A Fighting Chance against the MBTA's Station Plan

Actonians are fighters. In the spring of 1775, they rose up in opposition against British rule and, along with hundreds of citizens from surrounding towns, fought back formidable enemy.

The stakes surrounding the South Acton Train Station redesign are not nearly so high, but I'm struck, as the tiniest hints of spring poke out of the ground in 2010, with the similarity of the fight – the tenacity of those who simply will not accept that the MBTA has the final say in a matter that impacts our every day lives.

Despite some skepticism that anything can change the runaway train of the MBTA project, we find that we are making headway. When 150+ people stood in the frigid January cold to raise questions about the project, people started to listen. Our legislative delegation delivered a letter to Governor Patrick and Jeff Mullan, Secretary of the new Department of Transportation, requesting that the MBTA's design be frozen until the town's concerns be given due consideration. On Saturday, February 27, we delivered 599 petition signatures to Senator Eldridge, who has promised to deliver them to the MBTA this coming week. And Senator Eldridge and Reps Benson and Atkins reported to the Acton Board of Selectmen that the General Manager of the MBTA, Bill Mitchell, has agreed to meet with them – and that there could be some room to reconsider the design.

So there is some reason for optimism. But our job as foot soldiers in this effort is to continue to educate the public about this issue and keep the pressure on the MBTA. So we are going Hollywood!

Leigh Davis Honn has joined with Christo Tsiaras, Emmy-award winning filmmaker, to product a series of themed mini-documentaries around the South Acton Train station issue: accessibility, historic design and preservation, etc. and reflections on the MBTA's overall approach and response to citizen's concerns.

They have interviewed/filmed 15 people, to include the Acton Commission on Disabilities, BOS Peter Berry and Senator Jaime Eldridge, the Executive Director of the MetroWest Center for Independent Living (their sister organization Boston Center for Independent Living was the organization that sued the MBTA in 2002 and won).

There will be a video shoot at Exchange Hall this coming Saturday, March 6th from 10-Noon.
We are looking for 30-50 citizens of all ages to read our petition, portions of which will be included in the film. No need to RSVP, just show up at Exchange Hall at 10 AM on Saturday.
Filming will take place on the balcony so it will happen rain or shine or sleet or snow. Doughnuts and coffee will be served, and Glen Berger will be conducting tours of the inside of Exchange Hall. Here's your chance to have your 15 seconds of fame!

And while you are there, stop by the train station and take a look at the signs hung in the trees. They map the route -- by length and height-- that commuters will have to take to get to the trains under the current MBTA plan.

The alarm has been spread… the battle engaged… and we can change the course of events if we keep up the fight.