JumboBuc
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General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)
- Thread starter Waldorf
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+1.
Hot air. It's time for this guy to actually LEAD on the transit issue instead of bloviate.
....Baker then went on to say that the Red Line operator was a coward and that, if it were HIM, he would have gone in without a weapon and saved the day.
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HenryAlan
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The problem for Baker is that true leadership on transit means making the argument for more funding. He will never make such an argument, so all he can do is bloviate. Until we have a consensus for significant investment, we will never get past the band-aids and hot air phase of transit reform.
Anyone know why the signals seem to be such an issue on the Red Line? I know deferred maintenance has taken its toll on the rolling stock and the tracks, but I thought the signals were all recently replaced? It seems like delays due to "signal problems" are happening even more often than they were just a few months ago.
JeffDowntown
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I don't think the relatively recent signal work was anything close to a full replacement. More likely serious bandages on severe deferred maintenance.
The signal system on the Red (and Orange) Lines are slated for a complete upgrade and replacement in the same timeframe as when the new rolling stock comes online.
Jahvon09
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Let's nor forget that they are dealing with ancient old decrepit rail cars - equipment that should've been put out to pasture eons ago.
Eventually, ALL rapid transit lines will get new cars, up tp & including the Ashmont / Mattapan Line.
Eventually, ALL rapid transit lines will get new cars, up tp & including the Ashmont / Mattapan Line.
Eventually, ALL rapid transit lines will get new cars, up tp & including the Ashmont / Mattapan Line.
Quite fine with the PCCs and hopefully PCC-IIs down here actually, thanks for no thanks for the offer
Good luck with that.
bigpicture7
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...seems about as likely as...
(sorry, couldn't resist. and thanks, toby).
Actually, it might work in certain rare circumstances, such as like what Bose is doing by having a location at both Boston Landing and in Framingham with the commuter rail connecting them. But the key difference is that they were already in Framingham. Hmm, maybe it could work for upstart companies who are priced out of leasing space in the city, but want to tap the urban young professional workforce who don't have/prefer cars. It's a long shot. Current trend is definitely consolidation of work in urban center.
Yeah, they're putting the cart miles before the horse. The service needs to be better/more convenient than driving. That's the only way they'll boost reverse/leisure ridership. Traffic just isn't bad enough for reverse commuters and people coming into town on nights and weekends for events to justify tying themselves to a commuter rail schedule where trains can be 45+ minutes apart (more on nights/weekends).
Unless you're a tourist in Boston without a car and you want to make a day trip to Salem, Gloucester, Rockport, or any one of the handful of destinations where the train is within walking distance to the attractions, I can't see the commuter rail checking off many of the "cheaper/faster/more convenient" buckets.
Is there any legal issue that precludes them from lowering the price for reverse commutes?
Right now, the marginal cost of an additional passenger is $0 and reverse commuters aren't often having a price of downtown parking as a monetary benchmark.
Why not just make those trains 70% off normal fares for the morning reverse. In the evening for nights out in the city and when traffic can be bad both directions, you could probably make inbound trains 40% off.
(this is getting to the off, on, super peak designations in NYC, but I don't think out normal price should push up much more)
Right now, the marginal cost of an additional passenger is $0 and reverse commuters aren't often having a price of downtown parking as a monetary benchmark.
Why not just make those trains 70% off normal fares for the morning reverse. In the evening for nights out in the city and when traffic can be bad both directions, you could probably make inbound trains 40% off.
(this is getting to the off, on, super peak designations in NYC, but I don't think out normal price should push up much more)
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Bose (or really any of the office parks) is nowhere near the Framingham stop.
I don't know about Worcester though.
bigpicture7
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No, but if there were enough commuters they could run shuttles that correspond with train arrival times. AthenaHealth in Watertown actually does this w.r.t. the boston landing stop.
I know it sounds ridiculous, but a shuttle program is a lot more practical when you know exactly when everyone is going to arrive and depart and you don't have to run them in a continuous loops.