MBTA Construction Projects

[MjolnirMan]

FWIW, many other cities (especially outside of the US) frequently build direct underground walkways between station exits and the basement levels of nearby developments, avoiding the need to reach the ground level altogether.

This technically exists for Boylston Station and Emerson's Little Building but it's been sealed off.

 

[JeffDowntown]

This technically exists for Boylston Station and Emerson's Little Building but it's been sealed off.

I would argue this happens in Boston where there is a logical candidate development to connect to. Many downtown stations don't have a logical connection candidate.

Back Bay connects to Copley Place
Prudential connects to the Prudential Mall
North Station connects to North Station
South Station connects to South Station.
DTC connects to three flanking buildings
State connects into 53 and 60 State Street

 

[cubalibre]

Worcester MBTA station finally has two tracks, which should help improve the commuter rail schedule immensely. This is wrapping up another year after the new platform was added. Crazy that the terminus could only accommodate a single train until now, especially when throwing the daily Lake Shore Limited stops into the mix as well.

 

[Badusername]

Worcester MBTA station finally has two tracks, which should help improve the commuter rail schedule immensely. This is wrapping up another year after the new platform was added. Crazy that the terminus could only accommodate a single train until now, especially when throwing the daily Lake Shore Limited stops into the mix as well.

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Are there near term scheduling improvements that can be expected as a result? Does the T have the equipment and personnel to run more expresses or higher frequency?

 

[cubalibre]

In the short term the schedule no longer has to factor in if another train is already at the station, which is currently the case. Over the next year or so the MBTA has planned to run shorter trains at higher frequency, every 30 minutes at peak times.

Worcester Line Trains Will Get Shorter – But Also More Frequent - Streetsblog Massachusetts

"We’re looking to move to 30-minute train service on the Worcester main line in the next year or so," says Lynsey Heffernan, the MBTA's Chief of Policy & Strategic Planning.

mass.streetsblog.org

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Are there near term scheduling improvements that can be expected as a result? Does the T have the equipment and personnel to run more expresses or higher frequency?

Schedules that are closer to clock-facing. Right now the Worcester arrivals and departures are very oddly-spaced because of the platform-occupancy problem. It's one of the most irregular schedules on the system, and they haven't been able to sync it to closer to clock-facing like a lot of other lines because of that single platform. Being able to double-berth means they'll immediately be able to do much more predictable arrivals and departures. Plus it's necessary for the Amtrak Inland Route service increases that are funded because those slots will run close to existing T slots.

Outright frequency increases have dependencies on getting Newton double-track platforms done, as well as the big Wellesley-Framingham tri-track project to allow for more infill express runs and faster boarding high platforms on all the inside-Framingham stops. All of that should be complete by decade's end (though the Newton platform projects are going by a dumpster-fire design process that's likely to result in delays).

 

[BeansTheCat]

In the short term the schedule no longer has to factor in if another train is already at the station, which is currently the case. Over the next year or so the MBTA has planned to run shorter trains at higher frequency, every 30 minutes at peak times.

Worcester Line Trains Will Get Shorter – But Also More Frequent - Streetsblog Massachusetts

"We’re looking to move to 30-minute train service on the Worcester main line in the next year or so," says Lynsey Heffernan, the MBTA's Chief of Policy & Strategic Planning.

mass.streetsblog.org

While this is exciting, some caution is warranted. The T has mentioned this plan at presentations about other projects, but there is no public facing material about it outside of a single item in the CIP Book (P1257). It seems likely that 30-minute frequencies are on the horizon, but I have very little confidence in any timeline for them until the T provides more information.

 

[TheRatmeister]

While this is exciting, some caution is warranted. The T has mentioned this plan at presentations about other projects, but there is no public facing material about it outside of a single item in the CIP Book (P1257). It seems likely that 30-minute frequencies are on the horizon, but I have very little confidence in any timeline for them until the T provides more information.

I have seen a leaked draft schedule for the Worcester Line with all day 30 minute frequencies to Framingham. Obviously that doesn't make it guaranteed but it's absolutely being planned.

 

[cubalibre]

They’re not too far off today already during peak times. Between the 5:45 am and 8:11 am departures the average interval is ~36 minutes.