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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This is obviously a Republican dirty trick to get the voters so upset with the Dems that they will vote for Bush in Nov. Close the highway, shut down the alternative transportation, working people take a vacation, surely this is an April Fool's joke. Come on Mumbles, say it aint so
lu, quincy
And this is suppose to benefit the city, in what way?? Mayor Menino should be impeached for disrupting the city in such a manner. Mitt HELP!!!!!!!
Dana , Boston
Give me more reason not to vote for stupidity, opps...... I'm mean the Democrats
Greg , Boston
It's really quite amusing to watch the unfolding "cage match" between the Democrat chickens coming home to roost v. the NIMBY liberal elite v. the political hackerama v. the municipal unions ... except, of course, for having to foot the bill (as usual).
Jim, Hopedale
Dan - good thought on taking the week off of work. I'm lucky, as I now don't have to deal with Boston every day, and I only hope that managers get inundated with requests for the week off for those with enough vacation time to take it. That will create a corporate uproar, and like people have said on this board, money talks! Productivity will be down in the workplace that week, for sure. I can understand wanting to have the convention in a building that's less than a decade old, and right in the middle of the city, but imagine trying ot get to a Sox game that week from the north of the city if they're in town? I'd rather take 95 south to 93 north and use the redline...ridiculous. No need to close the highway our tax dollars just built...they're already going to be closing a few lanes for the majority of the year to revamp the south station tunnel, where does it end?? And we thought the big dig was done. Right.
Frank, Waltham
I am outraged that the politicians of Boston had so little regard for the people that live and work in Boston when they agreed to host the Democractic convention. Apparently they are hoping that all of just take the last week of July as vacation. It is bad enough that the Big Dig will totally disrupt traffic coming in from 93 North starting next week, now this. I hope everyone remembers this at election time.
Eileen, Melrose
Security is absolutely necessary - what better way to poke America in the nose again, but to attack Boston during this time. Whatever needs to be done should be done to secure the site and the people. Hopefully some the security measures, especially in the subways, that will be implimented for our visitors that week will be extended to the residents and commuters after the convention. We should put our best foot forward for ourselves as well as our guests. It's interesting that the news of these closures has taken 6 months to leak out. In early August of 2003 when the dates for the DNC were confirmed, I had a week of vacation approved for July 26 - 30, 2004. The original plan was to build a temporary structure over the tracks, attached to the north side of the building. That structure and the resulting security dictate that the rail traffic cannot enter North Station (buses from outlying stations). No mistery there if you think about it. But the T's bus reserves are being commited to shuttling conventioners - it should be interesting to see how this plays out. I'll keep track of it from North Truro. I still have not figured out why the Green line overhead is being shutdown, yet the tunnel connection will take 9 months to complete. I hope all the dismantling at North Station is not being done just for asthetics.
Harry, Wilmington
If the mayor wants to invite big conferences here and yet burden those who live here with commuting headaches - does he have his head on right? Is this what the new convention center means to us? Worse commutes for drivers and T riders? We already went thru the big dig jeez!
Kim, JP
There is a solution that is more than reasonable-South Boston. Shutting down the expressway is ridiculous. Not only the commuters will be affected; what about people that need to get to the health care mecca- MHG, Childrens Hosp. et al? Selfish people and selfish politics. The Dems involved should advocate for the people of Boston and move to the convention center.
Maria, methuen
The city should be ashamed of itself and the T as well... unless there is a direct credible threat then there is no need to change our way of life for this... NYC is staying open and would be a much more significant target. They should just shut the city down, no businesses open, no cultural institutions, pass out sheet plastic and duct tape - go the whole 9 years.... I tell you one thing - I'm expecting the $128 T pass I buy each month to be 1/4 discounted for july or I'm not buying one at all.
Dave, swampscott
