General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

[Brattle Loop]

Yeah — Poftak is only being “canned” insofar as his boss is being “canned” by the expiration of his term as Governor. (Or his boss’s boss, whatever.) If anything, this is the most opposite thing from being canned: Baker could ask for his resignation now (or at least sooner than basically-Baker’s-last-day), which might at least be seen as a rebuke, even if there would be virtually no material consequences.

This is the shortfall of our particular variety of democracy: there is zero accountability of Governor Baker since he’s already on his way out.

This is accurate, as is F-Line's take. It's an interesting (if counter-factual) thought exercise to wonder if (and how long) Poftak would have lasted if Baker had run again and been re-elected, but nothing more than that. It's plainly obvious that Baker & Company don't think Poftak's done a bad enough job to get fired (and, more likely, their view is that he's done a decent enough job, which probably tells you all you need to know about how much they actually care about the T). It's been eight years since we've last seen it in the State House, but when administrations turn over, you expect to see a bunch of personnel heading for the exits. Poftak is very obviously jumping before he's pushed, which is what usually happens in these weird lame-duck periods, and I don't think should be remarkable at all, other than perhaps as confirmation that Poftak's always been more of a Baker creature than necessarily the most competent person to run the agency (because those ones are the only ones who tend to be able to survive a transition to a new administration).

 

[Jahvon09]

Yeah — Poftak is only being “canned” insofar as his boss is being “canned” by the expiration of his term as Governor. (Or his boss’s boss, whatever.) If anything, this is the most opposite thing from being canned: Baker could ask for his resignation now (or at least sooner than basically-Baker’s-last-day), which might at least be seen as a rebuke, even if there would be virtually no material consequences.

This is the shortfall of our particular variety of democracy: there is zero accountability of Governor Baker since he’s already on his way out.

It's usually or probably the same thing as to when Trump was defeated. When that happened, all of his 'allies' whom he gave jobs to, THEY, ALSO had to leave THEIR jobs as well. When Joe Biden was elected, he appointed HIS allies to fill those same jobs.

 

[Brattle Loop]

It's usually or probably the same thing as to when Trump was defeated. When that happened, all of his 'allies' whom he gave jobs to, THEY, ALSO had to leave THEIR jobs as well. When Joe Biden was elected, he appointed HIS allies to fill those same jobs.

Anyone who's a political appointee (state or federal) or whose job depends on political appointees - and the MBTA's GM answers to the board appointed by the governor - is always at risk of being replaced whenever an administration changes. Technically speaking none of them necessarily have to leave their jobs...they'll just get fired by the new administration once they take office (hence the "jumped before being pushed" comment). It's neither notable nor particularly nefarious; certainly some new administrations are heavy-handed on patronage appointments of their backers and friends, but it's practically inevitable that every new administration is going to see some things (at least) differently than their predecessors, and it's hardly sensible to keep previous officials in office who don't share the new governor's views or priorities. (I.e. if Healey wins and seeks to be a more transit-focused governor than Baker, it's not sensible to keep Baker's Pioneer Institute friends who aren't exactly pro-transit-spending in positions of influence.)

 

[JeffDowntown]

Anyone who's a political appointee (state or federal) or whose job depends on political appointees - and the MBTA's GM answers to the board appointed by the governor - is always at risk of being replaced whenever an administration changes. Technically speaking none of them necessarily have to leave their jobs...they'll just get fired by the new administration once they take office (hence the "jumped before being pushed" comment). It's neither notable nor particularly nefarious; certainly some new administrations are heavy-handed on patronage appointments of their backers and friends, but it's practically inevitable that every new administration is going to see some things (at least) differently than their predecessors, and it's hardly sensible to keep previous officials in office who don't share the new governor's views or priorities. (I.e. if Healey wins and seeks to be a more transit-focused governor than Baker, it's not sensible to keep Baker's Pioneer Institute friends who aren't exactly pro-transit-spending in positions of influence.)

It is also practical politics for a new administration to replace high visibility personnel at a troubled agency.

It is an easy, quick and cheap way to signal "I'm doing something about the mess", even if it is not often very effective.

 

[stefal]

Some pretty interesting picks in the Herald, of all publications.

 

[Jahvon09]

It is also practical politics for a new administration to replace high visibility personnel at a troubled agency.

It is an easy, quick and cheap way to signal "I'm doing something about the mess", even if it is not often very effective.

Yeah, big corporations do that also. When I worked for United Airlines, I got laid off twice, both times in exchange for cheap labor. Now United, Delta & American are hiring again!! But I won't go back. Last hired, first fired!! They'll lay me off again in a heartbeat when things get too rough!!

 

[Jahvon09]

Some pretty interesting picks in the Herald, of all publications.

Stefal, the name that kept popping up the most was Norma Pitts-Nutts. It says that she was with the T's board of management administrations before.

 

[Jahvon09]

Yeah — Poftak is only being “canned” insofar as his boss is being “canned” by the expiration of his term as Governor. (Or his boss’s boss, whatever.) If anything, this is the most opposite thing from being canned: Baker could ask for his resignation now (or at least sooner than basically-Baker’s-last-day), which might at least be seen as a rebuke, even if there would be virtually no material consequences.

This is the shortfall of our particular variety of democracy: there is zero accountability of Governor Baker since he’s already on his way out.

Since you put it that way, Baker wasn't canned either. He chose NOT to run for a 3rd term. It might be that he wants to get out before things really get too rough.

 

[jklo]

Since you put it that way, Baker wasn't canned either. He chose NOT to run for a 3rd term. It might be that he wants to get out before things really get too bad.

He "Quiet Quit" too

 

[Jahvon09]

He "Quiet Quit" too

More accurately described as an "innocent" way of quitting. Well, can't really blame him if he doesn't want to try for a 3rd term in office!

 

[stick n move]

Its absolutely criminal that NSRL under Baker has been completely shelved and were not even in the LOI phase of what will be a 15 year project. Now that we have a new mayor, soon to be new governor, and the glx is almost finished, hopefully we can now move on to red-blue and NSRL/electrification/regional rail once and for all. The latter would be the most transformational infrastructure project in decades, maybe ever and it is absolutely one of the key pillars of the future of mobility, interconnectedness, and growth in the greater region.

 

[jklo]

Its absolutely criminal that NSRL under Baker has been completely shelved and were not even in the LOI phase of what will be a 15 year project. Now that we have a new mayor, soon to be new governor, and the glx is almost finished, hopefully we can now move on to red-blue and NSRL/electrification/regional rail once and for all. The latter would be the most transformational infrastructure project in decades, maybe ever and it is absolutely one of the key pillars of the future of mobility, interconnectedness, and growth in the greater region.

I've mentioned this before, but IMO the Big Dig was really a real estate project, not a transportation one. The right people (who owned real estate abutting the highway) bribed the right pols, and even then it was a miracle it got funded.

At a time when housing prices are pretty nutty as it is... the motivation from the equivalent people today to get the NSRL built to jack up housing prices even more doesn't seem like it'd be there. You can see why stupid stuff like SCR gets funded. Some wise guys think that with it built, they can justify skyrocketing rents along the route even though nobody will take it.

 

[#bancars]

Rode the Ashmont branch of the Red Line today and it seems like there is a really big slow zone immediately after Savin Hill for a bit until you get to Fields Corner. Seems like it is reflected on the Transit Matters Slow Zone Tracker. Photos of the area from the Savin Hill platform for reference--they were absolutely crawling...

 

[Jahvon09]

Rode the Ashmont branch of the Red Line today and it seems like there is a really big slow zone immediately after Savin Hill for a bit until you get to Fields Corner. Seems like it is reflected on the Transit Matters Slow Zone Tracker. Photos of the area from the Savin Hill platform for reference--they were absolutely crawling...

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View attachment 30337

Frankly speaking, there REALLY ISN'T any improvement whatsoever for a supposedly rapid transit line if they are going to play games with the commuters by saying that work is being done to improve the line(s) & probably 2 to 3 years later, the same problem still exists. They really need to get off this crap!! Who is zooming who in this game playing?!! It's a punch of bull !!

 

[bakgwailo]

Orange line is creeping even lower these past three days on the slow tracker dashboard - down to 3.13 minutes since the 10th, putting it quite low for the past few years.

 

[Jahvon09]

Orange line is creeping even lower these past three days on the slow tracker dashboard - down to 3.13 minutes since the 10th, putting it quite low for the past few years.

This is really getting so ridiculous! Instead of it getting better, the service is very crappy!! That month-long shutdown to supposedly improve things was nothing but a ridiculous joke!!

 

[ant8904]

This is really getting so ridiculous! Instead of it getting better, the service is very crappy!! That month-long shutdown to supposedly improve things was nothing but a ridiculous joke!!

....

Bakgwailo is saying the delays are slowly going down. The train is getting faster.

I will leave a caveat that I might be miscomprehending you where your emoji emote outrage is about that the Orange Line should have recover to this point months ago post-shutdown. But I'm pretty sure you read and thought he said the Orange Line is getting slow and post your grip as so.

 

[Jahvon09]

Sorry. I was wrong. But there should not have been any delays at all. Hopefully, things are getting better.

 

[sneijder]

....

View attachment 30697

Bakgwailo is saying the delays are slowly going down. The train is getting faster.

I will leave a caveat that I might be miscomprehending you where your emoji emote outrage is about that the Orange Line should have recover to this point months ago post-shutdown. But I'm pretty sure you read and thought he said the Orange Line is getting slow and post your grip as so.

Man I feel bad for everyone commuting from Alewife or Quincy. I used to choose between riding 3 stops on Red & biking, and I will most definitely be biking through the entire winter. The heaviest ridership line in the entire MBTA system and we're still running 8 minute headways at rush hour with another 5 mins of slow zones. Thankfully bike infrastructure is also marginally improving.

 

[Jahvon09]

I think that eventually, things are getting like they were on the entire Orange Line before the month-long shutdown. There has also been delays by the boatload on that line & weekend shutdowns or partial shutdowns don't seem to help. So far, there is only one new train operating there. I'm quite surprised that it hasn't had any problems like the ones on the Orange Line once did.