7.1. Support a Fully Accessible Transit System with Double Platforms The existing conditions at the commuter rail stops fail to provide basic elements for the needs of people, especially those with mobility challenges, visual impairment, and/ –7– or hearing impairment. People who rely on wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, or who cannot easily traverse stairs are fully excluded from being able to use the commuter rail. Accessing the rail platform requires walking down a long Regional and steep flight of stairs to a platform that has no shelter from sun or winter wind, limited seating, limited lighting, Transit no immediate restrooms, no elevators or escalators, is lacking signage, and has no immediate human assistance. Similarly, several of the bus stops along Washington Street are simply edges of roadway marked by a bus stop sign: no shelter, no seating, poorly located, and inaccessible for pedestrian crossing due to lack of crosswalks and multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic. The MBTA has known funding shortages, and for the three stations in Newton, there remains an estimated $35 million Washington Street’s villages need funding gap. If a prospective $50 million dollar project happens, Newton would get one ADA accessible platform better service via regional transit. at each of its three stations (Newtonville, West Newton, Commuter stations and bus stops and Auburndale). There is no increase in frequency of service proposed. The current level of weekday service, are inhospitable for many, and often according to the MBTA’s schedule, is 12 inbound trips and entirely inaccessible for people 14 outbound trips daily. To get the level of regional transit that a city directly adjacent to Boston should have, the with mobility challenges, visual, City should leverage new development to generate enough or hearing impairment. Service is tax revenue to contribute to station improvements. infrequent, and bus routes miss key ACTIONS regional destinations. Significant A. Prioritize funding for a fully accessible transit investments are needed to reach a system level of equity for all people. B. Utilize economic development tools to include station and related infrastructure improvements. C. Work with State legislators, other municipalities, and other stakeholders to advance schedule and funding for Commuter Rail. D. Peer review MBTA Station designs to identify lower cost options for better accessibility and services. WASHINGTON STREET VISION PLAN - DRAFT 04.22.19 59 The New Balance Story Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) projects have long-range planning for the MBTA, which addresses the the potential to bring significant investment to Newton link between transit-oriented development and new or which can be leveraged to address the City's pressing improved transit stations: “Infill stations have the greatest needs: increased infrastructure investments to support potential where private partners are considering major public transit options, diversity of housing, and increased employment centers and/or residential development, open space and parks. TOD projects often bring jobs or where major highways intersect the commuter rail particular businesses to a community, which can help network, or where there is significant transit oriented fund transit improvements. Businesses are increasingly development potential.” New Balance Development cited focused on public transit options for their workforce, and concerns with providing parking, particularly structured examples show that they will work with cities to achieve parking, commensurate with the amenities offered by these goals. Newton has the potential to consider TOD the development, thus placing the focus on a new public projects at Crafts Street and/or West Newton Station. transit option. Read on for more information about a successful nearby TOD. New Balance cited one of four major considerations for the Boston Landing Station as the following: “To The creation of the Boston Landing MBTA commuter attract a more youthful workforce that prefers to work rail stop was integral to the development of the Boston in locations that are accessible to transit, bike, and Landing development in Brighton, MA. The stop, located pedestrian facilities.” Employees are looking for flexibility, between Yawkey and Newtonville, was privately financed shorter commutes, and easy access to amenities in and by New Balance Development, the development arm of surrounding their working environment. Real estate New Balance. New Balance Development pointed to the companies such as CBRE have recognized that office removal of the Allston commuter rail stop in 1959 to make tenant satisfaction is linked to the tenant’s ability to attract way for the turnpike project as a step in the decline of the and retain talent. Office spaces are changing to reflect the area surrounding the development site. wants and needs of the next generation of workers, as While other state- and city-funded rail projects evidenced by New Balance’s focus on the thriving work/ languished, the Boston Landing station public-private life landscape of the Boston Landing development. partnership completed the project in just four years, from announcement to ribbon cutting. The essence of the story has found its way into MassDOT’s Focus40 CHAPTER 2 — BIG IDEAS + ACTIONS 60 7.2 Extend Subway Service on the Commuter Rail tracks and Connect the Green Line to Riverside Station Adding a new urban rail T line would be a big service. A new Yellow Line could connect the Green Line transportation move, creating an unprecedented public at Riverside by a small segment of existing rail. With the benefit for Newton that has sweeping implications for potential westernmost starting point of Riverside, the new improving people's quality of life who live and commute Yellow Line could have a new stop at Newton Corner and in Newton. A number of residents and staff of the City of include additional potential new stops at West Station/ Newton identified the extension of a new rail rapid transit Boston University, MIT, Kendall Square, Cambridge route as a high-value win for regional transportation, Street, Union Square, and onward to North Station or effectively creating an urban ring of subway service. Everett. However, MBTA's Focus 40 plan indicates a lack of ambition to move such initiatives forward stating, “The ACTIONS speed and adoption of technology, the impact of climate change, municipal land use policies, demographic A. Initiate discussions with regional stakeholders shifts, and mobility preferences are largely out of the such the City of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, MBTA’s control.” This kind of improvement will take a MassDOT and Executive Office of Housing and considerable level of investment and needs the initiative Development to discuss creation of the Yellow of the City and private stakeholders to move forward. Line (pictured at right). The current frequency of service to Newton on the MBTA B. Explore other intra-Newton transit options, such Framingham/Worcester line is limited. Extension of the as shared bicycle services, and other ways to get MBTA “Yellow Line” west to Auburndale could create around locally without a vehicle. significant improvements in frequency and range of The Yellow Line was envisioned as part of the discussion about Boston hosting the Olympics. Other versions of this idea have surfaced in the past as well, all with the basic idea to utilize the Commuter Rail tracks in Newton for more frequent subway style service that is more like the Red Line. WASHINGTON STREET VISION PLAN - DRAFT 04.22.19 61 7.3 Extend Bus Service to Connect Under- Served Areas to Important Destinations and Rail Transit Prior to the Public Design Week, the design team created a transit analysis map to show residential homes within a 10-minute walk (1/2 mile) and 5-minute bike ride (1 mile) of a commuter rail station, and 5-minute walk (1/4 mile) to a bus station. Bus routes originate in Waltham and are focused predominantly on east-west travel corridors. Lines merge for brief segments allowing limited opportunities to transfer from one line to another. Bus routes do not provide comprehensive service to the neighborhoods located north and south of the turnpike. Residents expressed a desire to see bus transit expanded to provide more opportunities, and routing to connect to important regional destinations such as Riverside Station and Newton Wellesley Hospital. ACTION A. Work with MBTA and other stakeholders such as Newton Wellesley Hospital and Newton Council on Aging to identify opportunities to adjust existing routing and service to provide better transit coverage and connectivity between neighborhoods and to regional destinations. TRANSIT ACCESS Within a 10 minute walk of a Commuter Rail Station Within a 5 minute walk of a Bus Station Bus Stations Commuter Rail Stations CHAPTER 2 — BIG IDEAS + ACTIONS 62.