General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

Pretty cool visualizations of T performance over the pandemic.

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apps.bostonglobe.com

Data: As Boston emerges from the pandemic, how is the T faring?

The year 2022 saw service cuts, ridership recovery, and plenty of delays.
apps.bostonglobe.com apps.bostonglobe.com
 
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Per Globe article above, top ten busiest stations (by entry) in Oct 2022 (out of all 63):

10. Back Bay (Orange), 184k
9. Kendall/MIT (red), 214k
8. Copley (green), 240k
7. Maverick (blue), 241k
6. Central Sq (red), 250k
5. Park St (red, green), 251k
4. Downtown Crossing (red, orange), 276k
3. North Station (Green, Orange), 282k
2. South Station (red, silver), 291k
1. Harvard (red), 325k
 
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Dr. Rosen Rosen said:
Per Globe article above, top ten busiest stations (by entry) in Oct 2022 (out of all 63):

10. Back Bay (Orange), 184k
9. Kendall/MIT (red), 214k
8. Copley (green), 240k
7. Maverick (blue), 241k
6. Central Sq (red), 250k
5. Park St (red, green), 251k
4. Downtown Crossing (red, orange), 276k
3. North Station (Green, Orange), 282k
2. South Station (red, silver), 291k
1. Harvard (red), 325k
Click to expand...
Am I the only one who's surprised Harvard tops the list?
 
Teban54 said:
Am I the only one who's surprised Harvard tops the list?
Click to expand...
Not really at all, it's been in the list of top 3 to 5 stations with highest activity for a long time.

As an example, this Boston.com list from 2015 had Harvard as #3.

And the paragon of the previous era of public attention on the MBTA is this visualization page for MBTA data from 2013-2014. Further down the page you can see that Harvard is tops for activity because it has ridership all week long.
 
Teban54 said:
Am I the only one who's surprised Harvard tops the list?
Click to expand...
I was surprised, but it does actually make sense. Most of the stations on the list feature at least one of three different factors that stimulate utilization:
  1. proximity to high demand destination
  2. proximity to high density residential
  3. serves as a major system transfer point
I think Harvard might be the only one that fits all three criteria.
 
HenryAlan said:
I was surprised, but it does actually make sense. Most of the stations on the list feature at least one of three different factors that stimulate utilization:
  1. proximity to high demand destination
  2. proximity to high density residential
  3. serves as a major system transfer point
I think Harvard might be the only one that fits all three criteria.
Click to expand...

I think Harvard is differentiated from the other stations that meet #1 because of the tourist and retail/cultural attraction. The previous top stations were South Station and Downtown Crossing - both have high-demand destinations, have some high-density residential (but the regular subway-riding type? ymmv), and are transfer locations. However, their destinations were oriented toward white-collar administration/management workers who are not at at all back riding the system regularly. On the other hand, Harvard's destinations are both employment and tourism/cultural. It makes me wonder if this is also what kept North Station and Copley in relatively stable positioning in the ordered list?
 
Dr. Rosen Rosen said:
Per Globe article above, top ten busiest stations (by entry) in Oct 2022 (out of all 63):

10. Back Bay (Orange), 184k
9. Kendall/MIT (red), 214k
8. Copley (green), 240k
7. Maverick (blue), 241k
6. Central Sq (red), 250k
5. Park St (red, green), 251k
4. Downtown Crossing (red, orange), 276k
3. North Station (Green, Orange), 282k
2. South Station (red, silver), 291k
1. Harvard (red), 325k
Click to expand...

Some notes that I personally find interesting and I hope others on the board do as well.

Harvard - On Saturday, October 22, during the Head of the Charles Regatta, Harvard Station recorded 17k validations, 19% higher than any other day since May.

South Station - The 291k validations includes both Silver Line (87k) and Red Line (204k).

North Station - The six highest ridership days in October were all Bruins or Celtics home games.

Downtown Crossing - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in June.

Park Street - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in June.

Central - Set new COVID-era highs in ridership on consecutive Thursdays: October 20 and October 27.

Maverick - Set a new COVID-era high in ridership on Friday, October 7.

Copley - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in September.

Kendall/MIT - Set new COVID-era highs in ridership on October 6 (Th), October 19 (W), and October 20 (Th).

Back Bay - Highest ridership day each week was Tuesday or Thursday.
 
bigeman312 said:
Some notes that I personally find interesting and I hope others on the board do as well.

Harvard - On Saturday, October 22, during the Head of the Charles Regatta, Harvard Station recorded 17k validations, 19% higher than any other day since May.

South Station - The 291k validations includes both Silver Line (87k) and Red Line (204k).

North Station - The six highest ridership days in October were all Bruins or Celtics home games.

Downtown Crossing - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in June.

Park Street - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in June.

Central - Set new COVID-era highs in ridership on consecutive Thursdays: October 20 and October 27.

Maverick - Set a new COVID-era high in ridership on Friday, October 7.

Copley - Yet to surpass the COVID-era daily high in ridership set in September.

Kendall/MIT - Set new COVID-era highs in ridership on October 6 (Th), October 19 (W), and October 20 (Th).

Back Bay - Highest ridership day each week was Tuesday or Thursday.
Click to expand...
All the people are saying that Thursday is the new Friday and I'm starting to believe them.
 
www.bostonglobe.com

Healey picks transit veterans Gina Fiandaca, Monica Tibbits-Nutt as transportation secretary, undersecretary - The Boston Globe

Fiandaca, who ran Boston’s transportation department before moving to Texas to oversee mobility for the city of Austin, will take over the state’s sprawling transportation bureaucracy. Tibbits-Nutt, former member of the Mass. Department of Transportation board of directors, will serve as...
www.bostonglobe.com www.bostonglobe.com

Healey picks transit veterans Gina Fiandaca, Monica Tibbits-Nutt as transportation secretary, undersecretary

I have high hopes for this team. Monica TN was a very active member of the old MBTA FMCB and was one of the few board members willing to ask hard questions. Hope that attitude carrys over here.
 
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From the Boston Herald:
Fiandaca oversaw the release of the city’s first major transportation plan in decades, “Go Boston 2030,” a 15-year, $4.74 billion undertaking that included mobility projects and policies.
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I recall liking the Go Boston 2030 plan (2017)
www.boston.gov

Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan released

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released the Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan that will direct the City of Boston's transportation agenda for the next decade and beyond. The plan is comprised of 58 transportation projects and policies that are designed to expand access to a variety of...
www.boston.gov www.boston.gov
IIRC, it made the first big political statement that the City was willing to reallocate space from general travel (SOVs) to pedestrian, bike, and bus. It also asked for frequent Fairmont service and Regional rail.
——
Another article on new State transportation team;
commonwealthmagazine.org

Healey goes with a team approach on transportation - CommonWealth Beacon

GOV.-ELECT MAURA HEALEY named two women to head the state’s transportation bureaucracy on Friday, appointing Gina Fiandaca as secretary and Monica
commonwealthmagazine.org commonwealthmagazine.org
 
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Arlington said:
From the Boston Herald:
I recall liking the Go Boston 2030 plan (2017)
www.boston.gov

Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan released

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released the Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan that will direct the City of Boston's transportation agenda for the next decade and beyond. The plan is comprised of 58 transportation projects and policies that are designed to expand access to a variety of...
www.boston.gov www.boston.gov
IIRC, it made the first big political statement that the City was willing to reallocate space from general travel (SOVs) to pedestrian, bike, and bus. It also asked for frequent Fairmont service and Regional rail.
——
Another article on new State transportation team;
commonwealthmagazine.org

Healey goes with a team approach on transportation - CommonWealth Beacon

GOV.-ELECT MAURA HEALEY named two women to head the state’s transportation bureaucracy on Friday, appointing Gina Fiandaca as secretary and Monica
commonwealthmagazine.org commonwealthmagazine.org
Click to expand...

Great info, Arlington, thanks! Still not sure what the unelaborated/mysterious “mixed things” heard by an above poster were (Rum and coke? Gin and tonic? - seriously why type unexplained opinions? What purpose does that serve?

I’m impressed by these two hirings and their experience levels reflect well on Healey maybe working better with Wu than previously portrayed by the Globe (”OMG they haven’t had a one to one meeting yet!!”- until last week).

What jumps out to me as notable here is the new Deputy - Tibbits-Nutt - not only having a good business liaison experience (the 128 shuttle thing) but also having led the charge with the low-income means testing MBTA fare thing - - something Mayor Wu has prioritized and actually implemented on a limited basis with those free 3 bus lines earlier this year. This says a lot about Healey possibly fitting in like a perfect puzzle piece with Wu (as opposed to Governor Studebaker) and I like that they could actually work together to tackle the problems at the T. I’m encouraged.
 
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I swear that included the Orange line +1 to Rozzie Square, but can only find the green line to Hyde Square. Both of which would be great improvements.
 
shmessy said:
Great info, Arlington, thanks! Still not sure what the unelaborated/mysterious “mixed things” heard by an above poster were (Rum and coke? Gin and tonic? - seriously why type unexplained opinions? What purpose does that serve?

I’m impressed by these two hirings and their experience levels reflect well on Healey maybe working better with Wu than previously portrayed by the Globe (”OMG they haven’t had a one to one meeting yet!!”- until last week).

What jumps out to me as notable here is the new Deputy - Tibbits-Nutt - not only having a good business liaison experience (the 128 shuttle thing) but also having led the charge with the low-income means testing MBTA fare thing - - something Mayor Wu has prioritized and actually implemented on a limited basis with those free 3 bus lines earlier this year. This says a lot about Healey possibly fitting in like a perfect puzzle piece with Wu (as opposed to Governor Studebaker) and I like that they could actually work together to tackle the problems at the T. I’m encouraged.
Click to expand...

I am thinking about the 2015 to 2019 era in Boston streets. The things I recall point to an era of declining transit ridership, Uber's disaster on the streets, and several horrific fatalities of people riding bikes (in particular the death of Anita Kurmann on Mass at Beacon). GoBoston2030 was published and seemed good, but, I'm struggling to see that the agency did much from 2017 to 2019. It only seems after Fiandaca and Marty left before they started getting work done, in particular, Mayors Janey and Wu pushing forward on transit and cycling.

If the positions were switched - Monica Tibbits-Nutt in the chief and Gina Fiandaca in the deputy - i think I would be less concerned.
 
as02143 said:
I am thinking about the 2015 to 2019 era in Boston streets. The things I recall point to an era of declining transit ridership, Uber's disaster on the streets, and several horrific fatalities of people riding bikes (in particular the death of Anita Kurmann on Mass at Beacon). GoBoston2030 was published and seemed good, but, I'm struggling to see that the agency did much from 2017 to 2019. It only seems after Fiandaca and Marty left before they started getting work done, in particular, Mayors Janey and Wu pushing forward on transit and cycling.

If the positions were switched - Monica Tibbits-Nutt in the chief and Gina Fiandaca in the deputy - i think I would be less concerned.
Click to expand...

I hear ya, but policy/personnel decisions/structural changes are made 2-4 years before showing up on the streets. We aren’t judging the line painters here. And, yes, who the Mayor is definitely counts also.
 
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I'd also say there were a bunch of bike lanes go up, even on my street and in the neighborhoods.
 
Dr. Rosen Rosen said:
Per Globe article above, top ten busiest stations (by entry) in Oct 2022 (out of all 63):

10. Back Bay (Orange), 184k
9. Kendall/MIT (red), 214k
8. Copley (green), 240k
7. Maverick (blue), 241k
6. Central Sq (red), 250k
5. Park St (red, green), 251k
4. Downtown Crossing (red, orange), 276k
3. North Station (Green, Orange), 282k
2. South Station (red, silver), 291k
1. Harvard (red), 325k
Click to expand...
HenryAlan said:
I was surprised, but it does actually make sense. Most of the stations on the list feature at least one of three different factors that stimulate utilization:
  1. proximity to high demand destination
  2. proximity to high density residential
  3. serves as a major system transfer point
I think Harvard might be the only one that fits all three criteria.
Click to expand...

I think the writing is on the wall that North Station is destined to take the #1 busiest station by entry by January 2023. The opening of GLX stations in Somerville and Medford mid-December + NBA season home games + NHL season home games + improved OL headways (further reduction of slow zones) translate to a lot of additional ridership there very soon. And once the dust settles on HYM's redevelopment of Government Center Garage, I imagine that'll only complement ridership there. It's really exciting to see the perfect storm of decision-making optimize the throughput at North Station.
 
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