The Feasibility Of Commuting By The MBTA
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts presents unique challenges when it comes to making sweeping changes to land use. As the birthplace of the United States, Massachusetts boasts a rich history of development rooted in its early colonial days. Much of the state's urban and suburban layout evolved from original horse paths, trade routes, and agricultural patterns established centuries ago. These historical foundations have resulted in a patchwork of infrastructure that often predates modern zoning and urban planning principles.
This historical context creates constraints on large-scale redevelopment efforts. Narrow streets, irregular property boundaries, and existing structures with historical significance can complicate efforts to adapt to contemporary needs, such as increasing housing density or creating walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods. Additionally, the Commonwealth's long-established towns and cities often have deeply ingrained community identities and development patterns that make it difficult to implement one-size-fits-all solutions. Balancing respect for this history with the need for modernization requires careful planning, innovative thinking, and collaboration with local communities.
Urban planning discussions frequently highlight "walkability" as a key goal for creating vibrant, livable communities. However, in the town of Millbury, the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) presents significant challenges due to the lack of direct MBTA service within the town's limits. The nearest transit access points are Union Station in Worcester and the Grafton Station in North Grafton, both of which require Millbury residents to find alternative ways to connect with public transportation.
Given this reality, residents face distinct barriers when attempting to align their commuting needs with transit options. Let’s delve into the practicalities of traveling to one of these stations using various modes of transportation, including driving, walking, bus, and cycling, while considering the infrastructure, convenience, and accessibility associated with each.
Driving: For many Millbury residents, driving to the nearest transit station is the most practical option. Union Station and Grafton Station both offer parking facilities, but this convenience comes at a cost. Parking availability, fees, and the environmental impact of increased car usage must be factored into the decision-making process. Furthermore, traffic congestion, especially during peak hours, can extend travel times and add stress to the daily commute.
Walking: Walking to Union Station or Grafton Station from Millbury is an impractical option for most due to the distances involved. Union Station is approximately 5.8 miles away, while Grafton Station is about 6.3 miles. Without dedicated pedestrian pathways, walking to these transit hubs is not only time-prohibitive but also poses safety concerns, particularly on routes with heavy traffic or insufficient sidewalks.
Bus: The availability of bus services that connect Millbury to these stations is a crucial consideration. However, current regional bus routes may have limited schedules or coverage, making them unreliable for commuters with rigid timelines. Expanding and optimizing bus services could enhance connectivity, but this requires significant planning and investment.
Cycling: Cycling offers an eco-friendly alternative for those willing and able to navigate the distance to the nearest transit station. However, the lack of dedicated bike lanes and the challenging terrain in certain areas create safety risks and limit the appeal of this option. Investments in cycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes and secure bike storage at transit stations, could help make this a more viable choice for residents.
To make transit-oriented development a feasible goal for Millbury, it is essential to address these connectivity challenges. This involves not only improving access to existing transit hubs but also exploring innovative solutions, such as expanding local shuttle services, investing in multimodal infrastructure, and advocating for the extension of MBTA services into Millbury. By tackling these issues, the town can enhance mobility options for its residents and align with broader urban planning objectives.
| Mode | Union Station Worcester |
Grafton Station North Grafton |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | 11 minutes parking for a fee parking availability can be a challenge |
14 minutes parking for a fee parking availability can be a challenge |
| Walk | 149 minutes weather conditions is a factor |
162 minutes weather conditions is a factor |
| Bus | 35 minutes (WRTA) | N/A |
| Cycle | 39 minutes bicycle theft is a possibility weather conditions is a factor |
34 minutes bicycle theft is a possibility weather conditions is a factor |
The time durations listed in the table above were obtained using Apple Maps during the morning commute period to provide realistic estimates of typical travel times.
Millbury lacks direct bus service to North Grafton, making it challenging for residents to access the MBTA commuter rail (MBCR) at the Grafton Station. To reach North Grafton via public transit, one would need to take a WRTA bus to Union Station in Worcester and then board an MBTA commuter rail train bound for North Grafton.
As you move farther from Boston—which, notably, is exempt from the MBTA Communities Act—public transit options become increasingly scarce, making it difficult for residents in outlying areas to rely on such systems. For instance, Millbury's town planner, who lives in Worcester, seems to believe that residents will embrace public transit. Yet, despite having convenient access to transit near his own home, he chooses to drive to work in Millbury rather than using these services himself. This approach comes across as a "do as I say, not as I do" mindset, highlighting the disconnect between policy expectations and personal practice. The Millbury town planner frequently advocates for reducing parking requirements in development projects. However, this approach is often impractical, as parking availability is to be one of the most significant challenges in multi-family developments.
Millbury's town planner and certain planning board members often argue that market conditions should dictate parking requirements, leaving it up to developers to decide if there is sufficient parking. However, this mindset overlooks the broader impact on neighboring properties. Insufficient parking can lead to unauthorized vehicles being parked on adjacent properties or streets, creating conflicts and shifting the burden onto others to address the issue. Parking can be a sensitive topic, as people often become territorial and feel a strong sense of entitlement over their parking spaces.
Similar to Millbury, many of the other 176 communities likely face challenges with readily available and reliable public transportation. In these cases, transit-oriented development may not be the most effective solution to address the issues the state legislature aims to resolve. The one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the unique circumstances and limitations of each community, making it an ill-suited strategy for towns without adequate transit infrastructure.
The MBTA Communities Act and its now unenforceable guidelines appear to have been developed without fully considering the wide-ranging impacts of applying one-size-fits-all zoning regulations. Addressing a housing crisis—or more accurately, a housing affordability crisis—is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. However, according to experts, the MBTA Communities Act overlooks many critical components necessary for crafting a true solution. Instead, it risks creating the illusion of progress without effectively tackling the underlying issues of housing affordability.
Reliability of the MBCR Commuter Rail Service
Below are the service alerts for this morning, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. This week’s extreme cold weather has disrupted MBCR commuter rail service on the Worcester Line between Worcester and South Station in Boston, as well as likely affecting the broader MBTA and MBCR system. Based on personal experience commuting on both the Worcester to South Station and Fitchburg to North Station lines, reliability challenges are a persistent issue. These challenges frequently lead to delays, significantly extending commute times and underscoring the system's vulnerability to adverse conditions and maintenance issues. From a commuter's perspective, few experiences are worse than standing on an icy, freezing train platform waiting for a delayed train or being stuck in a train car with no functioning heat or air conditioning.
Service Change
Worcester Line Train 510 (8:21 am from Worcester) will originate at Framingham today due to a switch issue. The next inbound train to depart Worcester will be Train 512 (9:05 am from Worcester).
Affected direction: Inbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:20 AM EST
Delay
Worcester Line Train 549 (6:50 am from South Station) is stopped after Lansdowne and is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes behind schedule due to a switch issue.
Affected direction: Outbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:40 AM EST
Cancellation
Framingham Line Train 584 (7:25 am from Framingham) has been cancelled today due to a switch issue. Passengers at Framingham may consider Train 508 (7:07 am from Worcester) The next Framingham train will be Train 586 (8:15 am from Framingham).
Affected direction: Inbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 7:36 AM EST
Delay
Worcester Line Train 512 (9:05 am from Worcester) is expected to depart Worcester at least 25 minutes behind schedule due to a switch issue.
Affected direction: Inbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:35 AM EST
Delay
Framingham/Worcester Line trains may experience severe delays in both directions due to a switch issue near Wellesley Farms. Trains may hold at nearby stations.
Delay
Framingham Line Train 585 (7:10 am from South Station) remains stopped at Boston Landing and is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes behind schedule due to a switch issue.
Affected direction: Outbound
Affected stops:
Wellesley Farms
Wellesley Hills
Wellesley Square
Natick Center
West Natick
Framingham
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:46 AM EST
Delay
Worcester Line Train 506 (6:30 am from Worcester) is operating 35-45 minutes behind schedule between Lansdowne and South Station due to a switch issue.
Delay
Worcester Line Train 552 (7:35 am from Worcester) is operating 25-35 minutes behind schedule between Framingham and South Station due to a switch issue.
Affected direction: Inbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:31 AM EST
Delay
Worcester Line Train 508 (7:07 am from Worcester) is stopped after West Natick and is 35-45 minutes behind schedule due to a switch issue.
Affected direction: Inbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:42 AM EST
Delay
Worcester Line Train 509 (7:55 am from South Station) is stopped near Lansdowne and is 30-40 minutes behind schedule due to a switch issue.
Affected direction: Outbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:37 AM EST
Service Change
Worcester Line Train 552 (7:35 am from Worcester) will be making all local stops to accommodate passengers delayed by the switch issue.
Affected direction: Inbound
Updated: 1/22/2025 8:25 AM EST
Cancellation
Worcester Line Train 507 (7:30 am from South Station) has terminated at Boston Landing due to a switch issue. Passengers will transfer to Train 509 (7:55 am from South Station) for continued outbound service.