If you have a moment, please consider signing the Red-Blue Connector e-petition. The petition urges the MBTA to commit to build an actual connector between the Red and Blue lines in the Focus 2040 visioning plan.
We all benefit from improvements to connectivity across the transit system, even way out here on the C and D lines.
I’m all in favor of better connectivity. However, does this do much for Newton commuters? It’s hard to figure out from the language in the petition. It seems like it will connect the blue line at MGH to the red line. That’s sounds great, but is there something in this that I don’t understand that will help commuters in Newton?
would be good for anyone on the green line because red-blue people would stop using Park Street
It’s a general we-all-win-with-connectivity issue. Not that there’s a specific trip or trips from Newton that will require or are improved by a red/blue connector, except commuter rail trips that may continue onto the blue line. Maybe.
Everybody traveling between the Red & Blue lines currently need to use the Orange Line or the Green Line to connect. This adds passengers to the Green Line between Park St and Government Center.
A more direct Red Line – Blue Line connection (at Charles/MGH) would probably remove volume from this small section of the Green Line and would speed up operations.
This connection makes even more sense if a *huge* development was to occur at Suffolk Downs…
Sure, it’s a worthwhile project, but very expensive. I’d put it after N-S Rail Link and South Coast Rail. (and urgently needed improvements to the Green Line tunnel in Back Bay. )
In the meantime, change from Red to Silver at South Station: it will take you to your terminal, and the return trip is free.
Agreed, connectivity helps everyone, but this project trails far behind NSRL. Fixing the abysmal Silver Line also would have more impact on Newton than the Red-Blue connector, and it’s not a Big Dig.
http://amateurplanner.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-ignominious-d-street-light.html
http://amateurplanner.blogspot.com/2015/04/going-in-circles-on-silver-line-or-how.html
How bad is the Silver Line? It’s the only line I know of that makes a stop at the same station twice.
I hear the arguments that question why folks here should be actively promoting a project that may not directly benefit every actual and potential public transit commuter in this City.
That said, I’m even more convinced that we can only have a world class public transportation system in Boston by working collectively to promote every legitimate need and priority program no matter where it is located. We have failed to put public transportation needs no a par with those serving the automobile . We need a lobbying effort that prioritizes the need for a modern, convenient and efficient regional public transportation system. This is not going to happen piecemeal. We will always need our state and local officials to make certain our specific needs are met, but I think it’s clear here as it almost always is that the whole is stronger than the sum of its parts.