General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

I’m concerned about the North Station substation noted on the diagram above. Depending upon where the isolation breaks (forget the correct term) are from Science Park to GC (including the yard), that makes it hard to use the NS yard to manage turn backs for the GLX when there is work in the core.
Double post to add the following diagram that shows track and power segments between Kenmore and the NS Portal. I'm pretty good at digging stuff like this up, but I'm not entirely sure the T meant it to be publicly accessible.

1720035735765.png
 
Double post to add the following diagram that shows track and power segments between Kenmore and the NS Portal. I'm pretty good at digging stuff like this up, but I'm not entirely sure the T meant it to be publicly accessible.

View attachment 52320
That diagram is exactly what I wanted to find. The turn back is a separate power section from the tracks to NS, so it should be possible to keep them powered.
Thus being able to turn trains at Science Park
 
They have turned trains at East Somerville once for an emergency shutdown and it worked just fine.
I'm not sure an emergency shutdown is proof that it works well. I'd be especially concerned with the long distance to the street for the forced transfer.
 
  • B Branch stations are estimated to start construction in fall 2025, and C Branch stations estimated to finish construction in fall 2026. I have no clue why they framed it that way.
One thing I just noticed about this - unlike previous updates, Blandford, Griggs, Allston, and Warren are listed as being planned for accessibility renovations. They're listed under the same entry as the other B Branch stations, though presumably they're not as far along in design.
 
There was also a scheduled E branch closure north of East Somerville in January 2023 (i.e. trains from downtown Boston to East Somerville, shuttle buses to Medford/Tufts). Not exactly what's being discussed here, but I have to assume that if scheduled short-turns can be used in one direction, they can be used in the other.

Plus, running trains north of East Somerville to Medford/Tufts significantly simplifies shuttle bus operations, beyond just needing fewer buses. You can run a single route from Union Square inbound, with an intermediate stop at East Somerville for E branch riders.

That's why I feel there has to be some work north of East Somerville to be done.
There will be track work on the Lechmere Viaduct on July 13 - 14, but somehow it requires the whole GLX to be shuttered instead of turning trains at East Somerville?

1720276387722.png
 
Isn't the truck pad at East Somerville/Yard?
There is one there. Since it uses the same lead track from the yard and needs a reverse move at the same East Somerville crossover as any revenue service, I suspect it's just too much conflict especially with the T's track access policy under scrutiny.

(I think GLX has another truck pad at Ball that might be simpler to use, and the track chart suggests there's one just past Medford/Tufts but I can't find any sign of it on Google Earth)
 
There is one there. Since it uses the same lead track from the yard and needs a reverse move at the same East Somerville crossover as any revenue service, I suspect it's just too much conflict especially with the T's track access policy under scrutiny.

(I think GLX has another truck pad at Ball that might be simpler to use, and the track chart suggests there's one just past Medford/Tufts but I can't find any sign of it on Google Earth)
My suspicion is the same re: the track access policy.
 
Does anyone know when the red-shirts contract is up for renewal? Also glad to see DiZoglio auditing the T. The primary reason I supported Chris Dempsey for Auditor was his promise to do the same.
 
Would like if they audited the project management structure that causes cost blowouts... don't care so much about auditing ops. If anything we need more money for actual employees not consultants.
 

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