Eleanor’s JRPS Project
I’ve always been fascinated by the MBTA, and as I’ve grown older, I’ve taken a broader interest in urban planning. To investigate these curiosities, I spent my Junior year researching the question "How has public transit, particularly subways and streetcars, in Greater Boston shaped and been shaped by the area's neighborhoods’ housing density and affordability?" While my research confirmed what I, and any T rider, already knew—that the MBTA is profoundly broken—it also showed me a complex history of community activism, chronic underfunding, and massive shifts to neighborhoods in the wake of new transit. To conclude and present my findings, as well as to educate and engage the public, I have created a self-guided walking tour of the Red Line's Northwest Extension, from Alewife to Porter. I chose this region due to its strong examples of community activism, development and gentrification, and diverse and intentional station design, all of which you will learn about on the tour. I invite you to explore the area through this question-centered tour, with a friend or by yourself. I recommend printing the booklet if you can, but there is also a digitally accessible PDF. I hope you enjoy and learn from the tour!
