🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <Bs98F9.KIF@world.std.com> adamg@world.std.com (Adam M Gaffin) writes:
>
>I think it's a question of ridership volume.  The MBTA predicts that, at
>its peak, the Worcester line will handle 2,500 riders a day.  I don't know
>what the potential ridership of a re-built Watertown line would be, but
>presumably it's a lot higher than 2,500, which would, according to the
>club, make it a better place to spend scarce dollars.  

   One point missed by this is the fact that there are already other modes
   of public transportation to use where the Watertown line would be. Extending
   the Commuter Rail out to Worcestor brings potential new riders into the
   system and off of the roads. Isn't that the point of public transportation?
>
>And the Sierra Club (to which my phone call for a better explanation has
>so far gone un-returned) presumably isn't looking at another issue: will
>transit users who live in MBTA communities essentially be providing a
>subsidy to those who don't?  I don't know about the South Shore, but none
>of the western towns to benefit from the Worcester line will be
>incorporated into the MBTA district, which means they won't have to pay an
>annual subsidy to the T like MBTA towns (the exception is Ashland, which
>is already in the T district, but which looks likely to get a cap put on
>its assessment so it won't pay more if it gets a station). 

   Interesting comment. Don't forget that the MBTA is subsidised with state
   tax money that comes from ALL over the state. The MBTA district argument 
   would make sense if the T was funded only by it, but it is not. It would
   be nice for the T to be only 50 miles away from me instead of 70 :-)


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Barry J. Roskuski              think!urartu!lpoint!roskuski
Laserpoint Software Systems
Ludlow, Ma.