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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No, this is a major overreaction. Blaming the Democrats is misguided however, the fault lies with the police who are making the call.
Dave, Norfolk
This will be horrible...I commute to Peabody from Woburn and I'm annoyed imagine someone who works in Boston. The problem for me is that 128 is going to be the bypass.
Justin, Woburn,MA
I live in Andover and I do not work in the city...so I will not be affected by the closing of I93 during the convention. When I think of how much worse this will make an already terrible commute, I feel for the daily commuters who use I93. Have city and state officials considered the feasibility of temporarily renting space in large, under-utilized parking lots outside of the city, where they could establish temporary "park and ride" locations during the convention, serviced by buses? (to help facilitiate the flow of people who work in the city). This could help alleviate some of the hardship imposed upon commuters.
Sean, Andover
I think this is going to be total nightmare for commuters. People have been saying this for months. It is too bad that the mayor seems to have a deaf ear when it comes to this subject. I am not a Romney fan but he is right. The Fleet Center is the worst possible location for a convention of this size. This is a total disservice to commuters who need to get into Boston that week. I predict total gridlock.
Jim, Wilmington
The idea of closing down the major artery through the city is as absurd as the 2 year old that was ordered to take of her shoes at Logan airport security. Democracy in action?
Guy , Georgetown
What Boston is going through is the same Secret Service overkill that we have in DC. Not only is Penn Ave closed at the White House but they have also closed E St south of the White house. Capitol Hill is a disaster traffic wise and the area around the State Department is chaos. Traffic is permanently screwed up all around the federal buildings in the District. Good Luck with the Secret Service. You will wish that you never had the converntion.
ed
This is without a doubt the most asinine thing I have ever heard. Inconvenience hundreds of thousands of hard working people simply trying to make a living just so a pile of politicians can party and pat themselves on the back. If security is such an issue, move the convention. Put it on one of the islands out in the harbor so that way they can all party without a care in the world. Except that would make sense and be the correct thing to do. If they insist on having it at the Fleet, they should be willing to assume the same risks as the thousands of fans who attend Celtics games, Bruins games and other special events. Unbelievable. Only in Massachusetts. Any and all involved with this useless waste of space should be ashamed. Great job guys. Keep up the fine job. Morons..........
AbsolutelyOutraged, Boston,
Ridiculous. Move the convention to South Boston. The North Station area is the filthiest part of the city and there is no way it presents a good image of what Boston is. Disrupting the commuters is a horrible idea and the Governor is right in suggesting that the venue be changed. My one suggestion is to give each delegate 3 or 4 pigeons as souvenirs.
Linda, Westford
The dems belong in South Boston. This is typical of all the overboard precations that we take to make ourselves feel better. Maybe they should shut down I-90. Actually, come to think of it, the Red line is probably not secure either. It's always people who have real lives that end up disrupted. Bush in 04'!!
david , newton
While trying to find a job in the legal profession, I've taken temporary contract work where I get paid on an hourly basis. The Democratic National Convention will actually cost me money every day by adding hours to my commute for which I will NOT get paid. I already wake up before six o'clock to make sure I get into Boston on time. The Democrats don't need to fear terrorists, they need to fear losing Massachusetts for the first time in forever because every independent voter who commutes will be so hacked off at the mess they've made of a city that is inconvenient to get to already!
John, Beverly
