What is your reaction to DNC road and rail closures?
In a move that is certain to create major headaches for Boston commuters, security officials have announced that Interstate 93 will be shut down in both directions for all four evenings of the Democratic National Convention in July, and North Station will be closed to all commuter rail and subway service. What is your reaction? Are these security precautions justified, or is the Secret Service going overboard? Do the benefits the convention will bring to the city make the inconveniences worthwhile?
Read the story: North Station, I-93 to be shut down during convention
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Yes and No. I understand the concern, but I think the planners of this event fail to understand or don't care about the concerns of those who are affected by the precautions. As a daily commuter through North Station, I will be taking the week off from work.
Dan, Boston
Had the people of Boston and surrounding towns been consulted, I doubt this would ever be happening here. Considering the lack of proper convention space and hotel rooms, this shouldn't be happening here. Boston wants to consider itself a "world-class" city, but it still has a long way to go.
Vin, Attleboro
Closing the subway stops is a stupid plan. Like many other Democrats, I believe that mass transportation should be an important part of an energy-efficient future world. An event like this, where thousands of people will come to a central site at a well-known time, is an excellent use of trains--the site is evena t a major rail hub! This should be an occasion to show the world what mass transportation can do.
Bill , Boston
Don't we have a HUGE new convention center that could be used instead of the Fleet Center, that wouldn't interfere with rail service and thousands of commuters?
T Frost, Arlington
No! This is ridiculous! Either Menino & Co. didn't think this thing through, and are incompetent, or they did, and they are again showing their complete lack of concern for the people who live in Greater Boston. Send the DNC to the World Trade Center. Send it to Chicago. We don't care, we just want to be able to go to work.
Jeff, Marblehead
I think the measures don't go far enough. I think Menino should call up the National Guard, and have them round up every Boston resident and send them away for the week. That way it will be even less likely that the delegates are inconvenienced by the residents of the city.
Jason, Melrose
Frustrating or not, it's a good idea. Who are we to question the Secret Service on matters of the city's safety? American's seem to doze off from time to time and forget that there are terrorists out there working diligently to carry out another 9/11- scale attack.. let's leave it to the security experts and suck it up for a few days.
Jeff, Beverly
What a joke this all is. New York can handle events like these with little problems, why can't Boston? You don't hear about closings of major transit routes in NY for the GOP convention. If this is what has to happen for us to get a major party political convention then we shouldn't have one. What does it say about our Dem. "leaders" if they are willing to roll out the red carpet for some high rolling, ploitical elites, and totally disregard the plight of the everyday Bostonian? In the newspapers and on TV and radio you sometimes hear musings from people pondering whether Boston is a world class city or not. Well if there was ever any doubt, then the way this convention is playing out makes the answer a definitive NO! I feel bad for the people who live in work in the city who will have to endure the nightmare of having to go about their everyday lives at the end of July. Sounds like a good week for a vacation.
Dave, Haverhill
Secret Service going overboard? Gee ya think? This is absurd. I currently do not work in Boston so it will not affect me, but I am disgusted when I read this. The massachusetts taxpayers won't be able to use the things that they (we) pay for (i.e. North Station, I-93, etc) all because the men with the earpeices say so. I hope nothing serious happens but if one of these coocoo people want to do something bad, closing I-93 and North Station won't matter, they'll still find a way to do it. If anything they'll have more problems on their hands with all the traffik tie-ups. Good Luck!
Mike, Dracut
I believe that this wasn’t the best time to have the DNC in Boston because the City is still a mess from all the construction and the unfinished convention center (frankly the best choice considering security and otherwise). The SS is overreacting with the entire closure of I93. I perhaps can see the south bound lanes being closed, but the north could remain open. Greenline trains could run nonstop just as the Orangeline trains will. Telling people to avoid Boston is great if you are a tourist, but all the businesses in Boston can’t let everyone take vacation the last week in July. Subway parking lots can’t handle the volume they have now, and I don’t believe we have enough busses to accommodate an extra 25,000+ people. The only thing the DNC is doing for me, is making me vote Republican!
Jean C, Wakefield
