Idle MBTA Plans

Everyone who has the slightest interest in planning has thought, "I would do this instead." Whether we are railfans, commuters, tourists who liked the trains they rode on holiday, trolley maniacs (sparkers), or professional planners we all have ideas, many of which are not bound by budgets of physics. Today's Boston Globe (17 May 13) has a front page about how the Fairmont Line isn't good enough. Of course it isn't finished, and a few months ago people in the same neighborhoods (the ass end of Dorchester) were grousing about how bad the buses are. So I looked up the background of the project, and decided I wouldn't have done anything different, considering the limitations the T has to work within.

 Then I thought, what would I do, money no object? Blue Hill Avenue subway- north from Mattapan, split at Warren St, Grove Hall, one line to Dudley and Roxbury Crossing, one to Andrew (Red Line). 
But why branch? Why not just go to Dudley and join the Future Urban Ring?

 Here is my rough Urban Ring route- starting under South Boston proper (maybe City Point) to Andrew, Dudley, Roxbury Crossing, somewhere in the Longwood Medical Area (not D branch Longwood), probably Kenmore (transfer to B, C, and D Green Line- don't see a better option), north to Central, Union Sq Somerville, Sullivan/Assembly/Wellington (can't decide), an Everett station, Chelsea,and Airport. The Silver Line South Sta. to Logan is good enough for now, which is why I wouldn't continue back to Southie.

 I see the long stretch of MIT, Longwood, and Dudley as growing or future employment centers. Union and Chelsea are ripe for development. Logan might get more passengers, but not many more jobs, and at some point it will have to close at high tide, making a new airport (cue Hanscom) inevitable.

 And I would extend the Blue Line to Lynn, as promised since the 1940s, probably by running next to the former Eastern RR main. And west- to a Charles/MGH under, an MIT station on Mass Ave, N. Harvard @ Western for Allston and the Harvard facilities, Arsenal near the mall, Watertown Sq, downtown Waltham, and since we love to extend subways out to 128, a relocated Brandeis/Roberts station with requisite massive parking garage tied into a rebuilt Route 20/Post Rd exit. A large, nearly empty tract of land exists there. I have no idea why, it could be a solid granite hill, conservation land, or Brandeis might own it for expansion.

 While I'm at it, tie Needham into the Green Line, run the Orange down through West Roxbury (not sure how to tie into 128), and I'd like to see Medford Sq get rails. No street running 'cars, better buses as in longer/more standing room, and trolleybuses on the busiest routes.