This article from yesterday’s Globe – Access to MBTA influences where millennials work, live – is an eye-opener, even for someone who already recognizes the massive shift in habits and preferences that Millennials (in this case, 660 of our friends and neighbors between the ages of 20 and 37 from the greater Boston area) are exhibiting on auto use and transit access:
- A combined 96% of respondents to the MassINC/ULI survey reportedly put transit access in the somewhat/very important category on where they want to live, and
- A combined 93% of respondents to the survey reportedly put such access in the somewhat/very important category on where they want to work
- Just 24% reported driving alone as their mode of travel to work
Big numbers, without question, that reflect that access to the MBTA, despite its shortcomings, is viewed as an indispensible amenity and driver of locational decisions among a very large cohort in our population (and, by extension, the companies that want to employ them and the developers who want to build their housing). As someone a bit older who would fall into the very important category on transit access myself, I hope this and similar information on the importance of the T to our region’s livability and economy will spur all of us to advocate for and support new initiatives, funding, and service in the days ahead. Among the other things we all need to do, it’s time to help the T work better.
I know many of you are likely on the “Keep Roslindale Quirky” Facebook page, so forgive me if this is redundant.
The MBTA recently began running the survey on ridership they conduct every 5 years. I would recommend everyone taking this survey so we can help give the MBTA an accurate representation of transit use for those of us who live in Roslindale.
http://mbta.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwTIw2Hzs7cqEdf
– Liz GM