Coming to Boston for the Convention? You'd better read this. (holy crap)

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/05/21/massive_closing_of_roads_set_for_convention_week/

Massive closing of roads set for convention week

City encourages firms to give vacation time

By Anthony Flint, Globe Staff | May 21, 2004

The staggering scope of the security measures for the Democratic National Convention became clear yesterday, as state and federal authorities detailed changes that surpassed the worst fears of many residents and businesses: nearly 40 miles of major roadway closures, a vehicle-free zone around the FleetCenter, and parking bans that will extend through the Back Bay.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino formally asked employers to allow workers to take vacations during the convention, from July 26 to 29, or let them telecommute or work earlier in the morning so they can leave before the road closures start at 4 p.m. State Police said they need lighter-than-usual traffic for vehicles to flow smoothly through the detours and warned that they could expand the closures even farther outside the city.

Although authorities announced in March that Interstate 93, which runs directly by the FleetCenter, would be closed during the convention for security reasons, details of the transportation plan -- and the extent of the roadway closures in particular -- drew gasps, grimaces, and gallows-humor laughs as state, city, and public safety officials spoke at a packed briefing for businesses and media at the Federal Reserve bank auditorium yesterday morning.

"It's a harsh reality," said Joseph Curtatone, the mayor of Somerville, where drivers seeking alternative routes home are expected to flood streets. "We understand the security concerns, but the traffic, the congestion -- it's going to be a nightmare."

Nearly every corner of the transportation system in the city will be affected and several business executives said yesterday that they are exploring options such as flex time for employees or setting up remote work sites. Commuters, meanwhile, were left contemplating drive times that could triple or staying home. And with so many workers likely to avoid the city, the economic impact will have a ripple effect throughout the retail and service industries, from large stores to small restaurants that cater to the lunch crowd.

...more...

[candy]

1. It's going to be a nightmare---

Route 128 which is supposed to be the alternative for the closed down Route 93 is nothing but a parking lot during rush hour now.

Good luck to all who attend,but God help the poor local slobs who have to get to work or get to the airport that week.

[anarchy1999]

2. What is going on? Are we worried there may be a terrorist attack or is

it because of all the "demonstrators" they anticipate protesting the Democrats and Kerry? I am very confused.........

[WilliamPitt]

3. Both, probably

It'll be *really* interesting if the cops go on strike the way they have threatened. Who's gonna direct the traffic? Menino?

[anarchy1999]

22. Is there a way to have any influence in this, Will?

Can we contact our Dems in each state and put a stop to this? This is outrageous behavior, IMHO.

[WilliamPitt]

23. Nope

It is all Menino. The deal has gone down.

[Bluebear]

5. News said it was by request of the Secret Service

No word of protesters was mentioned....but here is a thought, now they can lockdown NYC for the same "reason" and in so doing try to stifle demonstrations for the GOP coronation.

[ET Awful]

4. Fortunately for me . . . .

By the time this happens, I'll be secure in my new digs out in Lowell, and the only route I'll have to worry about is Route 3 from Lowell to Bedford :).

I'll get to avoid most of the traffic nightmare, and should I choose to try and check things out in the Fleet Center area, I can take 4/225 through Bedford, it wraps around into Mass Ave. and I can park at a friends house in Cambridge then hoof it over. :).

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. What's the status on the Big Dig these days?

I was there in March 2001, and HOLY CRAP! That's a big hole!

I can imagine what traffic must be like now. I wouldn't even want to contemplate this.

Fortunately, I lived on the T the whole time. I was very lucky.

[NewHampster]

8. digs basically doen but

it will be almost shut down during the DNC because it passes the Fleet

[NewHampster]

7. The Repubs at work making Bostonians pay

The GOP Convention doesn't have nearly this amount of security.

Either they don't care about protecting shrub or this is just the SS needling the democrats.

I bet we see Gay marraiges live from Beantown on the news that week too.

[progdonkey]

12. NYC coddling the shrub

I think NYC is being lighter on the security than Boston because Bloomberg knows that shrub and the RNC are universally despised there (former mayor Koch has even been in spots calling New Yorkers to fake some civility towards the Republicans). Creating the same type of traffic nightmares that Boston is doing would only make New Yorkers hate shrub even more, probably resulting in full-blown riots outside the convention. Since Boston is Kerry-town, Menino can be as cautious as he wants, since the people of Boston will be far more forgiving of Kerry than New Yorkers of Bush.

[rucky]

9. Expect civil unrest n/t

[redwitch]

10. does this affect your party plans?

sounds like a logistical nightmare for commuters. I posted last night about sitting in Penn Station , NYC waiting for a train with the cops, guardsmen and assorted bomb sniffing dogs. I can't imagine them closing Penn, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how they can "secure" it. And then there's the rest of the city. I think New Yorkers and Bostonians will have a rough time of it even if everything goes smoothly.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Y'all are on y'own

:)

I provide the address, it's your jobs to get here.

[VolcanoJen]

13. Yes, I'm planning on attending the convention.

Now, I'm scared to crap... I have to pay my own way, and foot the hotel bill, and yet the closest, reasonable hotel I can find is in Nashua, NH.

How am I going to get to downtown Boston every day? Where am I supposed to park my car? When is the DNC going to tell us what is expected of us??

[SCDem]

14. I hear ya about the hotel situation

I sucked it up and paid $150 a night for a hotel 12 miles out of Boston but right by a subway. Wish I could have stayed at the delegate hotel for my state but I just couldn't afford $208 a night. Luckily I got cheap airline tickets at www.flyi.com a new airlines just opening up. Good luck!

[VolcanoJen]

16. Hey Bostonians... would Lowell be a better base for me?

I did find a reasonably-priced lodging spot in Lowell... would this provide a better "base" for me than Nashua? Nashua, with traffic, is about 90 minutes each way, as far as I can tell...

[WilliamPitt]

19. Forget your car - JEN, READ THIS!!!!

Wherever you stay, make sure there is a commuter rail stop. Look up MBTA.com and see what towns have stops.

This is the commuter rail map:



Lowell is at the end of one line that goes right to North Station See top of map, little left of center, under the '3' sign). North Station is literally peeing distance from the convention site. Go with Lowell and leave the car at the hotel.

[anarchy1999]

17. Have you talked with Will yet?

n/t

Maybe he can help.......

[truthspeaker]

15. this is bullshit that makes us look as bad as the Rethugs

Kerry and the party head should pressure the mayor of Boston to lighten up. Then we can contrast the freedom in Boston with the repression in NYC for the Repig convention.

[DaveSZ]

18. They are worried about terrorism

That's what I first thought when I read this article.

[-..__...]

20. Tell me about it!

See where those red and orange dots meet at RT 93 in Medford? See that "60" marker to the right? I live somewhere smack dab in the middle of that "6".

Route 60 W (Salem St.)... the alternate route; can get backed up on a normal day (it's 2 lanes through a commercial district).

Route 60 E, through Medford Square, can back-up pretty good in the morning through early evening.

Add in the fact that exit 32 is a rotary and you can well imagine traffic Hell.


My life is going to be a fucking nightmare for those days. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[David Zephyr]

21. I Can't Imagine I-93 Closed.

Yikes! But better safe than sorry.

I was in Boston the last two weeks and saw that gigantic banner draped over the side of the Convention Center announcing the Democratic National Convention. It just looked super!

Carlos and I were on our way out to Lowell to see the The Boot Mill and Textile Museums and the tributes to the Wobblies and Elizabeth Gurly Flynn and he tried to get a digital photo of the banner, but couldn't get it in time.

I like your Mayor Menino, so don't pick on him too much.

I do not know how you in Boston will be even to move around with I-93 closed.

[Tracer]

24. Am I the only one who thinks ...

... that the road closures are a massive overreaction?

And that the overreaction comes from years of "terrer, terrer, terrer" from GW's piehole?

What are the odds of a real terrorist attack on the Fleet Center? I'd be willing to go 10,000 to 1 against.