MBTA Construction Projects

That’s the small ball maintenance that the Pioneer Institute folks dropped. Eng has done a damn good job at reviving it.
 
Can anybody verify whether or not the new headhouse for Hynes is still closed? I rode my bike by there a few days ago, and it kind of looked like it might be open, but I didn't have a chance to investigate.
 
HenryAlan said:
Can anybody verify whether or not the new headhouse for Hynes is still closed? I rode my bike by there a few days ago, and it kind of looked like it might be open, but I didn't have a chance to investigate.
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I have heard rumors that it will not be opening until the full station renovation is completed... which is a ways away. The suggested reason is that it triggers full ADA compliance.
 
FormFollowsBudget said:
I have heard rumors that it will not be opening until the full station renovation is completed... which is a ways away. The suggested reason is that it triggers full ADA compliance.
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Yes, that has always been my understanding. But like I said, it appeared to be open when I rode by, as in the door itself looked open. Most likely some sort of maintenance activity was going on, and I just happened to be there during the 15 minutes that the door was open. We can always hope, for something sooner though!
 
HenryAlan said:
Can anybody verify whether or not the new headhouse for Hynes is still closed? I rode my bike by there a few days ago, and it kind of looked like it might be open, but I didn't have a chance to investigate.
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It’s still closed, as of 7/13.
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I'm still waiting for the escalator to be replaced at Bowdein. One escalator, the only one, no elevator, & it's taking so damn long to replace it!!!!!!!! :mad:
 
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Charlie_mta said:
Its part of the MBTA wellness program, to encourage physical fitness of the public through stair climbing. :)
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Ahhhh now I understand why the state transportation building elevators are under maintenance every other week. Think of the health insurance savings for the taxpayers!
 
Charlie_mta said:
Its part of the MBTA wellness program, to encourage physical fitness of the public through stair climbing. :)
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I don't mind walking up stairs as long as they are reasonably short, but the fact that the escalator isn't working &
there's no elevator there, it puts that station on the list of not being AA-compatible at all. In that case they might as well close the station & have no service there at all. :mad:
 
www.boston25news.com

MBTA completes nearly $5 million in Framingham secondary rail improvements

The MBTA is touting nearly $5 million in improvements designed to make the Framingham Secondary rail line safer and more reliable for trains.
www.boston25news.com www.boston25news.com
Crews have completed work replacing portions of the track, upgrading grade crossings, and making critical repairs to bridges along the line.
MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng says the improvements will help freight trains move more efficiently and arrive at their destinations on time. He says better freight service can also help reduce congestion by keeping more goods moving by rail.
Eng also says the upgrades are focused on safety, including improvements to crossing gates that protect motorists, railroad employees and passengers.
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themissinglink said:
www.boston25news.com

MBTA completes nearly $5 million in Framingham secondary rail improvements

The MBTA is touting nearly $5 million in improvements designed to make the Framingham Secondary rail line safer and more reliable for trains.
www.boston25news.com www.boston25news.com
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Something here doesn't make sense. Why is the MBTA paying to fix up that line? It's owned by CSX. The MBTA barely uses it. All the benefits mentioned seemed to be for freight traffic. So the MBTA is fixing up CSX's line for the benefit of CSX?

I'm sure there's some explanation here. Anyone know what's going on?
 
ritchiew said:
Something here doesn't make sense. Why is the MBTA paying to fix up that line? It's owned by CSX. The MBTA barely uses it. All the benefits mentioned seemed to be for freight traffic. So the MBTA is fixing up CSX's line for the benefit of CSX?

I'm sure there's some explanation here. Anyone know what's going on?
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I'm also confused about the wording, but my guess would be because CSX doesn't need the tracks in good condition to operate, with how slow freight trains tend to go at times. Also, upgrading grade crossings is a lot more important to a potentially-liable agency running trains at 55 MPH versus a company running trains at (I'd guess) 20-30 MPH. Again, this is just my assumption.

On the contrary, if I'm correct, CSX is upgrading former Pan Am trackage to their standards, so I don't know why they wouldn't do maintenance to the Secondary while they're at it.
 
ritchiew said:
Something here doesn't make sense. Why is the MBTA paying to fix up that line? It's owned by CSX. The MBTA barely uses it. All the benefits mentioned seemed to be for freight traffic. So the MBTA is fixing up CSX's line for the benefit of CSX?

I'm sure there's some explanation here. Anyone know what's going on?
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Framingham Secondary is owned by MassDOT, not the T. So Eng might have been speaking in his capacity as Transpo Secretary when he gave that soundbite. Any improvements to the freight-only portion would definitely be in the MassDOT CIP, not the T's.

MassDOT Rail Division specs Class 2/30 MPH maintenance standard for any non- excepted line (theirs or private) that receives state-level funding (i.e. the "Pan Am Reverse Booby-trap" clause, ensuring that awarded monies actually go towards sustainable maintenance). The Framingham Secondary was upgraded to that standard shortly after it was purchased from CSX, and they are probably doing more rolling maintenance to ensure it stays at that standard. It's got a lot of flashers-only crossings, though, so for crossing protection upgrades they definitely need to start chipping away by adding gates to them. Especially on the Foxboro-Mansfield stretch that's used by occasional MBTA Providence game trains; the gateless crossings add a lot of delay time when the passenger trains have to artificially slow.
 
F-Line to Dudley said:
It's got a lot of flashers-only crossings, though, so for crossing protection upgrades they definitely need to start chipping away by adding gates to them. Especially on the Foxboro-Mansfield stretch that's used by occasional MBTA Providence game trains; the gateless crossings add a lot of delay time when the passenger trains have to artificially slow.
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A lot of the crossings on the ex-Pan Am Worcester to Ayer freight line don't have gates despite CSX having upgraded the tracks from 10mph to 40mph. You have huge CSX (and now Norfolk Southern) freights blasting through downtown Clinton at 40mph with no gates:
 
4300th said:
A lot of the crossings on the ex-Pan Am Worcester to Ayer freight line don't have gates despite CSX having upgraded the tracks from 10mph to 40mph. You have huge CSX (and now Norfolk Southern) freights blasting through downtown Clinton at 40mph with no gates:
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Yeah, that line needs gates too. But MassDOT is going to take care of MassDOT-owned lines before it opens the pursestrings to do up private-owned lines, especially when CSX is being so spendy with self-financed upgrades that it can easily afford its own gate installations. The Framingham Secondary has the densest daily train schedule of any MassDOT-owned non-passenger line, with 4 trains per day on the Framingham-Walpole segment (equal to Worcester-Ayer, though shorter in length)...plus 6 flashers-only crossings on the Foxboro-Mansfield segment that's sometimes used by MBTA Providence game trains. They're prioritizing the in-house upgrades on the MassDOT CIP, not negotiating with a third party on what said third party thinks are its highest priorities. CSX probably isn't going to be doing further upgrades to Worcester-Ayer until it gets the Ayer-North Chelmsford and Lowell-Andover portions of the freight main upgraded to Class 3 speeds, and that too is taking a backseat right now to speed upgrades across Maine.
 
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