The premise of David Luberoff’s anti-transit arguments about current and past Greater Boston transit commitments are grounded on wide ranging, but selective data. It is important to point out that the state was fully aware before completing I-93 in the early 1970s, that Somerville’s air quality and noise levels did not meet Federal standards at the time, and would worsen in the future with increased I-93 traffic. Now more than 300,000 vehicles per day travel through Somerville on I-93, arterial highways and local roads.
Clearly Luberoff’s recommendation to reduce vehicle emissions is important if we are to improve air quality in greater Boston, but such efforts fall far short of solving the regions’ air quality issues and transportation needs. Although much has been written about the triumph of community over highway interests in the 1970’s and the redirection of federal highway funding toward transit, Luberoff completely ignores the economic, quality of life and air quality benefits that have accrued within the corridors that benefited from this investment in public transportation.
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