Ayer Station

BostonUrbEx wrote:

Dick H wrote:There was (is?) a proposal to build a new MBTA station out near the entrance
to Devens between Ayer and Shirley and close both the current Ayer and Shirley
stations. There was opposition in Ayer. Not sure about Shirley's stance. This
could be some political games, as previously mentioned.

Makes sense. Take away the station from two places where the most people are within walking distance and plop somewhere that you are forced to drive to, instead. Behold, "progress"!

Shirley has the same stance as Ayer. Also where would they put it? Anywhere along the lines in the middle is part of the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge and I don't think the Department of the Interior would be amenable to mucking with it

Went through this AM, the fence is causing a havock. The MBCR dispatched a customer service manager out of North Station to help. Several people missed the train, there will certianly be fireworks over this one. It does have a single "construction area" sign, yet it only faces the MBTA platform on the south side, nothing facing the lot.

No alerts on the MBTA website, but the issue has made the news.

Nashoba Publishing "In Surprise Move, Property Owner
Sets Up Fency around Commuber Rail"

http://www.nashobapublishing.com/ci_256 ... nce-around" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Whatever the motive or backstory, Mr. Berry's actions are not acceptable. Forcing passengers to use unauthorized or unsafe routes increases risks of injury or other accidents, as well as liability.

I have a feeling this is going to mean more people at Shirley until it's resolved, which doesn't have much for parking, and only a single door platform. I don't see eminent domain solving this (if the T even had the finances to throw at it), and there really isn't an option for a quick fix like throwing some boards down to make a temporary access walkway. It would actually be valid, in the name of safety, to close the station until it's resolved, though not a good option by any means.

Ayer's problem is that it gets a lot of drive-in traffic from as far away as Clinton, but there's no station parking. While keeping downtown Shirley and Ayer stations is essential, the T or town would do well to grab some of that abandoned industrial land off Faulkner for parking.

The EGE wrote:Ayer's problem is that it gets a lot of drive-in traffic from as far away as Clinton, but there's no station parking. While keeping downtown Shirley and Ayer stations is essential, the T or town would do well to grab some of that abandoned industrial land off Faulkner for parking.

Ayer commuters consume about 50 of the 60 parking spaces available at the Nashua River Bike Trail parking lot on the north side of Main St. At the north end of the lot, approx 10 spaces have max dwell times of 4 hours permitting us weekday bikers someplace to park our cars Monday to Friday (OT: I highly recommend riding this scenic, paved, uncongested trail to Nashua!).

Perhaps a pathway to the east could be built? Looking in Google Maps it looks like it might be possible to extend the platform on the north side further east, then cross the track behind the platform to the east of those shop buildings. Hardly ideal, as it makes people walk a long way out of their way if they want to go west from the station, but at least it looks like it might be MBTA property up to the back of the sidewalk down there. A backup option in case there's no easy resolution to the parking lot mess.

Hearing that the MBTA/PAR has a permanent easement here and the situation may be
resolved by week's end...just in time for the weekend service outage!

D

GP40MC1118 wrote:Hearing that the MBTA/PAR has a permanent easement here and the situation may be
resolved by week's end...just in time for the weekend service outage!

D

How ironic that he decided to put it UP during the service outage. Very very slimey

TV4 reports that the property owner opened the fence this afternoon
and that the owner and MBTA have up to 30 days to resolve the
situation. He declined an interview with TV4.

Dick H wrote:TV4 reports that the property owner opened the fence this afternoon
and that the owner and MBTA have up to 30 days to resolve the
situation. He declined an interview with TV4.

Did they say what IS the situation? Is the MBTA supposed to being paying a "rent" of some sort in order to allow egress across his property?

As I recall, they gave no details on any possible outcome.
They had quick comments from a lady employee of the
property owner, supporting the fence and a comment from
the police chief that his only concern is "public safety".
They showed a portion of the fence being opened, but
it appeared the rest of it will remain for the time being.
Hard to tell, as it was just a few second shot, but I do
not think there is room for a car to pass through the
opening. Maybe they will repeat the story on the 11PM news.

If he opens the fence enough for pedestrian access to the platforms, then I can see him likely not having to do anything more than that. If he were sharp he could even take more fencing and make a corridor to the road, and then he'd be in a very strong position. He doesn't have to give vehicle access to it, unless a written easement states such.

If this is former railroad property from the big B & M sell-off in late 50s/early 60s, the terms can often be kind of ambiguous. There might be a requirement to provide parking, but a good attorney would argue that it should be at the level of use on date of sale.