MBTA service and parking

[Tom]

Your thoughts.

For those of you who go directly to WalpoleWords, see this Globe story (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/02/bump_in_mbta_parking_fees_to_further_squeeze_commu ters/).

--tg

[Unregistered]

I'm a little confused by this post. What is the reason for this? Is there a problem with the parking site in Walpole, the over use of the public parking lot?

(see link in post above --tg)

[Unregistered]

I was just informed that the parking fee in Walpole will be increasing from $2.00 per day to $4.00 per day.

An increase of 100% in order to leave your car parked in an unattended lot, no additional service, no additional maintenance, nothing.

I blame the MBTA and I blame Deval Patrick. Thank you to all who voted for Deval Patrick.

[Worldview]

Having used the MBTA parking lot in the past, I'd have to say that a 100% increase is not justified.

I never used it on a daily basis. When I had to go into Boston for meetings several times a year, many times I got a ticket saying I hadn't put any money in their stupid boxes when I knew actually what the space number was. I think whoever picked up the money knew the cars and recognized mine as something different therefore the ticket. What a scam!

Maybe the T should have negotiated better: make them pay more for their health insurance, cut down on the waste of free rides like we've seen on the news this week, stop towing 8 cars when you can only use the 1st four.

I'm glad I don't have to go that route any more.

[Unregistered]

I also had problems with the Walpole lot as an infrequent user. I would diligently fold my dollar and place it in the slot and ,after arriving home in Walpole, I would discover that I had received a ticket even though I had paid but I had no proof. Call me suspicious! This happened to me every time I parked in that lot. I think they were very aware of the regulars and thought occasional users could be used/abused. Eventually, I decided that I would never pre-pay. If they cited me for a ticket, then I would pay. This is my policy to this day. If I get a ticket, I pay.

[Unregistered]

Why not park in the town lot for free?

[Unregistered]

Why not park in the town lot for free?

The town lot behind Betro's is there to allow for parking to support our local merchants. I do not think that lot should be used for commuter parking. Perhaps the lot behind the fire station, if size permits. Maybe a certain number of spots could be dedicated to communter parking. The town could charge $2/day. Thats $10/week, $520/year. 50 spots would be around $25000 of income for the town. We could use the money for field maintenance.

[Unregistered]

I have been using the Walpole Train station regularly for the past 8 years and am often amazed at the lack of adequate lighting and the number of flyers I find stuffed under my windsheild wipers. At $2 a day, it was an insult... I wonder what kind of "better service" I might expect after this 100% increase?!

[Unregistered]

I have been using the Walpole Train station regularly for the past 8 years and am often amazed at the lack of adequate lighting and the number of flyers I find stuffed under my windsheild wipers. At $2 a day, it was an insult... I wonder what kind of "better service" I might expect after this 100% increase?!

One word: NONE. If anything you'll be getting as many pieces of junk paper and you too will find that your car has a ticket on it stating you didn't put any money in the box because it wouldn't fit, stuck together etc....

[Unregistered]

An interesting aside. I just spoke to a new employee at my company. She used to work in Boston and was looking for a new position. She got the job just as the rates were going up. It seems she has a reserved space at the Framingham lot and she's thrilled that she got out before it cost her $40.00/wk.

Image having to pay $2000.00 a year to park and then pay for train fare too.

[Unregistered]

All they are doing is making people park in neighborhoods or side streets. Or even have people drive into work versus taking the train. I know a round trip to Boston now costs 15.50 but it still beats parking in town for 30 plus a day. Basically monthly expenses for parking/mbta is $266 a month. Wow, quite a bit of money.

[Unregistered]

I would like to expand this discussion to the proposed increase in the Pike tolls and the proposed increase in the gas tax.

When are people going to wake up in this state?

By voting down the Question 1 those who voted NO gave Beacon Hill the go ahead to do whatever they wanted. With that question defeated, the tax anything people knew that they had nothing to fear about raising any tax on anything they wanted.

Welcome to Ma politics people.

Look at the corruption reported about two state senators. Both will probably still be getting their pensions at our expense (including ALL their medical). We have reps that are so out of touch with demands on the taxpayer that they don't give a damn.

When are we going to bring some accountability and force our elected reps to listen to what people are coping with today? When are the people in this state going to wake up and say enough is enough with the greed, corruption, complacencies, new or increased taxes that a Democratic controlled state house has become?

Do you think the Democratic controlled federal level will give us a break? I doubt it.

We need to clean house at the state level.

[Unregistered]

By these increases you are just going to add traffic to the roads with no tolls, ie 95/128/93. I have a couple of times used the pike when 93 was gridlock on the way home. I was home so quick it was amazing. I hated paying the toll but I also hate the traffic even more. The State is desperate for money and they are trying to find ways to get it. The airport hike I think it amazing, $7, ouch.

[Unregistered]

By these increases you are just going to add traffic to the roads with no tolls, ie 95/128/93. I have a couple of times used the pike when 93 was gridlock on the way home. I was home so quick it was amazing. I hated paying the toll but I also hate the traffic even more. The State is desperate for money and they are trying to find ways to get it. The airport hike I think it amazing, $7, ouch.

But you forgot to mention the road construction on 95 and RT1 that has been going on for 3 years now. Also, the state is cutting back on overtime so they don't work at night any more: guess what that does to your commute during the day.

Have fun driving tomorrow.

[Unregistered]

I would like to expand this discussion to the proposed increase in the Pike tolls and the proposed increase in the gas tax.

When are people going to wake up in this state?

By voting down the Question 1 those who voted NO gave Beacon Hill the go ahead to do whatever they wanted. With that question defeated, the tax anything people knew that they had nothing to fear about raising any tax on anything they wanted.

Welcome to Ma politics people.

Look at the corruption reported about two state senators. Both will probably still be getting their pensions at our expense (including ALL their medical). We have reps that are so out of touch with demands on the taxpayer that they don't give a damn.

When are we going to bring some accountability and force our elected reps to listen to what people are coping with today? When are the people in this state going to wake up and say enough is enough with the greed, corruption, complacencies, new or increased taxes that a Democratic controlled state house has become?

Do you think the Democratic controlled federal level will give us a break? I doubt it.

We need to clean house at the state level.

Boy did you hit the nail right on the head.

I occassionally have to take the pike to Worester for my company and with the toll raise the only thing I can be glad about is that my company will reimburse me.

As for the Question 1, I agree that the tax and spend people (Deval included) are going wild on Beacon Hill. We need to start a campaign like we did with the power plant to at least bring some sanity to this state.

[Unregistered]

The lot going down past Glendale is always full of illegal parking by commuters.
The cops dont seem to care because I see it every day.

[Unregistered]

The lot is a joke it's owned by two seperate companies. They kick people out of the station at 9:25am regardless of how late the train will be or weather conditions. Id like to see that station open at least on weekend mornings. It's a bad situation down there every day and we just deal with it.

[Unregistered]

The lots in Walpole are never full and that's simply due to the fact that people do not visit the downtown because nothing is there. The municipal lot is the best place and believe me, their is still plenty of parking on the street for the business.
Plus, people who do visit the stores NEVER seem to want to park in the municipal lots because they may have to walk a little. Ever notice the crowd in front of the Karate studio near Tee Tee's every night. They double park causing more traffic congestion on top of the traffic congestion that already exists in the Downtown.

[Unregistered]

Intertesting that my wife got a poll call last week from someone concerning her attitude, likes and dislikes about the MBTA.

Since we only use the commuter rail that's all she could speak to. But when the parking lot issue was mentioned (by my wife not the poller) they were very suprised at how much of a problem it is. And he got an ear full of the problems.

On the whole the commuter rail got a good rating but not the parking.

I wonder when, if ever, we'll see this poll mentioned in an MBTA ad?

[Unregistered]

I would love for that pollster to call me and I'd share with them the thoughts I have on the lack of lighting in the parking lots in Walpole. In the lot on West St., if you don't get a spot right up along the street, by 4:30pm, you're walking in the dark to your parked car. Its ridiculous! And then, like last week, you sometimes have to peel the flyers from under your windshield wipers in order to see where you are driving. So along with more lighting, I might suggest a couple of trash barrels so we have somewhere to dispose of the trash that is left on our windshields while we are parked there.

[Unregistered]

The situation was made worse by the snow storm last week. This town does a horrible job of snow removal. I will say the MBTA did a great job, but you can tell when the T property ends and the town begins. Walking in the middle of Elm St Monday night was frightening.
BTW I saw some one illegally park behind the Bank of America this morning and walk up to the train station.

[Unregistered]

I also had problems with the Walpole lot as an infrequent user. I would diligently fold my dollar and place it in the slot and ,after arriving home in Walpole, I would discover that I had received a ticket even though I had paid but I had no proof. Call me suspicious! This happened to me every time I parked in that lot. I think they were very aware of the regulars and thought occasional users could be used/abused. Eventually, I decided that I would never pre-pay. If they cited me for a ticket, then I would pay. This is my policy to this day. If I get a ticket, I pay.

I woke my husband to see the story: People all over MA complaining that they paid the parking fee at an MBTA lot and got a parking violation ticket anyway. Hmm. I can't find anything about it on WCVB's website yet, though. My husband has stopped parking at T stations (he travels out of Forge Park) because it has happened to him so many times: He pays but get a ticket anyway. If anyone finds a link to an article about this, could you please post it to this thread? I need to post it on my FB page to share with my circle. TY.

[Unregistered]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/19979685/detail.html

[Unregistered]

Here it is:http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/19979685/detail.html

So my suspicions were correct!

[Unregistered]

You dummies...you are just kicking in for those 23 year 'retirement' plans at the MBTA! You are paying for the gov'mint' you asked for ~! Keep voting in the Dems and these fees WILL INCREASE. Billy Bulger, et all. Come on. Wake up. These jerks have been using us for YEARS! Kick em all out... Timilty FirsT! Google 'em.. .take are state back from these chronic losers...