In recent years, the issue of public transportation has risen to prominence in Boston. The city’s poor layout, brought about during its beginnings at the start of U.S. history make transportation an even more complicated issue, rendering it incompatible with the grid structure and transit patterns found in newer cities.
State and city officials over the few past years have been working to make the city more transportation-friendly, striving to strengthen the city’s partnerships with transportation providers including the MBTA and other shuttle services. City councilors have prioritized transportation and have made promises to their constituents about working to make public transportation more accessible and affordable.
These improvements should certainly be made. And sometimes when the City lacks enough resources, private institutions can be essential in making a difference in this sector — one that not only affects individual people, but also the entire neighborhoods they live in.
On Wednesday, Harvard announced a $58 million pledge to increase its financial contributions toward building the West Station commuter rail in Allston in an effort to prompt the City to start construction. Harvard, which owns more than 130 acres of land in the area, seeks to revitalize the land through developments made possible by public transportation.
This plan coincides with several other developments going on Allston. MassDOT is currently paving construction on the improvement of the Mass Turnpike. Only after they commence the repairs and improvements to the I-90 could officials begin work on the commuter rail — which could mean a start date as late as 2040. Thus, Harvard is proposing building a temporary, smaller station on the Framingham-Worcester line, and are willing to pitch in $8 million to cover a large portion of cost. Officials and spokespeople at Harvard are asking the City to install this interim station which could be open by the mid-2020s to alleviate the strain put on residents who could be inconvenienced by the highway project.
Introducing public transportation is by no means an easy process, and while these projects are necessary, they still take up a large amount of time and resources. For many projects, state officials work on plans for years, coordinating logistical information with several agencies involved in construction. The current highway repair and realignment project is looking at end dates 20 years out partly because of all of the hoops that MassDOT has to jump through to ensure the soundness of the construction sites and the project as a whole.
A prominent example of a transportation improvement by the city includes the construction of the Boston Landing commuter station, a project that was pushed by New Balance, which installed its new headquarters in the area. The headquarters and stores are located directly across from the station, which was an addition to the Worcester-Framingham line. This station undoubtedly served many residents in the area, and more importantly, it facilitated growth and expansion of commercial buildings nearby. Many more people now work in Brighton, and the city has seen improvements in infrastructure ever since the rail opened in May. In the same vein, the West Station could also improve the Allston area, known for its plethora of young people and college students.
Of course, Allston is a familiar neighborhood for BU students. Sure, it’s known as “rat city” amongst locals, and has built up a reputation for its party scene, but Allston is also home to many members of the BU community. An additional T stop could be beneficial in uplifting the neighborhood’s crumbling infrastructure and declining establishments. It could attract more students and young professionals to the neighborhood, driving up value and creating more incentives for businesses to relocate there.
Although Allston may not be the cheapest place to live, it certainly offers more affordable housing options compared to other neighborhoods around the city. Allston is still pretty close to the downtown neighborhoods where many Bostonians have jobs, so a station in the area would certainly be a welcomed stop for commuters.
Moreover, the commuter rail would be a favorable addition for Boston University. BU — which has agreed to pay for a third of the station’s stop — has been supportive of the ongoing construction. It could even be beneficial to local students who would use the stop to return home and visit family more often. While BU is already known for its ample access to transportation, increased transit options on the west side of campus could be reassuring to parents and students alike.
The MBTA and MassDOT will need to work in collaboration with institutions like Harvard in order to get their projects up and running. A 20-year delay is an excessive amount of time for the addition of a commuter station that could potentially relieve the strain for other busy Boston commuter stations. If organizations are invested in Allston’s revitalization, then surely they should work together in order to pave the way for growth in the transportation sector.
