i ride sideways
Posted by G lib on 2006-03-16 16:28:04 +0000
I wrote to the top! (follow up 2)
P Chippy and I went to this last night, to find out about the state of the big dig parks, including the one being constructed near our house, The Bremen Street park, and to ask questions about the Airport T station. 
My question:
[Led by intelligent remarks about reducing strain on roadways based on previous questioner's answer, of course.] "I haven't been able to get a straight answer from the MBTA about why the Silver Line doesn't stop at the Airport T station. Can you give me a reason why this is the case?"
My answer:
The chairman patronizingly told me that this was the MTA, not the M_B_TA. And when I assured him that I understood this but thought that because the Silver Line was big dig related and run by the MTA, the answer then became "I have no idea."
PChippy's question:
"I have to walk around the construction site at the Bremen street park 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon, 100 minutes a week. Can you please open up another entrance to the Airport station so that East Boston residents don't have to go way out of their way to get to the T?"
PChippy's answer: "We'll look into it in the next couple of weeks" was the response from the MTA.
Expected outcomes (my guess):
Me: I got applause at the end of my question, and a transportation activist came up to me and asked me to do some work with her. However, unless we get someone higher up to ask the question, it's unlikely that we'll be able to get a straight answer.
Chippy: They have started working on the Bremen street side of the Airport T station park yesterday, so we'll probably have an entrance by April.
Overall, it was pretty cool to be in the Great Hall of Fanuil hall with all of the politicos, and feel like we're part of the process. But my one person Airport T station activism might have to be stepped up pretty soon...
My question:
[Led by intelligent remarks about reducing strain on roadways based on previous questioner's answer, of course.] "I haven't been able to get a straight answer from the MBTA about why the Silver Line doesn't stop at the Airport T station. Can you give me a reason why this is the case?"
My answer:
The chairman patronizingly told me that this was the MTA, not the M_B_TA. And when I assured him that I understood this but thought that because the Silver Line was big dig related and run by the MTA, the answer then became "I have no idea."
PChippy's question:
"I have to walk around the construction site at the Bremen street park 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon, 100 minutes a week. Can you please open up another entrance to the Airport station so that East Boston residents don't have to go way out of their way to get to the T?"
PChippy's answer: "We'll look into it in the next couple of weeks" was the response from the MTA.
Expected outcomes (my guess):
Me: I got applause at the end of my question, and a transportation activist came up to me and asked me to do some work with her. However, unless we get someone higher up to ask the question, it's unlikely that we'll be able to get a straight answer.
Chippy: They have started working on the Bremen street side of the Airport T station park yesterday, so we'll probably have an entrance by April.
Overall, it was pretty cool to be in the Great Hall of Fanuil hall with all of the politicos, and feel like we're part of the process. But my one person Airport T station activism might have to be stepped up pretty soon...
Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-03-15 22:50:58 +0000
Glib in 2008
Posted by cdubrocker on 2006-03-16 12:03:51 +0000
Glib, I will totally join you in your crusade. The more I hang around Boston, the more I feel that T officials do not overall care about the needs of middling income working class commuters. I would love to hear these T officials justify not having the Silver Line go to Airport Station. I mean, god forbid business types should have to get on a Shuttle Bus at a Brand Freaking New T Station.
Posted by Miriam on 2006-03-16 17:05:39 +0000
You are my hero! You're bucking the trends in community involvement; Bob Putnam would be proud!
E-mail to tgl@rideside.net to add your tumblr.
Find me on github.