Keep the Electric Buses

Belmont town officials want to eliminate the "trackless trolleys" (electric buses, the #71 and #73), replacing them with buses, partly because the wires are "unsightly." Here, as far as I can tell, "town officials" means the three selectmen and town administrator. In media coverage or BOS meeting minutes, I've seen no path for input from the public. And beyond the asthetics, I see no rationale discussed.

This has been covered recently in the Globe, "Belmont looks into getting rid of trackless trolleys" (May 12), and Patch, "" (April 19), and "" (April 19),  and "" (May 11).

Through all this coverage, and the minimal mention in meeting minutes available online, I see not a single comment from a resident or rider. And in the points raised, I don't see comments from officials about residents or businesses or riders.

I'm a daily rider of the 73, and have been for much of the past 15 years. In my 24 years of living around here I've also regularly taken buses to Belmont Center and Arlmont and many others through Cambridge. I think the electric should stay.

• The biggest reason is that they are much quieter for both the riders and nearby residents. Have you ever sat at someone's house on a bus line? Or sat on a sidewalk bench to talk with a friend? Or eaten at a restaurant on the sidewalk or with open windows on Mass Ave (#77 or #1 bus) in Cambridge? 
• Pollution: diesel – even 'clean' diesel – still produces smoke and fumes along Trapelo Road and Belmont Street.
• With the re-development of Cushing Square and eventually Waverley and the entire Trapelo Road corridor, this will affect the desirability of the streetscape and adjacent buildings themselves, where the trolleys are more positive.
• There is a 'charm' to the electric, somewhat like the streetcars of decades past. Buses have the charm of, well, buses.
• CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) buses were mentioned in one piece I read. CNG buses are prohibited from the Harvard Sq bus tunnel, so that might not be an option.

I've mention this to a few riders of the #73, and not not person was aware this was going on. Let the Belmont Selectmen, Watertown Council, and T know what you think. 

• Belmont: Board of Selectmen, email selectmen@belmont-ma.gov
• Watertown: Watertown Council
• MBTA: Customer Support

There is a  on Tuesday May 17, 7 p.m., at Watertown Town Hall, where they are seeking public input.