MBTA 2024 map from MassDOT CIP 2014-2018 http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/0/docs/infoCenter/docs_materials/cip_FY14_FY18.pdf
In MassDOT’s transportation capital improvement plan for 2014-2018, just published, a vision for the MBTA in 2024 includes a form of rapid transit for the north side of Newton, using diesel multiple unit cars, terminating at Riverside station. A so-called “Indigo line” could provide local service for Auburndale, West Newton, Newtonville, Brighton and Allston to Back Bay, South Station, the Seaport district, and maybe even North Station using the Grand Junction Railroad. Note that there’s nothing actually in the CIP through 2018 to support this. How could reliable and frequent service to Boston transform communities on the north side of the city?
I’m not sure many are aware, the trolley line used to run all the way out Commonwealth Ave to Norumbega Park, where the Marriott Hotel is today.
Thanks for highlighting this, Adam. The question is also: How can Newton ensure that this vision is realized in a way that benefits Newton (more rapid transit stops in Newton, with fully accessible stations)?
Mike, there were a couple of trolley lines in Newton if you go back far enough, including one from Needham through the Upper Falls and Highlands to Newtonville. Also, there was a “circuit” railroad which encompassed the proposed Indigo line and the current Highland Ave branch to Riverside, so at best we’re talking about catching up to where public transit was about 100 years ago!
And there was a streetcar that ran the length of Watertown Street to Watertown Square where you could get in the streetcar for Boston and Cambridge.
For many people these days, commuting to Kendall Square is just as important as commuting downtown, yet there is no easy way to get there from Newton.
Parking is a big problem. For more people to access a rapid transportation route there must be a place to park. Most commuters can not walk to the rail station as they simply live too far.
Colleen, parking is a big problem, but more transit can reduce the need for cars. Riverside will have tons of parking for those who wish to come from a distance, but the line could work by servicing entire neighborhoods within a short distance, and connecting bus service could be much more useful. Not every station needs to provide parking. That’s especially true if there were more transit-oriented development at each station.
This would be a fantastic addition. We should all work collectively to make this happen.
That would be wonderful! And I agree that parking’s less important if the stops are located correctly. I grew up in Manhattan and we were all used to walking to subway and/or bus stops.
This is a fabulous idea and could not only play a part in addressing access and parking issues, but could also be a spur in encouraging more activity in a few village centers without an increase in cars.
For me, the most interesting part of the plan is connecting Newton to Cambridge and North Station through the Grand Junction. Right now Newton is less attractive for those who work in Cambridge because it is not well connected by mass transit.
The railroad bridge over the Charles River is there. (It runs under the BU Bridge.) But the rail line through Cambridge has lots of street crossings.
The former trolley line to Watertown Square has been replaced by MBTA bus route 59 which runs from Needham Junction past Needham Town Hall in Needham Center, past the Needham Town Library and Needham Heights with its train station, into Upper Falls and Newton Highlands (Green Line) along Walnut Street (Library, City Hall) into Newtonville (Senior Center, Commuter Rail) through Nonantum into Watertown Square where Cambridge connections can be made.
MUCH simpler to accomplish in much less time would be to extend the D line to the former site of the Riverside station on the once-Boston & Albany main line, just west of West Newton. While it wouldn’t do much for getting Newtonians to Cambridge, it would really enhance the ability of western commuters on the purple line to get to places in Newton, Brookline and the Back Bay. Wouldn”t cost much, comparatively, and much simpler to achieve. In fact, I think it should have been part of the mitigation provided by the developers of the Riverside site.
i am also surprised and disappointed by the fact that there is nothing shown for the equally simple and straightforward extension of the D Line to Needham Heights.
Schuyler, I’m sure others would agree with you about Needham Heights. Aside from the Somerville extension, which is a big-dig carryover and already in the plan, there are absolutely no changes to streetcar or subway lines in this map and no significant amount of new rail. These are all (relatively) low-budget infrastructure improvements.
The proposed Indigo line through Newton would require exactly the same extension you speak of from Riverside to the old depot, minus the construction of a station (weren’t there issues with space for platforms or station access where the old depot was?) so aside from the additional cars it might actually be the cheaper option. True, this plan is much more hub-oriented. It wouldn’t offer transfer options to the D line for those commuting in from the west, but it would do a lot for capacity of the Worcester line and could get a lot more people using public transit in Newton and beyond.