Transportation
Streetcars were already popular during this era. In addition though, this was when the automobile was beginning to surface in society at relatively high gear until the Great Depression.[1] Like Boston’s economy and immigrant population, the automobile industry did experience a little bit of stagnation.[2] However, this was because the automobile was still so new and a lot of people could not afford to own one nor were the roads not yet efficient enough to persuade one into thinking that an automobile was a necessary possession.[2] Between 1920-1950 there were a few committees such as the public agency, Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Boston Elevated Railway Company who developed several means of transportation such as brand new railways and wider roads.[2] One more means of transportation that was not so much affiliated with the automobile though was under the direction of Curley.[3] He developed a brand new airport in 1923 for the city, which helped globalize Boston with the rest of the world.[2] Besides public railways and roads, more highways were constructed that not only contributed to sprawl within the city, but allowed fleeing Yankees a more feasible means to residehabitat away from the Irish immigrants.[4] In 1948, the Highway Master Plan was thought of and institutionalized. However, this sprawl backfiredwas a backfiring to Curley’s idea of redistribution amongst the Yankees and Irish.
Sprawl separated the Irish and Yankees even more by distinguishing them in different habitual areas that characterized their economic status.[2] Instead of harmonizing the two groups, the development of transportation kept both groups a part. It made Yankee flight from Irish feasible. As more movement was going around within the city, the demand for an improved transportation system increased.[5] In 1930, traffic lights were installed due to more congestion on roads. The increased congestion also called more roads to be widened and new driving routes to be constructed.[1] Buses were becominge more popular than trolleys as Boston became one of the busiest operators of this mode of transportation.[1] However, since this era was of stagnation, lack of funding hindered public transportation like buses to thrive to its maximum potential.[3]
Sprawl separated the Irish and Yankees even more by distinguishing them in different habitual areas that characterized their economic status.[2] Instead of harmonizing the two groups, the development of transportation kept both groups a part. It made Yankee flight from Irish feasible. As more movement was going around within the city, the demand for an improved transportation system increased.[5] In 1930, traffic lights were installed due to more congestion on roads. The increased congestion also called more roads to be widened and new driving routes to be constructed.[1] Buses were becominge more popular than trolleys as Boston became one of the busiest operators of this mode of transportation.[1] However, since this era was of stagnation, lack of funding hindered public transportation like buses to thrive to its maximum potential.[3]
References:
1. 1880-1920: Transformation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places &
Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1880-1920/
2. 1920-1950: Stagnation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1920-1949/
3. Glaeser, E. and Shleifer, A. (n.d.). The Curley Effect: The Economics of Shaping the Electorate. [pdf] http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/shleifer/files/curley_effect.pdf [Accessed: 14th February. 2013].
4. O'Connor, T. H. (1995). The Boston Irish: A Political History. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
5. Trout, C. H. (1977). Boston, The Great Depression, and the New Deal. New York: Oxford University Press.
1. 1880-1920: Transformation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places &
Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1880-1920/
2. 1920-1950: Stagnation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1920-1949/
3. Glaeser, E. and Shleifer, A. (n.d.). The Curley Effect: The Economics of Shaping the Electorate. [pdf] http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/shleifer/files/curley_effect.pdf [Accessed: 14th February. 2013].
4. O'Connor, T. H. (1995). The Boston Irish: A Political History. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
5. Trout, C. H. (1977). Boston, The Great Depression, and the New Deal. New York: Oxford University Press.