General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

jass said:
Says something that the silver line waterfront, even the entirely underground portion isnt running. MBTA just doesnt care.
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They might be cannibalizing the line to keep other lines moving.

If I remember correctly, the dual-mode SL buses used on the Waterfront line have electric motors powering all four wheels, as opposed to the rear wheel drive of the CNG buses that normally run much of the Washington and #39 routes.

The added control makes the dual-modes more resistant to jackknifing on icy roads. It's a huge problem with the rear-wheel drive models.

In past storms, the T has pulled dual-mode buses off the Waterfront and sent them down Washington St. It's much better than the "Snow Flurries = 40' buses for everyone" policy.

I would assume the 60' New Flyer hybrid buses can handle slippery roads, as well. There aren't that many of them, though.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Arborway said:
They might be cannibalizing the line to keep other lines moving.

If I remember correctly, the dual-mode SL buses used on the Waterfront line have electric motors powering all four wheels, as opposed to the rear wheel drive of the CNG buses that normally run much of the Washington and #39 routes.

The added control makes the dual-modes more resistant to jackknifing on icy roads. It's a huge problem with the rear-wheel drive models.

In past storms, the T has pulled dual-mode buses off the Waterfront and sent them down Washington St. It's much better than the "Snow Flurries = 40' buses for everyone" policy.

I would assume the 60' New Flyer hybrid buses can handle slippery roads, as well. There aren't that many of them, though.
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What of the all electric buses? Its not like they can do anything else.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

All-electric buses? You mean the 71 and 73? Those are running, according to the T website.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

jass said:
Says something that the silver line waterfront, even the entirely underground portion isnt running. MBTA just doesnt care.
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Silver Line Way might be buried still. But if not, there's always the fact that probably hardly anyone needs that service on the Sunday after a blizzard.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Green E-Line experiencing 10-15 min delays due to medical emergency at Science Park Station. 2/11/2013 8:51 AM

Due to weather-related issues, Green E-Line service will terminate at Brigham Circle. Customers should utilize the Route 39 bus for service between Brigham Circle and Heath Stree. 2/11/2013 8:13 AM

Orange Line experiencing 10-15 min residual delays due to an earlier disabled train at Back Bay Station. 2/11/2013 8:08 AM

Due to the effects of the storm, alternate bus service will replace Mattapan trolleys through Monday, February 11, 2013. Please check www.mbta.com/Winter for updates.

SL4: Dudley Station - South Station at Essex Street, SL5: Dudley Station - Downtown Crossing at Temple Place experiencing 15-20 min delays due to traffic. 2/11/2013 8:33 AM

Greenbush 078 08:50 AM IB experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem. 2/11/2013 8:57 AM

Greenbush 076 07:50 AM IB experiencing 25-30 min delays due to weather related problem. 2/11/2013 8:56 AM

All Greenbush trains experiencing 15 min delays due to signal problems. 2/11/2013 8:34 AM

Greenbush 071 06:54 AM experiencing 60 min delays due to weather-related problems. 2/11/2013 8:33AM

Greenbush 070 05:40 AM experiencing 10-15 min delays due to signal problem 2/11/2013 6:07 AM

Prov/Stou 908 08:28 AM IB experiencing 15 min delays due to signal problem. 2/11/2013 8:56 AM

Prov/Stou 808 06:37AM experiencing 15-20 min delays due to a medical emergency. 2/11/2013 7:59 AM

All Southside Lines/Routes experiencing 10-15 min delays due to weather conditions. 2/11/2013 7:55 AM

Fitch/SoActon 455 08:12 AM OB experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem. 2/11/2013 9:02 AM

Fitch/SoActon 412 07:20 AM IB experiencing 10-15 min delays due to weather related problem. 2/11/2013 8:47 AM

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Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Woops. Can't forget these guys.

The 8:05 a.m. F2/F2H Quincy Service trip is experiencing 20 min delays due to mechanical issues. 2/11/2013 8:18 AM
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Rush hour C line was biblically crowded this morning - and to be honest I'm not sure it was only just the normal rush hour crowd or if it included many occasional T riders who haven't been able to get their cars out, etc. I definitely didn't notice any of my regulars.

Someone passed out at Kenmore - I couldn't see whether they got him/her out, but we definitely weren't stopped long enough to go into full stretcher rescue mode (not that I really know what the M.O. here would be in any case) - hope that person is alright.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

The T will definitely be more crowded than usual for the next week or so. People who can't get to their cars/don't want to leave their spots will opt for MBTA instead of driving. The T's inadequacies will be even more highlighted for state officials contemplating future funding. When the roads/cars are at a diminished capacity the public transit system should be able to absorb additional ridership. The T is going to struggle with it. Hopefully enough factors are coming together to really show lawmakers that it's time for the T to get the investments that it deserves.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

F-Line, I have a dumb/random question for you... Do you know why the Northeastern University platform is SO DAMN LONG? It's about 450' long, compared to the other E-line stops (MFA, LMA, BC) that are 250-300'. Is it just to fill in "beween the streets?" Why didn't they do a smaller platform with a pedestrian only crossing like MFA? Everyone always has to chase the damn train to the end of the platform, even if you're standing there waiting.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

BostonUrbEx said:
Silver Line Way might be buried still. But if not, there's always the fact that probably hardly anyone needs that service on the Sunday after a blizzard.
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Uh, Sunday night is peak travel on the silver line 2....

Look at the headways. Its when all the logan flights come in.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Excellent example on how the MBTA is run by idiots

Seven months since Muni changed its policy to allow all-door boarding on all of its vehicles, the agency is reporting continued improvements in service and a drop in fare evasion.

On average, all-door boarding has saved buses up to four seconds of “dwell time” per stop, according to the SFMTA [PDF]. While that amount may sound small, the time savings add up on routes with dozens of stops. The improvement has been most pronounced on local lines, the report says.

Fare evasion, meanwhile, is down by 24 percent, according to the agency. When comparing the seven months of all-door boarding with the same months the previous year, the SFMTA says the fare evasion rate is down from 4.6 percent to 3.5 percent. The SFMTA also added 11 fare inspectors to increase enforcement with the launch of all-door boarding, bringing the total up to 53, since the new policy relies on random fare inspections rather than enforcement by Muni bus operators.
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http://sf.streetsblog.org/2013/02/1...ontinues-to-increase-bus-speeds-fare-payment/

Thats all door boarding on their light rail AND all buses.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

They probably have decent enforcement to back it up.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I never saw a fare inspector in the time I spent there. MUNI is more dysfunctional than the T, if they can do this, we can too.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

datadyne007 said:
MUNI has 53 enforcers (die Fahrkartenkontrolleure!) as per that article, the MBTA has 0.
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Incorrect. MBTA has the one guy that the globe reports on annually.

Also, thousands of MBTA cops sitting in SUVs.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Green line: One door boarding.
Silver line: All door boarding

The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan, is happy with the Silver Line changes. By allowing Silver Line passengers to dispense with fares and to enter through all doors, boarding times at Logan have dropped and the buses are moving through the airport about two minutes quicker.
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http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/Voices/Back-Story/2013/Winter/005-A-Silver-Lining.aspx
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Naturally, India has us beat at boarding

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Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

jass said:
Incorrect. MBTA has the one guy that the globe reports on annually.

Also, thousands of MBTA cops sitting in SUVs.
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Not to mention the asinine waste of resources with the required second- and third-car operators on the Green Line...
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/201...materialize/n6n8HRR1YkeK7mj3UdZbjM/story.html

Possibility of another 33% fare hike. Ugh.

T officials present bleak options, including fare increases and service cuts, to close looming deficit

By Martine Powers, Globe Staff


MBTA officials on Tuesday painted a dark picture of the T’s future if no increased funding arrives from the state, outlining cost-saving measures that could dramatically decrease service, increase fares, and fundamentally change the size and scope of the public transit agency.

Facing a projected deficit of $130 million for fiscal year 2014, Charles Planck, director of strategic initiatives for the MBTA, presented the most likely options for how the T could balance its budget, which is due by April 15.

T officials are hoping to receive additional state funding through a transportation finance plan proposed by Governor Deval Patrick earlier this year, but it will likely be months — long after the T’s budget deadline — before the Legislature will vote to approve any or all of the components of the funding plan.

Planck said that in one scenario, the T’s deficit would be closed solely with fare increases. In that case, fares would need to rise overall by 33 percent. Specific fare increases would include subway fares rising from $2 to $2.60, bus fares rising from $1.50 to $2, and fares on The Ride climbing from $4 to $5.25.

In another scenario, T officials used a mix of fare increases and service cuts — 15 percent fare increases across the board, coupled with the elimination of the 30 least popular bus routes, reduced service on the T and commuter rail, and the sale of some MBTA facilities and parts of the fleet.

“We’ve got to put a placeholder plan in place, not knowing what relief we’re going to get from the Legislature,” said John Jenkins, chair of the MassDOT board of directors. “And unfortunately, we’ve got to plan that we’re not going to get any.”

Jenkins also advised Planck to look more closely at cutting overhead and administrative costs.

After the meeting, MBTA General Manager Beverly A. Scott said the proposals were not an attempt at scare tactics, but simply the reality of the T’s strained financial situation.

“It is what it is. There are consequences of inaction,” Scott said. “We’re just doing what we need to do … this is where we find ourselves.”
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