal support, but that would require a political commitment well beyond what exists. When the feds are kicking in 50% to 80%, it's a much easier sell, but that doesn't mean we can't afford it, just that it's not a priority without the assistance. And more to the point, why would we pay for it if we thought there was a good chance to get some federal funds?
A more accepted logical Northeast megalopolis count factors all the feeder cities on all sides of it. Think MSA not city limits. Beyond Portland.