I was moving from Davis Square just as that damning report on the MBTA was coming out, warning of the likelihood of derailment between Harvard and Alewife stations.  My last days in Davis i literally prayed (to whomever would listen) that I would make it out alive.  I did.  But it's finally happened: a derailment at Alewife this evening.  No injuries, thank goodness.

I am, of course, a huge fan of public transit.  When well-planned, properly funded, and operated with integrity, it works, plain as that.  The fact that we can't get ours to work doesn't point to a failure of public transit, it points to a failure in governance for the public good — the same failure we see at every level of government. 

It's too early to say whether Governor Patrick's attempts to reform Boston's Big Dig Culture will do the trick, or simply shift the incompetence and corruption around.  One thing, at least, he's gotten right: transit — planning it, funding it, and running it with integrity — needs to be a major priority for the Commonwealth, not an afterthought. 

But until that happens (yeah, um, don't hold your breath), I'll be riding my bike to work, thanks.