Brattle Loop
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I also agree that the ADA is odd. Sure the stair case off of Adams is not ADA compliant, but, it's not like you can't access the station without any stairs from both Adams St on the other side of the tracks via the storage lot which is basically level, and again going around the corner in the other direction leads to level boarding and no stairs. Not ideal, sure, but it's not like those stairs are the only entrance to the station.
I'm curious if it's the ADA proper or the state-level regulations on top of it. It sounds like the problem with rebuilding the stairs is that if they touch them, that would trigger the need to make it and that entrance in particular fully accessible, which they clearly haven't geared up for yet. A bunch of the Commuter Rail stations are similarly languishing as inaccessible because if they do any kind of significant touches to them, they'd trigger the requirements to upgrade to full-high platforms, which they're similarly not prepared to do yet.
I know earlier discussion on this thread mention it is related to ADA compliance, but something seems off. Like how are they shrugging off Milton so nonchalantly? That if ADA is the barrier, then shouldn't the conflict be around how to temporarily workaround the compliance or raise noise about funding to meet compliance? Or if it is really about the transformation project, then why aren't there reassurances by an accelerated timeline rather than a stonewall to town officials are literally stating it will be a hole in the ground for up to another decade? Why is the MBTA is the opponent rather than the ally who is getting stonewalled with the rest?
They get shrugged off because the T only has so much money and so much bandwidth. The state's accessibility regulations being what they are, it's probably impossible for them to just temp-fix the stairs, they'd have to rebuild the entire station for full accessibility. (While the article indicates that's what they plan to do anyway, that's years off, they're clearly not ready to start that now.) It's the same with a bunch of the Commuter Rail stops that get basically no work other than basic maintenance because they'd trigger platform-raisings the T's not geared up for. I don't know that the T has the best attitude about these issues, though, which is absolutely a valid thing to criticize them for. It does seem like their default response is "oh well, sorry, we'll deal with it eventually", which leaves a lot to be desired. It's certainly understandable for them, stretched-thin as they are, to not proactively take on extra work, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be better about a.) explaining why decisions are made the way that they are and b.) helping direct the communities so impacted as to where to direct their displeasure (i.e., I'd bet the T could speed up the Mattapan Transformation project or the CR platform raisings if Beacon Hill were to take some action to provide more funding and staff and whatnot to accomplishing those things).