PolarBlueberry t1_j9olvsv wrote on February 23, 2023 at 1:51 PM

A commuter rail to Springfield would be amazing. It’s the 4th largest city in all of New England yet people see Western Mass as this sleepy rural area. Springfield became a major historical city because it is the crossroads of New England, it’s in the center of everything.

Plenty of SFHs in the area for under $300k, and that includes very nice neighborhoods of Springfield, East Longmeadow, etc.

Easthampton/Northampton is getting all the attention and there really isn’t much affordable anymore, and people are paying premium prices for cheaply built factory housing from the 1920s. But Hamden County has tons of opportunity.

nkdeck07 t1_j9qbvox wrote on February 23, 2023 at 8:31 PM

>East Longmeadow

Not really true anymore. East Longmeadow has been discovered and the housing prices are going up accordingly.

SuperSpartacus t1_j9rxmxu wrote on February 24, 2023 at 3:05 AM

Yeah because tons of people are going to take the 5 hour round trip every day from Springfield to Boston, makes sense

NewspaperEconomy5473 t1_j9sgy77 wrote on February 24, 2023 at 5:56 AM

The East-West rail Alternative 4/5 Hybrid included travel times of 1 hour and 37 minutes between Springfield and South Station, with stops in Palmer, Worcester, Framingham, and Back Bay.

You might want to do some introductory reading about this project before you make ridiculous false claims like "5 hour round trip". The East-West rail study included both travel times and potential ridership, but you clearly didn't read any of it.

Talking about something you don't even have a basic understanding of is foolish and embarrassing.

BovaDesnuts t1_j9opcbi wrote on February 23, 2023 at 2:18 PM

Fuck the rail. How about Springfield gets a tidbit of economic development instead of having its industries shuttered by Beacon Hill and its citizens given fuck-off payments to steer clear of the capitol.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9ou7ko wrote on February 23, 2023 at 2:54 PM

You’d be surprised how many agencies in western mass are pushing very hard for exactly what you’re saying. We get ignored for Boston, all the time, and when I am in grant review programs, I repeatedly let them know that it is not just the Boston area that has issues. But there has been some huge economic development push in Springfield, the casino was a big part of that. The fact that it backfired doesn’t mean people aren’t pushing eco dev Springfield.

BovaDesnuts t1_j9ousyk wrote on February 23, 2023 at 2:58 PM

I'm from the area, I totally get it. I remember people saying "that tornado was the best thing that ever happened to us" when the casino went up, on account of it handling demolition of historic sites free of charge.

Know why isn't pushing for economic development in Springfield? The 2/3rds of voters who live in the Boston Metro. They want to squeeze every penny out of Springfield and every acre out of Worcester so they don't have to confront the truth that their lifestyle is unsustainable.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9ov2bk wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:00 PM

Edit: This guy is a brand new account and explicitly says below that he doesn’t give a fuck about the region and it’s economic development. He’s full of shit.

The people who live and work in Boston are incredibly Boston centric and don’t even realize we exist as a real economic center or that the PioneerValley has so much more to offer then just pretty views. Of course, now they all want to move out here and work remote from home while telling us how we are supposed to do things the Boston way. It fucking pisses me off. You and I are definitely on the same page.

Edit: and you are right, the people out in that area or remote working in Boston only see where the money needs to go in Boston. Even if they live here, they are so focused on Boston is the only place that needs funding that it is so frustrating.

BovaDesnuts t1_j9ovamp wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:02 PM

Therefore, no rail. Rail bad. Go build skyscrapers in Salem and then we'll talk.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9ovuh6 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:06 PM

I’d actually disagree there. The east west rail wouldn’t just feed Boston, it would connect people on the Berkshire’s to Springfield and the rest of the Pioneer Valley. My planning agency is fully behind that rail idea exactly because it would bring eco dev into Springfield and the Valley, by connecting more of Western Mass together. I mean, screw all the focus on the eastern end of the state, but the east west rail would greatly benefit economic development in Springfield, Holyoke, etc.

BovaDesnuts t1_j9owcmi wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:09 PM

High-speed east-west rail would enable Boston to do to Springfield exactly what it's done to Worcester after the commuter rail started up in 1994. Displace locals, jack up property values, commute to Boston by high-speed rail, overwhelm the locals in elections, and degrade the local community.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9oy43w wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:21 PM

The proposed east west rail doesn’t just go Springfield-Boston. It would go all the way to Pittsfield. Thereby connecting the Berkshires with the Valley. It would also connect Springfield & Palmer to Worcester. I’d suggest looking over the wealth of study documents on that page. It’s not just a high speed train from Springfield to Boston. It would connect a bunch of economically struggling and isolated areas in Western Mass together. It is uniformly supported by all the western regional planning agencies: BRPC, FRCOG, PVPC. Specifically for the economic benefits to our region. For real!

BovaDesnuts t1_j9oyrkv wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:25 PM

>Specifically for the economic benefits to our region.

Fuck the region. I care about the people and the culture. Land doesn't need economic opportunity, people do. How are you planning to stop the fine people of Framingham or Weymouth from displacing locals like they have in Worcester County?

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9ozybb wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:33 PM

Okay, aren’t you the guy who said fuck Bostons, who about some economic development for Springfield, but now you don’t give a fuck about the region? The one that has Springfield in it? And no way did you read anything about the studies of economic benefits to Springfield. You are ignoring evidence and being a weird NIMBY about anyone from Eastern Mass. Based on this, and the fact that your account is not even two months old, I’m done. Bye!

BovaDesnuts t1_j9p0df5 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:36 PM

The region meaning the soil. Dirt doesn't care about economic development. People do. How is this going to benefit the people who are already there instead of displacing them, as happened all the way to Worcester. In other words, what makes you special?

Know what might work better? PVTA getting enough money to kick off streetcar service in Springfield would be a good start. It would be hard to manage it worse than the MBTA manages every rail they touch.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p3zri wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:59 PM

The region does NOT mean the soil. And it’s offensive that you think my sourced comments about economic benefits for the people in the region means I think I’m special. No. It means I do this work for a living and I understand how the rail will benefit the people in the region by creating economic development, local wealth, and jobs. Without sources showing backing up your analysis, your comments don’t mean anything. And your inflammatory response with complete inaccuracies do not help you.

Plus, it seems like the only thing you care about is Springfield. More people live in the valley than they do Springfield. And a trolley system in Springfield? Seriously, show me one needs assessment that suggests that Springfield would benefit from that. Show me one place that says that would be better than what PVTA already has.

The region is the soil… god, I can’t. The amount of bullshit in this one comment would take me pages to deconstruct and I have to get back to actually improving the environment and economy in the Pioneer Valley in my professional state level position. So again, until you have sources that mean something instead of ranting about things you don’t understand, bye!

BovaDesnuts t1_j9p5bdx wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:08 PM

>The region does NOT mean the soil. And it’s offensive that you think my sourced comments about economic benefits for the people in the region means I think I’m special.

Gentrification is well-studied. It has been creeping West across Metro West. Rent goes up, people head West where they can afford homes without changing jobs, or leave all-together. In case you're unfamiliar, it's a process whereby something brings wealthy individuals into the area, driving up costs and displacing local residents.

My question is how the rail, as proposed, will improve the lives of the people already in the Pioneer Valley instead of displace them as has happened from New Hampshire to Braintree to Worcester. Your link shows it'll improve the economy, sure. But who will benefit is more important to me than how large the benefits are.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p731x wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:19 PM

How does improving the economy is a specific area NOT benefit the people living in it? Jobs? Food? Accessibility to services, medical care, businesses… if your concern is keeping people for other areas out, that’s just ridiculous. And I see nothing from you backing up the negative impacts to Worcester and NH from adding public transport like railways. You need to back that shit up with evidence and studies.

You do know the gentrification is not the result solely of expanding public transport right? Have you seen the housing prices in the last three years WITHOUT the railway? Please, use sources or stop talking to me. I have real work to do.

BovaDesnuts t1_j9p7xz5 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:24 PM

>How does improving the economy is a specific area NOT benefit the people living in it? Jobs? Food? Accessibility to services, medical care, businesses…

Oh, easy. When it doesn't come with improved conditions, it tends to lead to social cohesion and social capital loss while simultaneously displacing poor people and damaging their health.

The mistake you're making, and the one that the state documents refuse to address, is what happens to the people who are already there.

>You do know the gentrification is not the result solely of expanding public transport right? Have you seen the housing prices in the last three years WITHOUT the railway?

CDC indicates it's mostly driven by push factors, such as a lack of housing and massive job growth in nearby cities. Maybe we can think of a city with these issues nearby?

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p8bxp wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:27 PM

That’s has nothing to do with Springfield and a railway. That’s the CDCs page on gentrification and there is NO tie in to the topic at hand.

Bye troll

BovaDesnuts t1_j9p8gf7 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:28 PM

I only hope that in 20 years when you see what you've done to the poor people of WMA, you'll have the strength do the right thing.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p9ul1 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:36 PM

Troll

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p47yc wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:00 PM

By the way, where do you think Springfield gets his water from? It draws water from a variety of small hill towns in the valley. Springfield depends on the entire valley to function. Where do you think people who use the businesses in Springfield live? Elsewhere in the valley you’re being very shortsighted in offensive with your statements, and you can’t back any of it up with evidence.

BovaDesnuts t1_j9p5kh3 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:09 PM

So maybe, and I'm just spitballing here, public transit in Springfield might, say, reduce congestion and car dependency in the area and make it a more attractive location to set up shop for people not working in labs in Boston?

I'm not opposed to regional transport, I'm very specifically opposed to the expansion of the Boston Metro. That's a concern I haven't seen addressed.

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p6jwr wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:16 PM

The east west rail is NOT the MBTA. It can connect and work in conjunction with the MBTA. And you can’t just spitball with no evidence. Try reading the earth of documents that have been a published that I linked you too. And perhaps submit questions to the PVPC about the impacts of a trolley system in Springfield. Because it’s been rejected as a viable idea a bunch of firm. They’ll have peppers to back it up

BovaDesnuts t1_j9p6x1f wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:18 PM

>The east west rail is NOT the MBTA. It can connect and work in conjunction with the MBTA.

Metro area, not MBTA. You know. Metro West, but further west. The W towns, if you don't know where that is.

>And you can’t just spitball with no evidence. Try reading the earth of documents that have been a published that I linked you too.

I did. They're... not encouraging. It pretty much confirms my concerns that they're just looking to expand the Boston metro

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p76uy wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:20 PM

Link to them then. You haven’t supported anything g you said. Provide sources or stop talking to me. I have real work to do benefiting the region.

BovaDesnuts t1_j9p82np wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:25 PM

Now now, you and me both know you can't prove a negative.

I have real work to do voting against you. No rail to Boston if I can help it

MOGicantbewitty t1_j9p87w9 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:26 PM

Troll

novolog t1_j9obdz6 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 12:16 PM

How long does it take you to get from Northampton to grand central on a train?

WaketheDeadDonuts t1_j9obx25 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 12:21 PM

4.5 hours on a nice, comfy, wifi-equipped train

novolog t1_j9ocn2e wrote on February 23, 2023 at 12:29 PM

Interesting. Do you use this amenity often?Wouldn’t it be much quicker to drive?

WaketheDeadDonuts t1_j9oi60r wrote on February 23, 2023 at 1:21 PM

Ha, absolutely, but that's not the point.

Parking one's bike in sleepy Northampton, taking a nap, then waking up in Manhattan without having to find parking is a dream.

Still, driving and parking in Manhattan rarely takes less than 4 hours and can take significantly longer depending on traffic, so 4.5 hours on a train is nothing.

I can drive to Boston in under 2 hours, but between busing to Springfield and busing to Boston, it would be 6 hours...not even close.

PakkyT t1_j9ouc86 wrote on February 23, 2023 at 2:55 PM

>Parking one's bike in sleepy Northampton, taking a nap, then waking up in Manhattan without having to find parking is a dream.

Or reading a book or playing a computer game or writing your own book or learning how to edit photo with Gimp or enjoying the scenery outside or ... ANYTHING other than clutching a steering wheel, staring straight ahead, and hoping you get there without an accident. 4+ hours of doing whatever you want always beats less than 4 hours driving.

billyrayvalentine1 t1_j9okq1x wrote on February 23, 2023 at 1:42 PM

Welcome to Easthampton! It’s a great place 😎

novolog t1_j9oucxj wrote on February 23, 2023 at 2:55 PM

Nice! And you don’t have to transfer, it’s just a straight shot in? How often do you do this?

WaketheDeadDonuts t1_j9p07er wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:35 PM

You can take the Vermonter direct to Penn Station. If you miss it or need more options, you can take one of a few trains to New Haven then switch to the Metro-North that goes to Grand Central.

I don't do it that often because I don't go to NYC that much anymore, but with Phish doing a 7 night residency this summer at Madison Square Garden...bet your bippy I'll be training it down to funk town!

PabloX68 t1_j9qgu2s wrote on February 23, 2023 at 9:01 PM

People move to an area for a few reasons. One is the economy (i.e. jobs) is good, Two is that housing is affordable (which is partially a function of one), three is the area is nice (pleasant, low crime, etc) and four is family.

The rail line you describe doesn't help that much because nobody is commuting from Springfield to Boston (or even Worcester) on a daily basis. What the state needs to do is incentivize businesses to create good jobs in those cities like they did with the Seaport.

SuperSpartacus t1_j9rxjuz wrote on February 24, 2023 at 3:04 AM

Such a terrible investment lmao.

A train from the PV to Boston would be WAYYYYY too long for a daily commute, so then what is the point?

WaketheDeadDonuts t1_j9ti73p wrote on February 24, 2023 at 1:25 PM

Hard disagree.

East/West Rail would be around 1.75 hours from Springfield to Boston, pretty much the same length of Metro-North from New Haven to Grand Central.

Have you ever boarded the 6am train in New Haven on a weekday? It's often standing room only by Milford. Ditto the 5-6pm trains (aka the drinking trains) back to CT.