South Acton Station – A NIMBY Issue or Not?

I have become an overnight activist. It was never my intent, but the changes proposed at the South Acton train station don't allow me to sit quietly on the sidelines. I send emails; I organize; I blog; I collect petition signatures; I talk with everyone who will listen. And as I speak with residents and commuters from surrounding towns, I am struck by the misconceptions that exist about the South Acton Train Station Design controversy, one of them being that this is being brought on a bunch of neighbors crying, "Not in my backyard!"

In fact, what started with some neighbors expressing concerns about access and design has become a groundswell of concern from around town, commuters from the surrounding area, multiple special interest groups, and our legislative delegation. The MBTA's design is unreasonable, and inconsistent with its goal of increasing the use of public transportation. Consider these impacts:

Access. Getting to the trains will be much different from today, for every station user. No matter how you get there, once you've arrived you will need to negotiate stairs or a series of ramps (570 feet in total length) to a height of about twenty feet, over a bridge and then back down again to reach the platform. For able-bodied users, ramps will add about five minutes to your commute each way. Stair users will fare a bit better, but those who now enjoy a cozy wait in the car until they hear the train approach can kiss those days goodbye.

If you are disabled, negotiating the ramps or stairs could take many times longer – if you can manage it at all. The ramping system is designed to meet the elevation requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but their sheer length creates what could be an insurmountable obstacle for those in wheelchairs, pulling oxygen tanks, or pushing strollers. The ADA does not put a limit on ramp length, but states that it must be "reasonable." Both the Acton Commission on Disabilities and the MetroWest Center for Independent Living oppose the MBTA's design, and even the MBTA's own Manager for Accessibility advocates for elevators over ramps!

Safety. Many who attended the first meeting with the MBTA one year ago expressed concerns about the safety of a central platform design. What happens if there is a medical issue, such as a fall, a choking incident, or a heart attack? How much time will be added for first responders to reach the victim? Likewise, some fear waiting on the isolated center platform during off hours could increase their susceptibility to crime. The T points to an emergency egress on the far (east) end of the platform, but that exit is between tracks – not directly accessible by an ambulance or police car.

Historic Preservation. South Acton Village includes several historic structures, some of which are the National Register of Historical Places. The station is in sight from Jones Tavern, the recently renovated Exchange Hall, and Acton's first post office, and is a short walk from the Faulkner Homestead. The size of the T's planned structure, along with its modular design, is completely out of keeping with this setting and would forever detract from the cultural value of the area.

Focus on Vehicular Traffic. For some time, commuters have asked the town to come up with a solution to the parking crunch at the train station. While it's important to note that this project does not include funding or plans for additional parking, the designs focus on people getting to the station by car – meaning that more people will be trying to get into the station on roads that have already proven to be inadequate for that purpose. Pedestrian access from the south side is completely cut off, and there has been no attempt to tie the design in with the state-funded Assabet River Rail Trail crossing.

Neighborhood Concerns. There are, of course, some elements that are of more concern to neighborhood residents than others – design, noise, light pollution, traffic and historical impact among them. Someone recently commented that people who purchase homes near the train station should not complain about such things. For the most part, we recognize that those are prices that we pay for access to the train. Is it too much to ask, then, that we actually be able to reach the station reasonably? I'm reminded of the old Mainers' saying, "You can't get there from here." In point of fact, we support, and participated in envisioning, Acton's alternative plan, which includes a "kiss-and-ride" dropoff point on Maple Street, because we recognize that there must be multiple vehicular points of access.

The issues described above do not promote the use of public transportation; they impede it. We who oppose the MBTA's current design do support the overall Fitchburg Line Improvement Project and the significant benefits it will bring – faster travel time, better reliability, and the potential to add make schedule changes to support reverse commuters to Devens, among others. But these improvements should not come at the expense of those who use South Acton Station, and above all, they should not discourage people from using the train – which is something I think we can all get behind.