A big problem with an automobile thoroughfare e.g. Babcock St. Extension from the remodeled Allston turnpike interchange to Comm. Ave. is lots of left turns in front of Boston University. Even after widening Comm. Ave. there will still be long red lights at a new complex intersection near Nickerson Field. Included in this traffic mix would be pickups and dropoffs at West Station, mostly to and from neighborhoods and locations far from B.U.
Plus the need to build (probably 4 lanes worth of) bridges over West Station and/or other tracks to get to Comm. Ave.
Currently, Boston traffic from the Allston turnpike enterchange is either "put on Storrow Drive and then not worried about" or makes its way to Brighton Ave. where, by the time it gets on Comm. Ave. it is stratified into mostly straight through traffic. Kiss and ride is handled by Yawkee and soon by New Balance stations with miniml left turn impact at B.U. This is also good plan to deal with the new traffic to and from the brand new neighborhood that will occupy the land liberated by the remodeling of the turnpike interchange and rail yard.
Not having to construct another complex intersection at B.U. will maintain pedestrian and bicycle friendliness of Comm. Ave. in that vicinity.
Another facility that could be provided at an in town station such as West Station would be a long term bike garage. Suburban rail commuters would leave bikes there overnight and use them the next day to complete their trip to a nearby location, here, notably, in the Kenmore Square to Packard's Corner area.
Plus the need to build (probably 4 lanes worth of) bridges over West Station and/or other tracks to get to Comm. Ave.
Currently, Boston traffic from the Allston turnpike enterchange is either "put on Storrow Drive and then not worried about" or makes its way to Brighton Ave. where, by the time it gets on Comm. Ave. it is stratified into mostly straight through traffic. Kiss and ride is handled by Yawkee and soon by New Balance stations with miniml left turn impact at B.U. This is also good plan to deal with the new traffic to and from the brand new neighborhood that will occupy the land liberated by the remodeling of the turnpike interchange and rail yard.
Not having to construct another complex intersection at B.U. will maintain pedestrian and bicycle friendliness of Comm. Ave. in that vicinity.
Another facility that could be provided at an in town station such as West Station would be a long term bike garage. Suburban rail commuters would leave bikes there overnight and use them the next day to complete their trip to a nearby location, here, notably, in the Kenmore Square to Packard's Corner area.
Build something. Anything.