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  1. J

    Biking in Boston

    Air suspension systems on buses have had "kneeling" capabilities for several decades. It is hardly "unproven tech".
  2. J

    Crazy Highway Pitches

    The challenge with restricting left turns in much of those corridors is the street "grid" (using the term very loosely) does not accommodate a right, right, right alternative for the left turn. It becomes a "you can't get there from here" exercise. Each left turn would have to be examined...
  3. J

    South End Infill and Small Developments

    As of rights you get 70 ft. height, multi-family residential (which means some neighborhood ground floor businesses.)
  4. J

    MBTA Fare System (Charlie, AFC 2.0, Zone, Discounts)

    My understanding about OMNY, though, it the cap system actually increases the number of discrete credit card transactions. What used to be a once per month pass transaction becomes a series of discrete ride transactions up to the cap. That is a ton more discrete CC transactions being processed...
  5. J

    MBTA Fare System (Charlie, AFC 2.0, Zone, Discounts)

    Contactless is apparently costing NYC a ton of fare revenue. Don't be surprised if the financial services folks pulled a fast one here. They are much better than the T at these scams.
  6. J

    MBTA Fare System (Charlie, AFC 2.0, Zone, Discounts)

    Does anyone know how the T is going to make up for all the credit card transaction fees that the contactless payment will cost them. Moving to a system where every ride is a separate CC transaction is a huge boon to the credit card processing companies (and a huge loss in revenue to the T).
  7. J

    South End Infill and Small Developments

    Check out the zoning for the area, completed in the Harrison Albany planning effort a decade ago. Castle Square area is specifically step-down zoning to heights appropriate to start to match South End row houses. You are not building Ink Block height structures here without a big fight.
  8. J

    Other People's Rail: Amtrak, commuter rail, rapid transit news & views outside New England

    If only they had a real last mile solution in LA. Then it would be a true HSR solution.
  9. J

    MBTA Commuter Rail (Operations, Keolis, & Short Term)

    For CR idling noise, isn't the solution electrify the lines? We hear that complaint a lot here on the North Shore when they short turn the Newburyport and Rockport lines for track and signal work -- extended idling in locations that normally don't experience it (like Swampscott).
  10. J

    Bulfinch Triangle Infill & Small Projects

    Mortgage rates at 8% have housing sales stalled. Developers are afraid of that.
  11. J

    Downtown/Financial district infill and small developments

    I think the problem is the high interest rates (particularly 30-year mortgages). They not only make construction financing difficult, they make residential units hard/slow to sell.
  12. J

    Dick’s House of Sports | Prudential Center | Back Bay

    The nature of the retail at this site is a minor part of the urban disconnect. The real problem is a suburban style low-rise big-box retail building right on the Back Bay high spine. That is the design abomination.
  13. J

    General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

    I can attest that I have also experienced a lot of those 20+ minute waits on the Orange Line on Sundays recently. I know it is not statistically sound, but if those are happening, there must be some 3 minutes waits some other part of the day to get to 13 minutes on average. Maybe they run lots...
  14. J

    Winthrop Center | 115 Winthrop Square | Financial District

    Anybody with any design sense knew the Connector would never be the Great Hall (which could never exist in that site anyway) (regardless the BS pronouncements of Millennium). 1/3 of the Connector is dedicated to vertical height change ramps.
  15. J

    One Post Office Square Makeover and Expansion | Financial District

    I am still rather amazed that you can do that kind of transformation to a tower. Much better.
  16. J

    General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

    I just want to thank the MBTA are their brilliant coordination of planned track work on the Blue Line and the Rockport/Newburyport Commuter line. Through their planned shutdowns this week they have ensured that there are no viable rail transit means to get into Boston from the near North Shore...
  17. J

    I-90 Interchange Improvement Project & West Station | Allston

    I get all that, but in a practical sense Bus Electronification is costing capital monies, and with a higher cost per bus and bus garage charging space, it means bigger fleets are even more expensive. So Bus Electrification has a direct impact on our ability to expand fleets, frequencies...
  18. J

    Reserved Channel Development | 300 West First Street | South Boston

    We already have the Boston Civic Design Commission that plays the design and aesthetics oversight role on many projects. We just don't like their decisions. The BCDC Review Criteria include: new or rehabilitated structures over 100,000 square feet; projects of special significance or projects...
  19. J

    I-90 Interchange Improvement Project & West Station | Allston

    It is more that EV garages are going to be more expensive than the old diesel garages (apparently). EV buses seem to mean more garage space needed per bus. More busses also means more garages. I am just pointing out that supporting bus infrastructure is pretty major. It is not free of...
  20. J

    Reserved Channel Development | 300 West First Street | South Boston

    God help us if the BPDA suddenly decided that Brutalism is all the rage again -- central planning worked so well in our mega-urban renewal era. And in the central planning model, who is the arbiter of taste? In Boston it has often been the mayor :rolleyes: ("The mayor says he likes the blue...

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