Problem, Solution
We have a perfect storm brewing here: an overcrowded transportation network, an ancient transit system, and a mass of humanity moving in.
We need to do something that not only fixes our current predicament, but also addresses the future needs of our city and region.
The solution is to add significant capacity to our public transit system. It's not unique - it's a successful strategy that has been implemented in growing cities across the globe. And it used to be practiced by our city decades ago.
The Circle Line is THE project that would have the greatest positive impact on our transportation network. It would...
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Significantly bolster the existing subway, bus, and commuter rail system
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Alleviate a lot of the current overcrowding on roads and rails
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Enable this region to continue to grow and thrive
Yes, the Circle Line would be expensive, but so was the Big Dig. But the Big Dig only served to alleviate congestion on an existing 2-mile stretch of the Central Artery. The Circle Line would add an entirely new 17-mile transportation route around the city, capable of moving hundreds of thousands of people everyday.
The Circle Line would bring thousands of new riders to the T, thereby taking numerous cars off the streets. It would replace many wasteful commuter shuttles and MBTA bus routes. It would greatly improve commuting times for those who ride the subway, bus, and commuter rail, which in turn would bring even more riders to the T.
It would become a major economic driver. Real estate development along the line would thrive. New homes, offices, and stores would sprout up. Citizens would clamor to live close to the modern transit line.
The Circle Line would quickly become the workhorse of the T and single-handedly bring us into the 21st century, in terms of public transit. 50 years from now, people would be wondering how we ever got around without the Circle Line. Read more >>
About
It's no secret. Boston is booming.
At the 2000 census, Boston's population was 589,000. In 2010, the population grew to 618,000. The City predicts that by the year 2030, its population will reach 700,000.
That's not surprising. People are moving into the city in droves. Some estimates already have Boston's population over 660,000. And it's not just Boston that's growing, it's the surrounding communities of Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Newton, Revere, and Somerville. People want to be close to jobs, public transit, and entertainment.
To accommodate the population influx, the Walsh Administration is planning to add 53,000 new units of housing by 2030. That's not surprising either - new construction sites are popping up practically every week. From the Seaport District to the Fenway, Charlestown to Jamaica Plain, it feels like the whole city is under construction.
Population Boom
Right now, we're relying on a transit system whose newest subway line opened in 1912; whose 4 rapid transit lines were primarily constructed between 1900 and 1930; whose last major expansion was a measly 2.8 mile extension of the Red Line from Harvard to Alewife in 1985. Read more >>
In fact, since the Red Line extension in 1985, over 85 cities around the world have opened NEW metro systems including Vancouver (Canada), Sofia (Bulgaria), Algiers (Algeria), Bangalore (India), and Lima (Peru). Another 35 cities are currently constructing NEW metro systems including Sydney (Australia), Jinan (China), and Lagos (Nigeria).
Since 1985, many cities have EXPANDED their existing metro systems including Seoul (South Korea), Warsaw (Poland), Tehran (Iran), Washington D.C. (USA), and London (UK). Read more >>
Cities all over the world are investing in new public transit. But not Boston. 30 years and counting! Heck, if little known cities like Mashhad (Iran) and Novosibirsk (Russia) can build a subway, why can't Boston?
Behind the Times
Commuting Nightmare
It seems that everyone's #1 complaint these days is their commute.
Traffic in and around Boston is a nightmare. It's typical for a 10 mile drive to take 45 minutes (that's an average speed of just 13 mph).
The T is packed and running slower everyday. Subways, buses, and commuter trains are delayed so often, that it has become the norm. Trips from South Station to Kenmore are taking over 45 minutes...that's to cover a distance of just 2.5 miles.
There are too many people, with not enough roads and rails to fit them all.
And it's about to get a lot worse. Unless something drastic is done. Soon.
Act Now
The Circle Line HAS TO BE the next big public works project we undertake.
We have to get started now. It's a mammoth project - at least 10 years of planning and construction. That means the earliest we could start benefiting from this would be 2027.
Once the Circle Line reaches substantial completion, other expansion projects could begin. But not until then, as any line extensions would bring even more people onto the already overcrowded subways, crippling the downtown core and bringing the entire system to a standstill.
But we have to act now!
Following substantial completion of the Circle Line, the Orange and Blue Line extensions would be the next projects to undertake to create new transportation capacity. These projects would greatly benefit those living in Hyde Park, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Needham, Chelsea, Everett, Saugus, and Lynn, and would help the region by taking cars and buses off the roads, thereby reducing congestion and pollution. Read more >>
Fast forward to when the Green Line extension to West Medford is operating, the Circle Line is open, the Fairmount Line is converted, the Blue Line extension is complete, and the Orange Line is finished. We will have added 56.0 miles of new rapid transit to the current 62.8 miles, bringing the total to 118.8 miles. That's an increase of 89%!
The T would finally be able to handle the current demand, with capacity for future population growth.
The Future
This website was created by a group of Bostonians who are exacerbated by the current state of the T.
The goal of this site is 3-fold:
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Present Boston-area residents with public transit projects that are most critical to our region.
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Gather support and feedback from residents.
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Demand action from the Massachusetts State Government to fix the T.