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I have long believed that the real solution to Boston's housing crunch is high speed transit to Worcester, Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford etc. Build HSR out

I have long believed that the real solution to Boston's housing crunch is high speed transit to Worcester, Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford etc. Build HSR out to these areas and drop in lower cost high density density housing. Essentially use these old mill towns as Boston's Brooklyn -as none of the closer in cities are willing to take on the role.

meddlepal 8y ago
Quincy and Lynn could be vastly improved first. Lynn needs blue line access and Quincy needs to build up its downtown and along its four fucking Red Lines stops. Also I would love Worcester high-speed transit, but that's a bigger and more complicated problem than just getting the wheels turning in the two big cities right next to Boston.
cbm-vic-20 8y ago
You already have an example of a city with HSR to Boston: Providence. Amtrak does this run in 38 minutes, Acela a few minutes faster. Providence is seeing a recent uptake in tech activity; GE Digital is hiring downcity, and other companies like Virgin Pulse and a small startup scene. Still, there are a lot of people who ride the rails between Boston and Providence every day.
- my_username_is_ 8y ago
  It's 38 minutes to the 128 station, which is hardly Boston proper. It's an hour between Providence and Boston (South station), and the cost difference between the commuter rail or even Amtrak regional with the Acela is crazy. $12 MBTA train vs $16 Amtrak regional vs $50-$80 or more for the Acela. For what amounts to a 5-10 minute savings.
  - cbm-vic-20 8y ago
    Looks like it depends on direction. Southbound trips are scheduled for 38 minutes from S. Station to Providence, but around an hour going north. MBTA is currently $11.50 each way. Amtrak is $.50 more if you buy two weeks in advance.
dsfyu404ed 8y ago
They have rail out to all those cities (and Fitchburg too). It's just not "HS" and it's beyond overpriced for how reliable and fast it is.

meddlepal 8y ago

Quincy and Lynn could be vastly improved first. Lynn needs blue line access and Quincy needs to build up its downtown and along its four fucking Red Lines stops. Also I would love Worcester high-speed transit, but that's a bigger and more complicated problem than just getting the wheels turning in the two big cities right next to Boston.

cbm-vic-20 8y ago

You already have an example of a city with HSR to Boston: Providence. Amtrak does this run in 38 minutes, Acela a few minutes faster. Providence is seeing a recent uptake in tech activity; GE Digital is hiring downcity, and other companies like Virgin Pulse and a small startup scene. Still, there are a lot of people who ride the rails between Boston and Providence every day.

my_username_is_ 8y ago
It's 38 minutes to the 128 station, which is hardly Boston proper. It's an hour between Providence and Boston (South station), and the cost difference between the commuter rail or even Amtrak regional with the Acela is crazy. $12 MBTA train vs $16 Amtrak regional vs $50-$80 or more for the Acela. For what amounts to a 5-10 minute savings.
- cbm-vic-20 8y ago
  Looks like it depends on direction. Southbound trips are scheduled for 38 minutes from S. Station to Providence, but around an hour going north. MBTA is currently $11.50 each way. Amtrak is $.50 more if you buy two weeks in advance.

dsfyu404ed 8y ago

They have rail out to all those cities (and Fitchburg too). It's just not "HS" and it's beyond overpriced for how reliable and fast it is.