General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

[George_Apley]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

From the 2009(!!!) report:

General Recommendations — No Quick Fixes

There are no “quick fixes” to this myriad of issues. While we were not
asked to provide specific recommendations, there are some general
ones that we would suggest:

• A high-level MassDOT examination of safety and capital projects
is in order. With 51 projects classified as “a danger to life or limb
of passengers and/or employees,” prioritizing these projects
against public safety needs is imperative. It may require an
extended period to address them properly, but what could be
more important?

• There is no question that the MBTA is an expensive and complex
system. It requires large expenditures just to continue operating.
Any thought that these problems can be addressed primarily
through expense reductions is misguided. However, MassDOT
should require more transparency in these expenses, so there is
better control and more oversight in their uses.

• The underlying debt issues should be reexamined in the context
of this review’s findings. In addition, the MBTA should not be able
to enter into new debt obligations without MassDOT oversight.

• It makes little sense to continue expanding the system when the
MBTA cannot maintain the existing one. Slow expansion until the
safety and maintenance priorities can be addressed.

• If there is any chance for the MBTA to begin to close its deficit
gap, there is little question that secure new revenue sources will
have to be developed over time.

• The only major long-term operational success of Forward Funding
is the fact that the riding public paid three fare increases in the
last eight years. That resulted in a cumulative $95M gain. Asking
that same public in 2010 for yet another fare increase because
Forward Funding did not work defies credibility. The riding public
deserves to have tangible evidence that the MBTA is improving
safety and service—not deteriorating further.

 

[sm89]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Step 1: Cancel South Coast Rail.

 

[bigeman312]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Step 1: Cancel South Coast Rail.

Step 2: Invest as much of that money as needed in an expanded/updated Red Line/Orange Line Fleet, and any necessary storage expansion to support it.

EDIT: Here's a good Boston Globe graphic:

I would love to spend the SCR money on ensuring that the 1500s and 1600s on the Red Line, and all of the Orange Line trains are replaced with enough new trains that peak headways on the Orange Line, and the central part of the Red Line are 4 minutes during rush hour and 6 minutes off-peak.

 

[djimpact1]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Step 2: Invest as much of that money as needed in an expanded/updated Red Line/Orange Line Fleet, and any necessary storage expansion to support it.

Step 2B: When needing new fleet options, stop with the OVER-CUSTOMIZATION of cars. Start looking at off-the-shelf options across the board (bus/subway/Commuter Rail/future indigo), which will help:

A) keep necessary custom specs short & to the point w/o interfering with the core of the product

B) allow for ideally much quicker turnaround times from order to procurement

C) secure the fast availability for replacement parts (post-warranties) thanks to being a mass-produced model

D) cut back on the need for machinists & blacksmiths to fabricate/repair outdated/unavailable parts on a per vehicle basis

 

[sm89]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Step 2B: When needing new fleet options, stop with the OVER-CUSTOMIZATION of cars. Start looking at off-the-shelf options across the board (bus/subway/Commuter Rail/future indigo), which will help:

A) keep necessary custom specs short & to the point w/o interfering with the core of the product

B) allow for ideally much quicker turnaround times from order to procurement

C) secure the fast availability for replacement parts (post-warranties) thanks to being a mass-produced model

D) cut back on the need for machinists & blacksmiths to fabricate/repair outdated/unavailable parts on a per vehicle basis

For some things, I wonder how much it would cost to bring tunnels/catenary/power stations (or whatever is causing all the customization) up to par. Would it be cheaper in the long run than specialty trains.

 

[citylover94]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Would it be possible to bring the red line frequencies down to between 2.5 and 3 minute during rush hour on the main line so the branches maintain 5 to 6 minute headways or is their an issue with the signal system that prevents this?

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Signals could be modernized, but I think the Harvard curve is the regulating feature on the Red Line.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

DeLeo wants to fix the T, but has also pledged no new revenues...

 

[winstonoboogie]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Would it be possible to bring the red line frequencies down to between 2.5 and 3 minute during rush hour on the main line so the branches maintain 5 to 6 minute headways or is their an issue with the signal system that prevents this?

When they have enough working cars, the peak headway does briefly improve to about every 3 minutes. They run several extra Braintree trains in the "peak of the peak"

As noted, the Harvard curve may be a limiting factor on major headway improvements. You have a station stop right before/after (depending on direction) the curve, and it takes a train about 3 minutes to go through the curve and service the station. Even with a more advanced moving block signal system, you would not be able to split the signal block between the station and the curve.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Winston, what exactly is/are the issue(s) with the Braintree branch right now? Why is it failing so hard? They say third rail icing is to blame, but is that still the case? The dead train and its dead rescue train sat on the tracks between QA and QC for a long time.

 

[bigeman312]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

After today's mess, are we finally ready to admit that these delays have as much to do with the T's lack of investment in infrastructure upgrades as they do with the weather? At this point, we are not experiencing unprecedented weather. There has been time to recover.

Past 48 hours in Boston: 1.2 inches of snow
Past 9 days in Boston: 25 inches of snow

And yet, they can not run anywhere close to adequate service. To blame this entirely on an unforeseen weather event is insincere at best. It's time the T receives a new, dedicated funding source.

 

[statler]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

So is the whole "Take your backpack off in a crowded train" rule pretty much dead at this point?

Seems like a simple thing but I guess not.

 

[cden4]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I want someone at the T to communicate what the problems to getting full service back are right now at this moment, what they're doing to fix them, and what anyone else can do to help them do that. I'm sick of the "our equipment is old, we don't have enough money" talk. There must be something someone can do to help the situation. Do we need more parts? Do we need some extra workers temporarily? (Or do the unions have us by the balls so we can't actually think outside the box at all right now?)

 

[Equilibria]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I want someone at the T to communicate what the problems to getting full service back are right now at this moment, what they're doing to fix them, and what anyone else can do to help them do that. I'm sick of the "our equipment is old, we don't have enough money" talk. There must be something someone can do to help the situation. Do we need more parts? Do we need some extra workers temporarily? (Or do the unions have us by the balls so we can't actually think outside the box at all right now?)

That's a good point. So far, it's all been explanations for the problem, rather than solutions.

 

[Arlington]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

After today's mess, are we finally ready to admit that these delays have as much to do with the T's lack of investment in infrastructure upgrades as they do with the weather? At this point, we are not experiencing unprecedented weather. There has been time to recover.

Past 48 hours in Boston: 1.2 inches of snow
Past 9 days in Boston: 25 inches of snow

And yet, they can not run anywhere close to adequate service. To blame this entirely on an unforeseen weather event is insincere at best. It's time the T receives a new, dedicated funding source.

Motors killed by snow-thaw-freeze are going to take a long time to replace, and similar problems afflict CR locomotives.

The T could help by having/publishing equipment availability stats, but I suspect a lack of managerial stats is part of the problem.

 

[chmeeee]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I'd be fascinated to hear an explanation as to how they haven't had time to plow the northbound Orange Line tracks north of Wellington in the 77 hours since service was suspended.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I think the point is that there simply aren't any short term solutions. Though the T should be more vocal in explaining why if that's the case.

I do want to know why the other Orange Line track hasn't even been plowed out yet though...

 

[winstonoboogie]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Winston, what exactly is/are the issue(s) with the Braintree branch right now? Why is it failing so hard? They say third rail icing is to blame, but is that still the case? The dead train and its dead rescue train sat on the tracks between QA and QC for a long time.

Once they lost the line to evacuate the dead train, the additional snow and drifts covered the third rail. The jet snow blowers and some other track maintenance equipment is slowly making its way along to clear the line. Once the tracks are back though, they are going to have an equipment shortage as they catch up repairing or replacing the damaged motors. With another big storm for the weekend, the really need to push to get it back just so they can start running snow trains to keep it clear, so they don't lose the line again.

 

[winstonoboogie]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I'd be fascinated to hear an explanation as to how they haven't had time to plow the northbound Orange Line tracks north of Wellington in the 77 hours since service was suspended.

Same issue as Braintree, once the third rail was lost when the decision was made to curtail service, the conventional snow trains couldn't keep it open. A jet snow blower is slowly making its way along the northbound rail. They have four jet blowers right now, one they own, two borrowed from NYC, and one taken from a disabled one they own and attached to a small crane that is normally used for track maintenance.

 

[Matthew]

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/default.aspx?id=18994

BOSTON - Friday, February 13, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced a new data-sharing partnership with Waze, the popular traffic app owned by Google that allows Boston’s drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to check real time traffic conditions on Boston’s streets. The partnership will help improve traffic flow in Boston in two principal ways.
First, the City will be able to share information on expected road closures with the 400,000 users of Waze in Greater Boston, helping them find the best way to get around town. Second, aggregated information on traffic reported by Waze users will be shared with the City's Traffic Management Center (TMC). This helps the City engineers adjust our 550 signalized intersections across the City, so that traffic can flow better.
"Over the past few weeks, it has become clear how critical it is to find innovative ways to improve traffic flow in the City of Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "I thank Google for their partnership in providing us with another way to use data to better improve how City government works."

Data from Waze is already being used to augment information available from hundreds of intersection cameras citywide and inform traffic signal timing decisions by the City’s Traffic Management Center (TMC).

“This partnership will help engineers in the TMC respond to traffic jams, accidents and road hazards quicker”, said Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Gina Fiandaca. “And, looking forward, the Waze data will support us in implementing - and measuring the results of - new congestion management strategies.”
This spring, the City will pilot several different approaches, such as working with the MBTA to evaluate traffic signal prioritization and its effectiveness along key MBTA routes. The City receives aggregated traffic speed data from the over 400,000 Waze users in the greater Boston area, which will allow it to measure before and after impacts on traffic speeds along targeted corridors.

The City’s partnership with Waze and efforts lead by the Boston Transportation Department is supported by Mayor Walsh’s Citywide Analytics Team. First announced in his recent State of the City address, this team collaborates with City departments to find insights from data that can improve service delivery for Boston residents.