Submitted by HRJafael t3_z7b3ku in WorcesterMA
NativeMasshole t1_iy5pesy wrote
Transportation infrastructure. Right now cars are the best way to get around the city, and even driving around sucks ass.
28Widget t1_iy5x8z3 wrote
Agreed - both in Worcester and out. Fast trains to Boston and Springfield. In crazy fantasyland to NYC, Philly, and DC too.
HRJafael OP t1_iy5yh5f wrote
Speaking of fantasyland: do you think there is room for another form of connection after updating the current commuter rail? What if Worcester was connected by a tram line (kind of like the Mattapan line) that connected either to Forest Hills or Boston College on the MBTA's Green Line?
the_sky_god15 t1_iy61kjg wrote
That would be like a 4 hour trip. Transit higeratchy is important. Instead let’s run our own light rail routes to the suburbs.
HRJafael OP t1_iy639ja wrote
Do you mean making Worcester another hub? I can see that. Right now everything reroutes through Boston so I wouldn't mind if Worcester had its own little network
the_sky_god15 t1_iy94w7z wrote
Basically what I’d wanna see is something like the t to bring people into worcester from the suburbs. Ideally, these lines would have a number of places to transfer between eachother and the busses with all lines meeting at union station where you can transfer to fast and frequent electrified regional rail to Boston, Springfield, RI and CT.
NativeMasshole t1_iy6dht1 wrote
That's what I was thinking. Get people off the roads. It's the only way Worcester is going to be able to keep growing. We need to be able to get people into, out of, and around the city without adding to the congestion.
SmartSherbet t1_iy832c6 wrote
I think such a network could have the following as its core lines:
- Worcester to Providence, stopping in Millbury, Sutton, and a couple RI towns along the way
- Worcester to Marlborough, tracking 290 to give those commuters another option
- Worcester to Fitchburg, with stops in West Boylston and Leominster
[deleted] t1_iy6egps wrote
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Robespierrexvii t1_iy8a35w wrote
Going off of this just like...usable sidewalks. There are so many that just end or have trees growing through them and are all but unusable. For runners like me this is incredibly frustrating. I can't even imagine how someone with mobility issues gets around in this town.
Devastator5042 t1_iy5wsox wrote
I'll piggyback this, better infrastructure in general narrow the streets in the downtown, allow for more walking and curbside events.
Also I'd kill for a Mass Transit system that isnt a bus but it's not economical for Worcester
saintmusty t1_iy93j7z wrote
Who says public services are supposed to be economical?
Kirbyoto t1_iy5ye0n wrote
Having driven recently in Providence, Springfield and Boston, I'll say Worcester's driving is way above average. Only one major highway going through it without all the insane loops and lane switches of the highways in those other places.
NativeMasshole t1_iy6dut3 wrote
Which also makes it difficult to drive across quickly and adds to surface street congestion. I'm not sure most people would list lack of highway access as a good thing.
Kirbyoto t1_iy8ebxp wrote
>Which also makes it difficult to drive across quickly
Good. It's easier and safer to drive more slowly instead of plowing along at 65mph and then having to switch lanes to get off the highway on one of eight thousand looping exits. And we have a blessedly low number of stroads in the city itself.
NativeMasshole t1_iy8flmx wrote
That's completely false. It's actually statistically safe to drive on highways, since everyone is driving in the same direction.
Kirbyoto t1_iy8h4yg wrote
If you're just driving straight it's fine. The problem comes when you have to swerve across traffic at high speed to get into the right lane, which is common in Providence, Springfield and Boston. In fact if you think "driving in the same direction" automatically provides good results I suggest you go check out the Saugus-Peabody section of Route 1.
New-Vegetable-1274 t1_iydik9x wrote
I agree. The problem with most of the highways in New England is that they were built in the 1950s and 60s. They were built for 50s and 60s traffic, it was a time when most households only had one car. The number of cars has increased exponentially and these highways are woefully inadequate. It is difficult to retrofit these highways and so the answer is better mass transit or highway expansion that would mean bulldozing enormous swaths of land currently occupied by businesses and housing. That would take decades and in the meantime create a far worse traffic situation. I think the case for better mass transit is beyond argument. There are thousands of miles of abandoned rail beds throughout New England alone. There's something like sixty thousand miles nationally.
draken2019 t1_iy85tat wrote
100% agree.
The public transportation services sucks in Worcester. Trains are so much better at what they do than buses.
masshole4life t1_iy96q1g wrote
bring back trollies on wide main roads and use the leftover buses to service neglected pockets of the city.
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