[LMich]

I recently saw this map of Boston showing the urban, MSA, and CSA areas:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Greaterboston2.png

And, I'm wondering, why isn't Worchester included in Boston's urbanized area population? Is it simply that it will be in 2010, for sure? They clearly looked to have connected and in enough places that anywhere else it seems like it already would have been included, and the same goes for Providence, it appears. Even if neither of these never forms an MSA with Boston it seems that they should already be considered part of the urbanized area.

[hudkina]

This is my best guess:

B. UA Split Criteria Within the Same UA or County

The Census Bureau splits an initial UA within the same MA, or within a county that is not in an MA, when the following conditions exist:

1. The only connection linking or causing contiguity between areas, each of which has an initial core population of at least 50,000, includes either a hop or jump connection, or

2. The connection between areas, each of which has an initial core population of at least 50,000, is not greater than a point-to-point connection.

In both cases, the split will occur at the point-to-point connection, or at both ends of the hop or jump connection that initially linked the areas into a single UA.

If you're interested in knowing what some of those concepts refer to check out page 11,667:
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/ua/uafedreg031502.pdf

(BTW, there aren't 11,667 pages in the PDF, it's really just the 5th page down...)

[hudkina]

In any case, basically the "urbanity" between the two cores isn't "dense" enough or "connected" enough for them to be one contiguous urbanized area.

In any case, I think the current definition of Urbanized Areas is too liberal. I don't even think Lawrence or Lowell should technically be in Boston's UA, let alone Providence or Worcester.

[Echo Park]

Urbanized often becomes a catch all term for basically any place thats settled or inhabited. But in maps like the one in the OP where there is comparative nature of a settled area, I tend to think of 'urbanized' having at least some standard of density, and as you head west on the MA turnpike there's miles of green space between Boston and Worcester.

[tdawg]

I drove just yesterday from Boston through Worcester back to NYC and there is definitely a long stretch of "not much around" between the two cities.

[ChunkyMonkey]

I don't think you can based anything on driving on the Mass Pike as most of it is buffered by trees because no communities actually want a view of a giant highway. Here's a satellite view which gives you a good overview. It is not exactly high urban density but it is slowly filling in. Worcester is increasingly dependent on Boston. Its airport now has no commercial flights. Commuters to Boston has also increased with additional commuter trains.

http://hotimg15.fotki.com/a/81_224/232_102/worcester.jpg

[Shawn]

Ahh, the beauty that is Rt 9 :D

[Goody]

I can see Portsmouth- they really need to expand the T north a bit.

[rsbear]

Calling the far west part of the Boston area ("Metro West") that includes towns like Sudbury, Hopkington (not sure I spelled that right) or Northboro "urban" is a stretch. Those towns certainly may be linked to Boston, but urban they are not. Don't get me wrong - I lived in that area for three years and love the small towns of Mass.

[seaskyfan]

I can see Portsmouth- they really need to expand the T north a bit.

There are some folks working to try and get the MBTA's Lowell Commuter Rail Line to connect to service in NH serving Nashua and Manchester.

http://www.nashuarpc.org/rail/index.html

My understanding is the old B&M Lowell Line used to go all the way to Concord, NH.

[liat91]

I just noticed that Windham county Connecticut could possibly be the next to join Boston's CSA. It's closer than Laconia. It is also one of the only two counties in eastern Connecticut to gain population in 2007. Tolland I believe is an outer suburb of Hartford which would account for it's growth. Windham however is in the middle of nowhere, although adjacent to rural Boston CSA. Just a thought.

[seaskyfan]

^ I think that's likely. A good chunk of the county is already included in the Boston CNECTA.

http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/msa_maps2006/msa2006_previews_html/necta_wall_1206_pre.html

This is the census designation that shows Greater Boston covering a good chunk of Eastern MA, all of RI, a substantial area of Southern NH, some of Northeastern CT, and a few towns in ME.

[M. Brown]

There are some folks working to try and get the MBTA's Lowell Commuter Rail Line to connect to service in NH serving Nashua and Manchester.

http://www.nashuarpc.org/rail/index.html

My understanding is the old B&M Lowell Line used to go all the way to Concord, NH.

This can't happen soon enough.

[Goody]

I want Newburyports line brought up to Portsmouth that would be kickass

[seaskyfan]

Here's a link to a 1933 map for the Boston & Maine RR. It shows the connection from Newburyport to Portsmouth and beyond. It would be great to see all of these lines in service again.

http://www.lightlink.com/sglap3/newhampshire/1933B&Mmap.html

[Goody]

:slob: Thats a perfect plan for furture rail growth :yes:

[tocoto]

The state of NH is unlikely to change its position and pay for commuter rail anytime soon. The commuter rail line to Manchester was proposed many years ago was and built by MA to the NH border years ago. If that can't get built in NH the line to Portsmouth really seems to be an unrealistic dream. On the other hand commuter rail was built to RI and now is about to be finished all the way south to Providence airport making it possible to reach two major airports by rail in boht Boston and Providence.

[Goody]

I'll have to get on my congress people then. I'm tight with a few of them... sort of :haha:

[seaskyfan]

The state of NH is unlikely to change its position and pay for commuter rail anytime soon. The commuter rail line to Manchester was proposed many years ago was and built by MA to the NH border years ago. If that can't get built in NH the line to Portsmouth really seems to be an unrealistic dream. On the other hand commuter rail was built to RI and now is about to be finished all the way south to Providence airport making it possible to reach two major airports by rail in boht Boston and Providence.

Usually these are upgrades of existing track. Here's a link to an article about the Concord, NH commuter rail test in 1980. It connected to Boston over the MBTA's Lowell Line.

http://www.nashuacitystation.com/bostonmaine.php?content=commuterrail

Dover, Durham, and Exeter also currently get train service via the Amtrak Downeaster (it goes from Portland over to Haverhill, MA then over to the Lowell line where it continues to North Station).