Christopher Friend
@friendchristoph.bsky.social
board @transitmatters
Given how fragmented our municipal structure is if we have to let every town and city approve then we are never going to get anywhere. Time to regulate this at a state level and get moving, there are lives to be saved
December 2, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Given how fragmented our municipal structure is if we have to let every town and city approve then we are never going to get anywhere. Time to regulate this at a state level and get moving, there are lives to be saved
MassDOT does understand when they are creating a functional green space (as opposed to the rest of the green space) but neither they nor the City of Somerville has any interest in reclaiming this land for a productive purpose
November 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
MassDOT does understand when they are creating a functional green space (as opposed to the rest of the green space) but neither they nor the City of Somerville has any interest in reclaiming this land for a productive purpose
I mean look at this. Most of this is unusable. This is maybe a fine design out in the suburbs but doesn’t belong in a city
November 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I mean look at this. Most of this is unusable. This is maybe a fine design out in the suburbs but doesn’t belong in a city
nice little aurora
November 12, 2025 at 2:31 AM
nice little aurora
Not supporting a development because it also “only” has 20% IZ is also ehhhhhh
October 30, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Not supporting a development because it also “only” has 20% IZ is also ehhhhhh
What could have been —>
October 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
What could have been —>
same as it ever was?
October 23, 2025 at 1:08 AM
same as it ever was?
the bus route with some of the highest ridership relative to pre-Covid? the 110, which saw a massive service increase as part of phase 1 of the bus network redesign at the end of 2024
July 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
the bus route with some of the highest ridership relative to pre-Covid? the 110, which saw a massive service increase as part of phase 1 of the bus network redesign at the end of 2024
the free bus pilot was great at bringing ridership back when first implemented. but over the years the growth hasn’t continued and even fell on some routes in the past year or so
July 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
the free bus pilot was great at bringing ridership back when first implemented. but over the years the growth hasn’t continued and even fell on some routes in the past year or so
The T promised a big service increase for the 77 bus that it looks to me like they had no intention of delivering on
July 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The T promised a big service increase for the 77 bus that it looks to me like they had no intention of delivering on
the City of Boston is suffocating public transit with their unwillingness to cede street space to buses and inability to enforce the bus lanes that do exist
March 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
the City of Boston is suffocating public transit with their unwillingness to cede street space to buses and inability to enforce the bus lanes that do exist
trip times in the morning peak (when ridership is highest) were down 40%, which is enormous
March 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
trip times in the morning peak (when ridership is highest) were down 40%, which is enormous
additional “changes” (removals) coming soon
February 14, 2025 at 1:11 PM
additional “changes” (removals) coming soon
when you look at Wu’s record on bus lanes, it is underwhelming. best I can tell these are the only lanes implemented during her term. removing this means Boston has net removed bus lanes in the last 2.5 years. and I’m not aware of any planned for construction in 2025
February 14, 2025 at 1:10 PM
when you look at Wu’s record on bus lanes, it is underwhelming. best I can tell these are the only lanes implemented during her term. removing this means Boston has net removed bus lanes in the last 2.5 years. and I’m not aware of any planned for construction in 2025
if you look at how much low-cost housing states build it’s about 7 to 10 homes per thousand per year. in mass over the next decade that’d be 500k to 700k homes
February 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
if you look at how much low-cost housing states build it’s about 7 to 10 homes per thousand per year. in mass over the next decade that’d be 500k to 700k homes
these people are always such willing rubes for developers who benefit from scarcity
January 30, 2025 at 12:47 PM
these people are always such willing rubes for developers who benefit from scarcity
is there a term for this, where you believe housing should be built, but not in your backyard?
January 30, 2025 at 12:32 PM
is there a term for this, where you believe housing should be built, but not in your backyard?
Yeah, notably in the FY24 budget doc the transfer is included as part of the budget gap solve, not the budget itself?
January 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Yeah, notably in the FY24 budget doc the transfer is included as part of the budget gap solve, not the budget itself?
Then, the FY25 budget had nearly $200m in Fed funds for preventative maintenance (assuming track program?) but also the T got $600m in capital funds in Oct to (in part) pay for the track program. Are those funds now being repurposed for the reserve?
January 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Then, the FY25 budget had nearly $200m in Fed funds for preventative maintenance (assuming track program?) but also the T got $600m in capital funds in Oct to (in part) pay for the track program. Are those funds now being repurposed for the reserve?
First, it looks like the FY24 budget came in favorable by about $100m
January 7, 2025 at 2:38 PM
First, it looks like the FY24 budget came in favorable by about $100m
So where did the MBTA find an extra $300m?
(not to mention that using that money for FY26 just kicks the can to FY27…)
commonwealthbeacon.org/transportati...
(not to mention that using that money for FY26 just kicks the can to FY27…)
commonwealthbeacon.org/transportati...
January 7, 2025 at 2:34 PM
So where did the MBTA find an extra $300m?
(not to mention that using that money for FY26 just kicks the can to FY27…)
commonwealthbeacon.org/transportati...
(not to mention that using that money for FY26 just kicks the can to FY27…)
commonwealthbeacon.org/transportati...
Where is NYC congestion relief pricing already working? as of noon today, trips through the Holland Tunnel are about twice as fast as normal
trip times via www.congestion-pricing-tracker.com
trip times via www.congestion-pricing-tracker.com
January 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Where is NYC congestion relief pricing already working? as of noon today, trips through the Holland Tunnel are about twice as fast as normal
trip times via www.congestion-pricing-tracker.com
trip times via www.congestion-pricing-tracker.com
With $1.3b in one-time fair share funds available to the Commonwealth, we should use this opportunity to use $650m to fully fund the MBTA Red-Blue Connector
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
January 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
With $1.3b in one-time fair share funds available to the Commonwealth, we should use this opportunity to use $650m to fully fund the MBTA Red-Blue Connector
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
Helpful for verifying, eg, what happened yesterday btw Harvard and Central
December 31, 2024 at 10:09 PM
Helpful for verifying, eg, what happened yesterday btw Harvard and Central