General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

bakgwailo said:
One would hope that the T would create these new level boarding platforms to the Type-10 Spec, or at least plan it to be easily expanded in the near future... right?
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They won’t be at the Type 10 spec until all Type 7s and 8s are gone from the system - since their doors open out they don’t allow level-boarding height platforms, the interim condition is 8” platforms like the rest of the current accessible green line stations (so bridge plates from the train will work), designed (like all other recent upgrades) to be relatively easy to convert to true level boarding when the time comes.
Edit- mixed up numbers
 
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thepianoperson said:
They won’t be at the Type 10 spec until all Type 8s and 9s are gone from the system - since their doors open out they don’t allow level-boarding height platforms, the interim condition is 8” platforms like the rest of the current accessible green line stations (so bridge plates from the train will work), designed (like all other recent upgrades) to be relatively easy to convert to true level boarding when the time comes.
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I think you meant Type 7's and 8's. The Type 9's have the same plug doors the Type 10's will have and should have no problems with the raised platforms.
 
West Wedgemere station?

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1796976176805585183
 
ApartmentAdvisor just put out a report on the avg 1-BR rent for apts along the T (half-mile radius) -- they have a listing for every stop. Here is a link to the report: AvgRent-T

Most expensive: South Station at $3,860
Least: Wollaston at $1,950
 
Green Line central subway tunnel downtown has a crippling failure in the middle of a downtown Orange Line shutdown. (Originally stated reason was a disabled streetcar in the GL downtown tunnel)

No regularly scheduled service between Kenmore/Copley and Govy; except for shuttles; as both the GL and the OL downtown are both offline.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1797693900821532870

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EDITED to add a news article from WCVB:

www.wcvb.com

Part of Green Line shut down for hours due to power issue on train

The MBTA said nearly 50 riders were on the disabled train had a problem with its pantograph, which connects the train to overhead power lines.
www.wcvb.com www.wcvb.com

From the article:

Those Orange Line riders had been advised to either use shuttle buses between Wellington and North Station, or use the Green Line between North Station and Copley — which was not an option during the service suspension caused by the pantograph problem.
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Maybe there's another thread for this, but the MBTA is more vocally/officially discussing an Alewife TOD RFP in the coming weeks. It's a shame this wasn't a few years earlier, they'd probably have developers piling on their door steps to put some labs up.

Link

Also notable:
The agency also is eyeing future transit-oriented developments at JFK-UMass station in Dorchester, Andrew station in South Boston and the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn.
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stefal said:
It's a shame this wasn't a few years earlier, they'd probably have developers piling on their door steps to put some labs up.
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OTOH once financing eases maybe we'll get some housing there. Although that will probably depend on the state and/or city being willing to assist with demo costs.
 
Aprehensive_Words said:
OTOH once financing eases maybe we'll get some housing there. Although that will probably depend on the state and/or city being willing to assist with demo costs.
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The article quotes the director saying they're being realistic about housing not being as lucrative, and this project has some pretty large sunk costs already...
 
Random question, but, anyone come across a more up to date status of the Franklin Line Double Tracking project? From what I can tell, Phase 2 is still underway. It was supposed to be done in 2020, put on pause, and funding restored beginning of 2022, with the last communication being Poftak putting out a letter saying it's still underway which doesn't instill confidence. Phase 3 was supposed to be design complete in 2020 with the completion of Phase 2. The MBTA's project page is woefully out of date with Phase 2 being projected for a 2020 completion still.

Also, with the Phase 2 completion, the MBTA projected it will allow 35 vs 45 minute headways. Will Phase 3 and essentially fully double tracking the line allow 15 or 20 minutes headways or better? Will any of this allow faster travel on the line? It is ~30 mi and currently looks to take about an hour and 5 minutes or an hour and 13 minutes (guessing this is NEC vs Fairmont line routing), which seems pretty meh to average 30 mph.
 
bakgwailo said:
Random question, but, anyone come across a more up to date status of the Franklin Line Double Tracking project? From what I can tell, Phase 2 is still underway. It was supposed to be done in 2020, put on pause, and funding restored beginning of 2022, with the last communication being Poftak putting out a letter saying it's still underway which doesn't instill confidence. Phase 3 was supposed to be design complete in 2020 with the completion of Phase 2. The MBTA's project page is woefully out of date with Phase 2 being projected for a 2020 completion still.

Also, with the Phase 2 completion, the MBTA projected it will allow 35 vs 45 minute headways. Will Phase 3 and essentially fully double tracking the line allow 15 or 20 minutes headways or better? Will any of this allow faster travel on the line? It is ~30 mi and currently looks to take about an hour and 5 minutes or an hour and 13 minutes (guessing this is NEC vs Fairmont line routing), which seems pretty meh to average 30 mph.
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Nothing faster. Franklin is pretty delay-prone, especially on the segment shared with Foxboro trains (the original F'boro trial was pretty much a disaster for overall Franklin OTP). So the DT segments bring its schedule reliability up a lot, and may allow the T to strip out some excess padding in the schedules. All 3 phases will allow for true clockfacing schedules both for Forge Park and Foxboro. There's nothing more they'd need to do for Regional Rail except take care of the somewhat woeful state of station accessibility on the line.

Note that Franklin-to-Forge Park really drags out the schedules because of the slow speed of the curvy Milford Branch. South Station to Franklin/Dean only takes about 1:04, which is pretty representative for other lines reaching 495. But that last stop over 2.8 miles takes 10-12 minutes unto itself. And unfortunately there's really nothing you can do to speed it up other than recoup maybe 1 minute with EMU's and better speed recovery off the curve penalties. Unfortunately the line geometry is what it is.
 
bakgwailo said:
Random question, but, anyone come across a more up to date status of the Franklin Line Double Tracking project? From what I can tell, Phase 2 is still underway. It was supposed to be done in 2020, put on pause, and funding restored beginning of 2022, with the last communication being Poftak putting out a letter saying it's still underway which doesn't instill confidence. Phase 3 was supposed to be design complete in 2020 with the completion of Phase 2. The MBTA's project page is woefully out of date with Phase 2 being projected for a 2020 completion still.

Also, with the Phase 2 completion, the MBTA projected it will allow 35 vs 45 minute headways. Will Phase 3 and essentially fully double tracking the line allow 15 or 20 minutes headways or better? Will any of this allow faster travel on the line? It is ~30 mi and currently looks to take about an hour and 5 minutes or an hour and 13 minutes (guessing this is NEC vs Fairmont line routing), which seems pretty meh to average 30 mph.
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The Google Earth Imagery from 4/25/23 is identical to 2021, but it looks like they got most of the work done back then - it appears they only have ~1.5 miles of track to put in. It is still programmed in the CIP, but the T has Keolis doing quite a bit of stuff these days.
 
Stlin said:
The Google Earth Imagery from 4/25/23 is identical to 2021, but it looks like they got most of the work done back then - it appears they only have ~1.5 miles of track to put in. It is still programmed in the CIP, but the T has Keolis doing quite a bit of stuff these days.
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There've been multiple ballast trains staged over the last month, so work has ramped back up bigtime this Spring.

Norfolk Station 2nd platform is another one that's been languishing at the paperwork stage. While not technically a dependency of the DT project as they can utilize the bookending crossovers to access the single platform indefinitely at no harm to schedules, that's one that should've been advertised and had public meetings quite awhile ago...but nothing.
 
bakgwailo said:
Random question, but, anyone come across a more up to date status of the Franklin Line Double Tracking project? From what I can tell, Phase 2 is still underway. It was supposed to be done in 2020, put on pause, and funding restored beginning of 2022, with the last communication being Poftak putting out a letter saying it's still underway which doesn't instill confidence. Phase 3 was supposed to be design complete in 2020 with the completion of Phase 2. The MBTA's project page is woefully out of date with Phase 2 being projected for a 2020 completion still.

Also, with the Phase 2 completion, the MBTA projected it will allow 35 vs 45 minute headways. Will Phase 3 and essentially fully double tracking the line allow 15 or 20 minutes headways or better? Will any of this allow faster travel on the line? It is ~30 mi and currently looks to take about an hour and 5 minutes or an hour and 13 minutes (guessing this is NEC vs Fairmont line routing), which seems pretty meh to average 30 mph.
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I emailed the MBTA about the Franklin Line double track project in May 2023 asking for information. This was their response:
Good Morning,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the status of the Franklin Line Double Track Project.

Thank you for your follow-up inquiry. We wanted to update you on the progress of the Franklin Line Double Track Project, which is approximately 60% complete. As previously mentioned, the project has been put on hold since March 20, 2021.

The first phase of the project, covering about 4 miles of tracks between Walpole West and Rockwood Road near Norfolk Station, is currently 85% complete. The second phase, involving 3.5 miles of track from Norfolk Station to near Franklin Station, is 55% complete.

Once the project resumes, Keolis estimates that it will require approximately six months to complete all civil and track work. However, mandatory testing and commissioning of the new signal system will add further time.

Although the construction work is currently suspended, the construction permits are not in jeopardy. You may still see vehicles in the right of way performing normal railroad-related operations and maintenance activities.

Please be assured that the Norfolk Conservation Commission is aware of the construction delay and that all environmental control measures have been maintained."

Again, thank you for reaching out to us so we could provide this information.

Sincerely,

Keolis Customer Service
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I emailed them again in March of this year because I'm eager for more info about the project. This is what they had to say in March:
Good Evening,

We are in receipt of your submission regarding Franklin Line service.

The Franklin double track project began in 2019 but was put on hold in March 2021. However, in August 2023, the resumption of work began on this project. While we do not have a confirmed completion date available at this time, we will share more information with the public as it becomes available.

Thank you for reaching out to us.

Sincerely,

Keolis Customer Service
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It's too bad there hasn't been more movement on the double-track project. Phase 3 in particular is what I'm most curious about, but I don't think there's been any new info about Phase 3 since 2019.
 
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