[tiedieconderoga]

It's a fine idea if good candidates for conversion can be found, but shouldn't they fix up their dilapidated public transit system before inviting more density into their urban core?

Just today, one of their rail cars caught fire at an elevated station, and their broken fire suppression system did nothing but flood the ground floor when the firefighters tried to use it.

Wu's push for more housing density along the city's functioning arteries feels more realistic. Maybe they're realizing that plan could also suck a lot of property taxes out of the urban center.

[jancsika]

I absolutely agree we need to discuss the topic of their dilapidated public transit system. But shouldn't we first solve the problem of how to deal with Richard Stallman's oversized influence on the FSF?

Until we have a truly well-funded FSF filled with both successful projects and sustainable outreach programs that can reach a more diverse set of participants, I'm afraid that the topic of software freedom will continue to be relegated to the sidelines as some kind of fringe religious zeal.

Until we do that, we'd just be replacing one unethically-proprietary fire suppression system with another unethically-proprietary fire suppression system. And riders will just be commuting back and forth between abodes wired with automation systems which do not respect the wishes of the users within them.

[abange]

I believe that part of the issue is the MBTA is a state level organization not city level. Wu doesn't have the power to fix the T. I agree that adding more load to an already crumbling system doesn't seem like a great idea but empty office buildings create their own problems by leaving "Dead" blocks or areas which can invite crime and decay.

[tapoxi]

Boston isn't in charge of the MBTA, the state is, and the MBTA is mostly in a poor state because it was saddled with debt from the Big Dig.

[beastman82]

These are not mutually exclusive

[micromacrofoot]

There's a new general manager, Phillip Eng, who's actually a transit enthusiast rather than some random bureaucrat... if he can't fix the issues plaguing the MBTA no general manager can. This is a long problem though, they're trying to fix decades of unaddressed maintenance issues.

[caycep]

He may be an enthusiast, but one also needs to be a Lyndon Johnson level of bureaucratic bulldozer, I suspect...

[spywaregorilla]

Feels more like a sensible compromise between a bailout for commercial real estate holders and helping the city to continue growing. In theory at least.

The T definitely needs some help. But if you're living downtown, it's a very walkable city fwiw.

[vkou]

If you're going to hold solving the housing crisis hostage to having proper public transit infrastructure, we're never going to solve the housing crisis.

[fasthands9]

Yeah. I realize there are tax breaks in her bill but in theory getting more people living in these dense areas will raise ridership on the subway a lot and raise taxes as a whole - which would pay for things like repairs which the OP complains about.

[stathibus]

No amount of ridership or city tax revenue would make the MBTA solvent. It's a sinking ship that is beyond rescue without massive federal intervention. Nobody in MA wants to say that though, because it's an admission of failure.

[vkou]

why is MBTA's solvency relevant to anything? Nobody expects the DOT, or any of the roads and highways they build and maintain to be solvent, or for the police department, or the firefighters to be a profit center for the city.

But as soon as we start talking about public transit, everyone's counting coppers and wringing their hands about the system's solvency.

[nix0n]

It will reduce the strain on transportation infrastructure if more people can live close to where they work, or have "reverse" commutes.