MBTA Construction Projects

with how slow the progress on courthouse has been maybe they subscribe to the digging ditches with spoons school of job creation :ROFLMAO:

According to the MBTA's original estimates at the time the bid was awarded, this project was projected to take approximately 17 months to complete and wrap up construction in Late 2022. Now the project is approaching 3.5 years behind schedule - the amount of delay is equal to more than 2x the entire original construction schedule. In that very long time, I don't believe the MBTA has ever publicly addressed the delay, offered an explanation for it, or announced a revised estimated completion date.

These are just basic, rudimentary failures of project management. If the T wants more funding for major projects - and I think we all recognize the need - they have to be more accountable and responsive when there are fuck ups on smaller projects.
 

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No obvious signs of movement over the last ~6 months, so guessing it was inspection/permitting/elevator testing. Seems extremely overdue, but glad there's some sign of progress here...
 
Holy cow didnt even realize this wasnt open yet. Thats been u/c for a minute.
No obvious signs of movement over the last ~6 months, so guessing it was inspection/permitting/elevator testing. Seems extremely overdue, but glad there's some sign of progress here...
As I believe I saw in some CRA meeting minutes (or somewhere similar), there was a failed MBTA emergency power generator that precluded completion of the qualification testing originally. This needed to be repaired/replaced before the testing could resume. That, of course, prompted the (sadly inevitably inefficient) cross-organizational coordination, since the head house was a private developer build but the generator is MBTA.
 
As I believe I saw in some CRA meeting minutes (or somewhere similar), there was a failed MBTA emergency power generator that precluded completion of the qualification testing originally. This needed to be repaired/replaced before the testing could resume. That, of course, prompted the (sadly inevitably inefficient) cross-organizational coordination, since the head house was a private developer build but the generator is MBTA.
Other places seem to be able to work this out much quicker - is the T just especially bad at this job?
 
Other places seem to be able to work this out much quicker - is the T just especially bad at this job?
If it's one of those big stationary industrial generators... Those kinda don't really exist in stock. The last time I needed to price one out, which was solidly pre-covid, the lead time then from order to delivery was like 20-30 weeks. I assume it's even longer now, especially since data centers are also eating those up with the electricity shortage. If one of those failed in testing to the degree it's not repairable and they want a replacement? I can see it. I assume it's required for them to be able to use the new space and the T presumably doesn't want to rent a mobile one just for standby duty. Presumably the existing structure already has its COO and is able to coast with its existing standby power supply or no standby power.
 

So, if you are in front of the station you still need to walk about 1000 feet north then double back. This doesn't happen anywhere else on the T. Didn't they recently claim victory saying that the whole system was handicap accessible?
 
The lack of communication from the T is frustrating. The MWRA used to present monthly status reports on the Boston Harbor Project, but they were subject to court supervision. At least the Pioneer Institute infested T used to publish routine updates on most projects.
 

So, if you are in front of the station you still need to walk about 1000 feet north then double back. This doesn't happen anywhere else on the T. Didn't they recently claim victory saying that the whole system was handicap accessible?
It's about 150ft if you're standing directly in line with the northern platform, not 1000ft.

Anyway, reason seems obvious: The natural slope of the road in that direction basically acts as a ramp anyway, and so I doubt the distance traveled is significantly longer than it would have been if you tried to just do a ramp in what seems like it's more "directly" down into the station from the bridge.

I believe someone else has mentioned before that the MBTA seems to be trying not to directly tie station access into bridges they don't own/maintain these days.
 

So, if you are in front of the station you still need to walk about 1000 feet north then double back. This doesn't happen anywhere else on the T. Didn't they recently claim victory saying that the whole system was handicap accessible?
Am I misremembering? Isn't this what you have to do today?

Also, as a former East Somervillen - the T is definitely doing this kind of long ramp in many places, including going past the platform for some distance to access the platform at a designated crossing..
 
Am I misremembering? Isn't this what you have to do today?

Also, as a former East Somervillen - the T is definitely doing this kind of long ramp in many places, including going past the platform for some distance to access the platform at a designated crossing..
Yes, and yo mama said she would meet me there
 

So, if you are in front of the station you still need to walk about 1000 feet north then double back. This doesn't happen anywhere else on the T. Didn't they recently claim victory saying that the whole system was handicap accessible?
The main stairs have been closed for years now since the MBTA never repaired/maintained them and now can't replace them as the station is not accessible. If this makes it accessible and they can fix the actual stairs then who cares. It's basically the exact same as it is today cutting through the parking lot from that side, but, you don't have to walk in a parking lot.

That said they should just fix the damn stairs. Or just redo the entire station, move it under the bridge so it's covered in bad weather, make it fully accessible and sell the air rights on top for development.
 
The main stairs have been closed for years now since the MBTA never repaired/maintained them and now can't replace them as the station is not accessible. If this makes it accessible and they can fix the actual stairs then who cares. It's basically the exact same as it is today cutting through the parking lot from that side, but, you don't have to walk in a parking lot.

That said they should just fix the damn stairs. Or just redo the entire station, move it under the bridge so it's covered in bad weather, make it fully accessible and sell the air rights on top for development.
Yes, and if they do build this ramp, it is the only thing tangible that has been built in 9 years of a 10 year improvement project and unfortunately people in wheelchairs still won't be able to get on a trolley. Though the entrance to the station won't be the vacant lot.
 
The MBTA's Capital Investment Plan for 2027 thru 2031. LINK- PDF The list begins on pages 40. Very ambitious! Nothing for Alwife garage, just shoring it up.

Thanks for the link! Here are the biggest projects for those who aren't sifting through:
  • Green Line Extension (construction), $2.12B
  • North Station Draw 1 Bridge Replacement (design), $1.29B
  • Red / Orange Line Vehicles (construction), $1.22B
  • Green Line Type 10 Vehicle Replacement Program (design), $1B
  • South Coast Rail Expansion (construction), $920M
  • Automated Fares Collection 2.0 (construction), $890M
  • ATC Implementation - North Side Regional Rail Lines (construction), $500M
  • Quincy Bus Facility Modernization (construction), $460M
  • Regional Rail Positive Train Control (closeout), $440M
  • Procurement of Hyundai Rotem Bi-Level Coaches - Option (design), $400M
  • Arborway Bus Maintenance Facility (design), $380M
  • Signal Program - Red/Orange Line (construction), $380M
  • Procurement of Passenger Locomotives - Future Fleet (procurement), $370M
  • Cabot Yard Complete Upgrade (construction), $320M
  • Wellington Yard Complete Upgrade (closeout), $300M
  • Procurement of 40ft Enhanced Electric Hybrid Buses (construction), $280M
  • E Branch Accessibility and Capacity Improvements (in design), $280M
  • Procurement of 67 Bi-Level Regional Rail Coaches (construction), $280M
  • HSP46 Locomotive Overhaul (planning), $250M
  • New Flyer 40ft Bus Procurement (closeout), $230M
  • Procurement of Regional Rail Locomotives (closeout), $220M
  • Symphony Station Improvements (construction), $220M
  • Procurement of 40ft Battery Electric Buses and Related Infrastructure (design), $210M
  • B Branch Accessibility & Infrastructure Improvements (in planning), $200M

Admittedly, I don't know why Green Line Extension and South Coast Rail Expansion are listed as construction, rather than closeout.

Vehicles and North Station Draw 1 Bridge, and to a lesser degree bus facilities and train yards, are going to dominate the CIP budget for a while.

Other than that, it's the never-ending AFC 2.0 (what still has to be done?), PTC/ATC (is this done yet?), new Orange/Red signals (is this done yet?), and smaller projects.
 
Thanks for the link! Here are the biggest projects for those who aren't sifting through:
  • Green Line Extension (construction), $2.12B
  • North Station Draw 1 Bridge Replacement (design), $1.29B
  • Red / Orange Line Vehicles (construction), $1.22B
  • Green Line Type 10 Vehicle Replacement Program (design), $1B
  • South Coast Rail Expansion (construction), $920M
  • Automated Fares Collection 2.0 (construction), $890M
  • ATC Implementation - North Side Regional Rail Lines (construction), $500M
  • Quincy Bus Facility Modernization (construction), $460M
  • Regional Rail Positive Train Control (closeout), $440M
  • Procurement of Hyundai Rotem Bi-Level Coaches - Option (design), $400M
  • Arborway Bus Maintenance Facility (design), $380M
  • Signal Program - Red/Orange Line (construction), $380M
  • Procurement of Passenger Locomotives - Future Fleet (procurement), $370M
  • Cabot Yard Complete Upgrade (construction), $320M
  • Wellington Yard Complete Upgrade (closeout), $300M
  • Procurement of 40ft Enhanced Electric Hybrid Buses (construction), $280M
  • E Branch Accessibility and Capacity Improvements (in design), $280M
  • Procurement of 67 Bi-Level Regional Rail Coaches (construction), $280M
  • HSP46 Locomotive Overhaul (planning), $250M
  • New Flyer 40ft Bus Procurement (closeout), $230M
  • Procurement of Regional Rail Locomotives (closeout), $220M
  • Symphony Station Improvements (construction), $220M
  • Procurement of 40ft Battery Electric Buses and Related Infrastructure (design), $210M
  • B Branch Accessibility & Infrastructure Improvements (in planning), $200M

Admittedly, I don't know why Green Line Extension and South Coast Rail Expansion are listed as construction, rather than closeout.

Vehicles and North Station Draw 1 Bridge, and to a lesser degree bus facilities and train yards, are going to dominate the CIP budget for a while.

Other than that, it's the never-ending AFC 2.0 (what still has to be done?), PTC/ATC (is this done yet?), new Orange/Red signals (is this done yet?), and smaller projects.
The Green Line Extension already happened, so why is it programmed in this document? The document describes the projects as: "Extension of the northern end of the Green Line from Lechmere to Union Square in Somerville and College Avenue in Medford."
 

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