Amy on the Issues

The north side of Newton is blessed with numerous options for public transportation:

The Green Line in Auburndale and Lower Falls, the commuter rail in Newtonville, West Newton and Auburndale, and bus stops in all of the Massachusetts 11th District. While most of our residents who commute to work use a car, nearly 15% take public transportation. Public transportation is vital for many reasons - it increases mobility options, particularly those who cannot afford a car or who can no longer drive; it reduces congestion on our roads, by reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles on the roads; it improves safety, because traveling by public transportation is safer than traveling by car; and it’s better for the environment, by causing less air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions than cars and trucks.

So there are many reasons to support and invest in quality public transportation. Particularly as our village centers experience more density in response to the passage of the MBTA Communities Law, we will all benefit by new residents using public transportation for at least some of their travel, rather than single occupancy vehicles. Simply having access to subway, train or bus service is not enough though - that service must be affordable, reliable, safe, and accessible to the mobility challenged. And that is where the MBTA is not at the level our residents need and deserve.

Service and Reliability: During the pandemic, the MBTA reduced frequency of service of the bus and commuter rail. Even before then, we needed more bus and rail service, not less. Many residents tell me they used to ride the express bus to Boston, until service was cut. They then switched to the Commuter Rail or the Green line to get downtown. However, they are finding they are reverting more and more to car transport - particularly in inclement weather, because it’s not fun to wait in the rain or cold for a train that may not arrive.

I will advocate for public transportation, not only to reverse previous cuts to bus and train service but to expand them further so they provide a real alternative that is useful for our residents.

Accessibility: It is an embarrassment that our three commuter rail stops are the only ones in the entire MBTA system that are not accessible to those with mobility challenges. It is promising that the MBTA is planning to upgrade the Newtonville stop, but it long past time when they should have upgraded all our stops. I will be a firm and unyielding advocate for upgrades and accessibility for all our stops: Auburndale, West Newton and Newtonville.

Sustainability: Having a well-run public transit system will help address the climate crisis. With more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions coming from transportation infrastructure and vehicles, it is imperative that the state make public transit a more attractive alternative to car usage.

I will advocate for electrification of our bus fleet and rail system as soon as possible. Both car commuters and transit advocates have expressed concern about the I-90 Allston project, in terms of how it will impact commutes, how the state intends to improve regional transit service to mitigate lack of car access during what is expected to be a seven-year construction period, and how the project aligns with the state’s climate and traffic reduction goals given the current proposal includes 12 lanes of traffic and no express bus lanes.

I will work with MassDOT/Mass Highway/ and the MBTA to ensure a coordinated plan is in place during the construction period and that we ensure the project will not impede meeting the Commonwealth’s Climate Action Goals.

Cycling advocates are looking to the state to provide funding and assistance to create safe and protected bike routes and more bike trails.

I will work with state agencies to ensure potential bike and pedestrian trails are included in state infrastructure improvements.