Gov't Center Station Rebuild

[whighlander]

It's time for the Government Center Station project to have its own thread as pre-construction work begins and the station shuts for 2 years or so

 

[Arlington]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

It's time for the Government Center Station project to have its own thread as pre-construction work begins and the station shuts for 2 years or so

Good Idea. I suspect we'll learn a lot about the system from how people adapt. Project details are here:
MBTA Gov Center Rebuild Page

 

[omaja]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Can't wait to deal with the massive influx of passengers on the already-crowded DTX-State hop.

 

[whighlander]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Good Idea. I suspect we'll learn a lot about the system from how people adapt. Project details are here:
MBTA Gov Center Rebuild Page

Arlington -- here's the recent pdf powerpoint slides with renders of the headhouse and plaza area around it & floor plans and other diagrams
http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Riding_the_T/GovtCtr.pdf

 

[MBTAddict]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I know the closing is less than ideal, but I hate when outfits like Dig Boston flip their collective shit about it like it came out of nowhere. IT WAS ANNOUNCED TWO YEARS AGO.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I know the closing is less than ideal, but I hate when outfits like Dig Boston flip their collective shit about it like it came out of nowhere. IT WAS ANNOUNCED TWO YEARS AGO.

And when it was announced the estimate was 3 years. The T managed to save a year of closure by keeping the station open during all the prep work.

 

[JeffDowntown]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I know the closing is less than ideal, but I hate when outfits like Dig Boston flip their collective shit about it like it came out of nowhere. IT WAS ANNOUNCED TWO YEARS AGO.

Agreed, I see a lot of coverage that suggests this was not announced and not thought out.

Just because there are ignorant people who don't read anything does not mean that this was not very public, and carefully thought out. The reduction from three to two years is a great example of the degree of planning that is going into this.

 

[Jahvon09]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

The station closes next month for 2 years during remodeling, renovating and restoration.

When completed, it will look totally different from the way that it looks now.

 

[MBTAddict]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Also, the sky is blue and water is wet.

 

[Scipio]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I passed through on the weekend and the station has been extensively marked up with spray-painted demolition instructions. Hopefully seeing things like "demo wall" and "saw cut here" and a dotted line will help drive the imminent closing through to people who may still be unaware.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Honestly, I have zero sympathy for anyone who regularly commutes via Government Center and is still unaware of the closure.

 

[omaja]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Agreed, I see a lot of coverage that suggests this was not announced and not thought out.

Just because there are ignorant people who don't read anything does not mean that this was not very public, and carefully thought out. The reduction from three to two years is a great example of the degree of planning that is going into this.

It was certainly public, but "carefully thought out" remains to be seen. Let's wait and see if their modeling is actually correct and somehow all of the movements that originate/terminate/transfer at Government Center can be easily absorbed by Park/State/DTX. For some reason I'm just not buying what they're selling...

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I still think they could have reopened the Blue only egress and added fare-gates so that Blue commuters could still use the station. As far as I know, there is zero work being done on the Blue level.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I still think they could have reopened the Blue only egress and added fare-gates so that Blue commuters could still use the station. As far as I know, there is zero work being done on the Blue level.

Stairs are all being ripped out/relocated and elevators (bank of 2 for redundancy) are being added down to the platform. I agree with you though that it's a shame they are not putting fare gates in the blue only egress.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Stairs are all being ripped out/relocated and elevators (bank of 2 for redundancy) are being added down to the platform.

Ah. Oh well. I look forward to seeing how the system adapts to losing one of the "big four" stations. Are B and C trains looping at Park Street or North Station?

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I forgot to mention they are also redoing the entire platform surface. Plan:

 

[underground]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

I still think they could have reopened the Blue only egress and added fare-gates so that Blue commuters could still use the station

I guess they could do the Blue work first and open up as soon as they get the second egress done, but I'm not sure that really gets you anything. The main thing we're losing with the closure is the blue/green transfer. Being able to exit a couple hundred yards closer to your destination isn't really that big a deal.

 

[bigeman312]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Ah. Oh well. I look forward to seeing how the system adapts to losing one of the "big four" stations. Are B and C trains looping at Park Street or North Station?

From the MBTA project page:

During Government Center's closure, Green Line trains will pass through Government Center Station but not stop there. The last downtown stop will generally be the following for each branch:

• B Branch (Boston College) will end at Park Street
• C Branch (Cleveland Circle) will end at North Station
• D Branch (Riverside) will end at Park Street during rush hours and North Station at other times
• E Branch will end at Lechmere

Additionally, Bowdoin Station will extend its operating hours and will be open during all hours of service for the duration of Government Center's closure.

So, no change for C trains looping at North Station and E trains looping at Lechmere.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, ending at Park Street means deadheading to Government Center and looping there. Is this true?

Also, B or Rush hour D to Blue will require:
Green -> Red (or underground walkway to DTX) -> Orange -> Blue
or
Green -> switch to an E or C (i.e. at Park St) -> Orange (Haymarket) -> Blue

 

[bigeman312]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Here's a question posed to the board:

Government Center is closed due to the rebuild. You do not have a monthly MBTA pass, or a Hubway membership (could get you part of the way). It is 5:15 pm on a Friday. You are standing at the corner of Arlington & Boylston in Back Bay. You want to get to Maverick Square in East Boston. What do you do? I can think of a few options, but I'd like to hear your opinions.

 

[jdrinboston]

Re: Gov't Center Rebuild

Here's a question posed to the board:

Government Center is closed due to the rebuild. You do not have a monthly MBTA pass, or a Hubway membership (could get you part of the way). It is 5:15 pm on a Friday. You are standing at the corner of Arlington & Boylston in Back Bay. You want to get to Maverick Square in East Boston. What do you do? I can think of a few options, but I'd like to hear your opinions.

If it's between the months of April and November, I probably just walk to State Street. The shortest walk to RT not requiring three seats would be to go straight down Boylston Street toward Boylston Square and enter the OL at Chinatown on the corner of Washington & Essex.