More importantly, the stops closed in 2004 were in a slightly sparser segment of the line between Packard’s Corner and the terminus at Boston College (with stops averaging 409 meters apart).

By comparison, the platforms at St. Paul Street and Boston University West combine to 150 meters long. Only 175 meters separates those platforms. The number of mass transit riders who are unwilling to walk two platform lengths to catch their train must be vanishingly small.

I use regularly all the stops I recommend eliminating (and, in the case of Babcock Street, while carrying heavy groceries), yet I still support their elimination, since the impact for even regular passengers at those stops will barely be noticeable.

Assuming the goal is to handle more people, closing stops may or may not improve overall service. In fact, the 73% approval is actually kinda low. That may mean 27% saw value in those stops; 27% is a lot of people. Some of those dissenters may use the stop directly; some may use it from time-to-time; some may know someone who needs/uses a closed stop.

So will the users of those stops switch to a different stop or line? Will they give up? Will the lost riders be replaced by people who see value-added in faster trains?