Commonwealth Avenue Improvement Project

missed opportunity

It's nice to see the city is making infrastructure improvements, but this is a missed opportunity in my eyes. The median strip occupied by the green line is a monstrous eyesore and is separated from the road by a six inch curb. Hence, pedestrians and drivers are able to see the tracks in all their decadent, weed choked glory. Would it have been so terribly expensive to erect a three to four foot barrier wall to minimize the visual blight?
 
Re: missed opportunity

sidewalks said:
It's nice to see the city is making infrastructure improvements, but this is a missed opportunity in my eyes. The median strip occupied by the green line is a monstrous eyesore and is separated from the road by a six inch curb. Hence, pedestrians and drivers are able to see the tracks in all their decadent, weed choked glory. Would it have been so terribly expensive to erect a three to four foot barrier wall to minimize the visual blight?
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The plans called for a 1 lane reduction in traffic, and since the sidewalks have not increased in size, I assume they plan on doing mediam work.

Heres the plan

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Like everything in this state, this is a lost opportunity to build an express track for the B line.
 
vanshnookenraggen said:
Like everything in this state, this is a lost opportunity to build an express track for the B line.
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Not really. The revenue gained from the express track I can tell will not be enough to justify a project to bring a third or fourth rail. Also only about the first 4-5 stops above ground on the B line is severely congested and creating an express track there will be pointless because then you will have everyone line up at the stops that are on the express track which still means not everyone can get on. People wouldn't just wait on those stations that aren't on the express track. What they need is to put a third car on the B line.
 
I was thinking that there would be no express stops along this stretch of line and the express track would serve those further out past Packards Corner.
 
If only this concept of "revenue" could be broadened... It really should be about more than fares. What about the hit Boston takes whenever people (like me) are fed up with the B-line and and take their tax dollars out of Boston, ensuring that Comm ave and Allston-Brighton will remain somewhat dowdy/gritty(however you want to look at it)? We're not necessarily leaving the region but going to Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville; places with decent mass transit.

I lived out on the B line and it regularly took more than 40 minutes to get downtown, not to mention walking to the station and waiting (outside, unsheltered). Think about that in terms of MPH and then add in the overcrowding! Oh, and the waiting 15 minutes for a train that would be packed and then followed seconds later by two empty trains. Oh thank god I moved it was making me crazy.
 
vanshnookenraggen said:
Like everything in this state, this is a lost opportunity to build an express track for the B line.
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Express tracks only anger those skipped.


I do hope that the platforms are widened, and the concrete ones (like bladford street) have shelters added.

Also, the B line would work better with island platforms, which most new light rail lines have. One wide, sheltered, well lit platform away from vehicle traffic.
 
Yeah, I think the ideal solution would be to cut-and-cover up the Masspike/BU bridge and cut the number of stations down. Though they should do the latter anyways.
 
I think the biggest problem the B Line has is that people tend to hold it to a rapid transit standard when its only a streetcar line. I wonder if people would be happier if it had been converted to a bus line like 90% of the other streetcar routes in the city. People that live in places like Mass Ave in Arlington or Broadway in Everett seem to complain less about their bus service acting like a bus (and still needing to transfer to get downtown) than people living in A/B complain about their streetcar acting like a streetcar.
 
I'd remove all but 5 or 6 traffic lights on Comm. Ave., between Blandford Street and BC. This would greatly speed up Green Line service. Keep the lights only at the BU Bridge, Harvard Street, Washington Street, Market Street, and one or two other places.
 
Ron Newman said:
I'd remove all but 5 or 6 traffic lights on Comm. Ave., between Blandford Street and BC. This would greatly speed up Green Line service. Keep the lights only at the BU Bridge, Harvard Street, Washington Street, Market Street, and one or two other places.
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You're full of surprises, Ron! This is an interesting idea, from an avid bicyclist and advocate of "traffic calming" initiatives. Do you think Comm Ave will become more bike and pedestrian friendly if the signals are removed? Instead, why not invest in signal-synchronizing technology?
 
Getting rid of left turn lanes (so people who want to go back need to go around the block) would be easier and less controversial.
 
The idea of removing signs to improve road safety, called "Shared Space," was developed by Dutch traffic specialist Hans Monderman

Always give the white guy credit. It was mentioned a while back on this site that this is SOP in many Asian cities.
 
This is what the new sidewalk/street interaction will look like

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What's the story with the 2-story parking structure to the left of the Guitar Center?

Come to think of it, there's a parking lot on the right side of the Guitar Center, too.

Does BU own the building in between? Wouldn't this make an interesting location for a student center (would also link to the "South Campus" dorms on the other side of the Pike). Could be more feasible than the concept plan for something on/around the messy intersection with the BU bridge.
 
belmont square said:
I wonder if people would be happier if it had been converted to a bus line like 90% of the other streetcar routes in the city.
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This does put quite a bit of strain on the other branches of the Green Line. That is, inbound B line bus riders get dumped at Kenmore, and then all crowd onto the first C or D that comes into Kenmore. It is bad enough that this currently happens with the 57 Watertown bus. If the Green Line consisted of 6 car trains this would not be a problem, but with when most are less than half that length . . .

That said, the bus idea works pretty well for passengers making local stops--Harvard Ave to BU Central, for example.

My suggestion: dramatically fewer stops, synchronized traffic lights, and a BU subsidized free bus for local riders.
 
Inbound side, Tuesday November 13.

They screwed up.

Look how tiny the sidewalk is. Note that the bike is parked at a new bike rack thing.

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The corner is fine
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But have a closer look.

The trash can marks where the old sidewalk ended. They cut in for parking. And notice where the trees will go, making the walking space even smaller.

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Previously the whole thing was walkable.

This is inexcusable.
 
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