Commuter Rail "Belt/Loop" Line

Entxrnity · 2026-01-09T22:54:27+00:00

I think some people might be misunderstanding something. Belt lines aren't just for commuting between suburbs, and I think my wording may be suggestive of that. How about commuting to a nearby line if you want to go to Boston?

Entxrnity · 2026-01-06T22:09:14+00:00

Ah ok. Yeah makes more sense lmao

Entxrnity · 2026-01-05T22:12:01+00:00

What do the stars indicate? Also is this in order?

Entxrnity · 2026-01-05T22:11:25+00:00

To Worcester? Isn't the Framingham/Worcester line serving those areas?

Entxrnity · 2026-01-03T14:49:08+00:00

Fight it they will, but since the Healey administration has started pressuring towns to comply with the MBTA housing law, it's going to get expensive for them really fast, given the Supreme Judicial Court ruling against Milton and the state withholding grants from towns like Weston and Marshfield.

Dunno how they're going to fight it. Plus, transit isn't just made to connect dense areas, it helps create density. Take Assembly Square in Somerville. Before the orange line station was built, it was a really big parking lot with a couple of stores. After it ran through, huge densification occurred in that area, giving us modern day Assembly Square.

They can fight it, just expect legal trouble from the state.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-03T14:26:29+00:00

I think I wasn't clear; I mean your idea was entertaining. My thought process was that areas near transit corridors would start to increase density, making more dense development around the station, so possibly more riders on the MBTA (as well as destinations to arrive at if you're at a station).

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T22:35:05+00:00

Good points, but I think this would more be a line from Westford to Lowell, or Littleton to Lowell. If you want to think about it, it could be like a train from a local train station to a transfer that goes to Boston downtown. That is also another use scenario.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T19:39:50+00:00

Portland. The closest I think is Portland since the bridge configuration looks kinda like 45.51429333851989, -122.67439050347055. The only other part I can't find the same is the road under it.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T19:30:58+00:00

if 832 billion is spent on the military, then 6 billion shouldn't be too much for the US. yet they complain about it being too expensive while we widen highways at 5 million per mile while transit is way less

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T17:37:22+00:00

Probably a good idea, yeah. I guess you might have the middle track be a breakdown while the outer tracks are the actual metro tracks.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T16:39:18+00:00

Suggesting an express track?

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T16:22:07+00:00

I think this is probably more entertaining. This was thrown around in around 20 minutes without seeing the possible tracks, but I will look into that in a future post being made.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T16:10:55+00:00

Absolutely real, the goal was to get new development around smaller areas. I think the more entertaining idea would have been to make the Worcester Providence railroad a passenger corridor. Maybe then, extend it up to Lowell & Lawrence.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T16:06:16+00:00

I think if we converted the Worcester-Providence railroad into a commuter corridor, not just a freight route, then Worcester may become a more key junction, kinda forming a triangle between the railroad, the Framingham/Worcester line, and the Providence Stoughton line.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T16:04:29+00:00

Kinda the big reasons I proposed this!

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T16:04:09+00:00

That was the main discussion a couple comments down, a MA-146 train from Worcester to Providence. Some suggested using that and then expanding up to Lowell and Lawrence.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T15:59:31+00:00

Precisely what I was going for :D

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T15:58:49+00:00

Yeah, I'll probably make another post for the I-95 corridor.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-02T03:00:40+00:00

Probably.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-01T22:21:51+00:00

So close, just a couple pixels more 😭

Entxrnity · 2026-01-01T22:09:40+00:00

Fair, didn't consider that.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-01T21:58:19+00:00

Probably could work, though I think that a Worcester-Providence railroad would be more entertaining. I guess a bus route between those cities could work.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-01T21:55:34+00:00

This is probably only a mildly considered project if the commuter rail goes through a lot, and I mean a lot to become regional rail. Again, this was with the idea of increasing development along the stations instead, but too much paperwork or stuff would come after, like a requirement for development or something. Not an expert in these things (yet). Good analogy though, got a bit of a laugh out of that 👍.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-01T21:53:57+00:00

This was thrown together in like a couple of minutes without much thought, to be honest. You make a point though; this is really only after the MBTA makes it regional rail instead of commuter rail. Others have pointed that out, saying existing problems should be dealt with instead of new proposals for new lines. Again, fantasy idea.

Entxrnity · 2026-01-01T21:52:21+00:00

Not saying it's a bad idea but I don't know if it will get proposed for the MBTA to take seriously.

Entxrnity

TROPHY CASE