Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

RandomWalk said:
The slope on that sidewalk to the curb cut cannot be legal.
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I wonder if there are exceptions in the law where if its impossible to comply 100% (due to a bridge being in the way etc) then you have to get it as close as is possible to the regulation to where the form or function is minimally affected by the change compared to the baseline standard. I have no idea.
 
stick n move said:
I wonder if there are exceptions in the law where if its impossible to comply 100% (due to a bridge being in the way etc) then you have to get it as close as is possible to the regulation to where the form or function is minimally affected by the change compared to the baseline standard. I have no idea.
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ADA rules state that when existing roads and sidewalks are being retrofitted, if it is physically impossible to meet the ADA standard, then you can build something as close as possible to the standard.
 
Charlie_mta said:
ADA rules state that when existing roads and sidewalks are being retrofitted, if it is physically impossible to meet the ADA standard, then you can build something as close as possible to the standard.
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But its not physically impossible. If the crossing were built at sidewalk level (speed table) there would be no ADA issue
 
Are there restrictions to where those can be built? I cant think of one that Ive ever seen in the middle of a main road like this, but Ive definitely seen them on side roads or roads with very low speed limits.
 
stick n move said:
Are there restrictions to where those can be built? I cant think of one that Ive ever seen in the middle of a main road like this, but Ive definitely seen them on side roads or roads with very low speed limits.
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I’m pretty sure they were going to do a speed table but they couldn’t because it’s on the approach to the bridge.
 
cubbe8 said:
I’m pretty sure they were going to do a speed table but they couldn’t because it’s on the approach to the bridge.
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Raised crossings absolutely can be built on arterial streets and on/near bridge decks. Somerville even has some examples of raised crossings on arterials: https://goo.gl/maps/Cun6geiDH5SQTD8q9

Bridge decks are more challenging because you have to account for expansion joints, which may limit where a crossing can be placed. And in a retrofit scenario you would need to prove that the bridge can accommodate the additional weight of asphalt or concrete. Drainage can also be challenging as most raised crossings will create low points where water will collect if you don't provide a drain (note the drain inlets on either side of the road in the link above).

All that being said, this is not a retrofit scenario and that is a bad ramp design for what will be a very high volume crossing. The width of the ramp should match the width of the path. The bridge should have been designed to ramp down the sidewalk prior to the crossing, or to ramp up the roadway for a raised crossing.
 
Between the bike path, the Green Line, and the high school, this location is going to be an accident hotspot. I hope the city considers some hefty traffic calming measures elsewhere on the street.
 
stick n move said:
Are there restrictions to where those can be built? I cant think of one that Ive ever seen in the middle of a main road like this, but Ive definitely seen them on side roads or roads with very low speed limits.
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Haha no seemingly not. Medford added one a couple years ago to Lawrence Road by the intersection with Forest Street. Grove Street has had one for quite a while near Jackson Road.
 
Sorry if this has been asked / discussed recently, but it seems based on the activity on the ground that they're (fingers crossed / knocking on every piece of wood available, etc.) nearing completion and almost ready to start service for the Medford Branch. I've heard some whispers from some semi-credible sources that service could start in November, but haven't heard an update in a while. Has anyone heard different or anything more specific? Many thanks.
 
An attempt at capturing the lion's-head art at Glman, plus a rando nightime shot of the station.
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Question for the train/MTBA experts out there:

This morning, I noticed that the elevator on the School Street side of the soon-to-open (fingers crossed) Gilman Square station was going up and down, nonstop. I didn't see any staff on-site, but I figured it must be some type of stress-test or something.

Anyway, it's now been about 13 hours and the elevator has just continued to go up and down, up and down -- nobody in it, nobody on site or monitoring it in person.

The other elevator at the stop -- the once closer to the high school -- is remaining stationary, so... it seems like maybe someone just accidentally left the School Street elevator running(?).

Figured somebody at the T might want to know b/c at this rate by the time workers return on Monday morning, that elevator will have gotten more wear-and-tear than in an average two-month period of commuter usage. Can't imagine "aging" a brand-new (and presumably quite expensive) elevator like that is great for the lifespan of the thing.

Or is this "standard operating procedure" in terms of getting an elevator -- specifically at a train station -- ready for usage?
 
chrisbrat said:
Question for the train/MTBA experts out there:

This morning, I noticed that the elevator on the School Street side of the soon-to-open (fingers crossed) Gilman Square station was going up and down, nonstop. I didn't see any staff on-site, but I figured it must be some type of stress-test or something.

Anyway, it's now been about 13 hours and the elevator has just continued to go up and down, up and down -- nobody in it, nobody on site or monitoring it in person.

The other elevator at the stop -- the once closer to the high school -- is remaining stationary, so... it seems like maybe someone just accidentally left the School Street elevator running(?).

Figured somebody at the T might want to know b/c at this rate by the time workers return on Monday morning, that elevator will have gotten more wear-and-tear than in an average two-month period of commuter usage. Can't imagine "aging" a brand-new (and presumably quite expensive) elevator like that is great for the lifespan of the thing.

Or is this "standard operating procedure" in terms of getting an elevator -- specifically at a train station -- ready for usage?
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I noticed the same thing Friday afternoon.
 
Badusername said:
I noticed the same thing Friday afternoon.
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So you've no doubt noticed that all last night, all day, and still -- presumably not to be stopped until workers arrive around 7am tomorrow -- the thing has been/is running.

I guess at least this takes the mystery out of the question: "I wonder what will be the first thing that breaks down at the Gilman Square stop?"
 
chrisbrat said:
Question for the train/MTBA experts out there:

This morning, I noticed that the elevator on the School Street side of the soon-to-open (fingers crossed) Gilman Square station was going up and down, nonstop. I didn't see any staff on-site, but I figured it must be some type of stress-test or something.

Anyway, it's now been about 13 hours and the elevator has just continued to go up and down, up and down -- nobody in it, nobody on site or monitoring it in person.

The other elevator at the stop -- the once closer to the high school -- is remaining stationary, so... it seems like maybe someone just accidentally left the School Street elevator running(?).

Figured somebody at the T might want to know b/c at this rate by the time workers return on Monday morning, that elevator will have gotten more wear-and-tear than in an average two-month period of commuter usage. Can't imagine "aging" a brand-new (and presumably quite expensive) elevator like that is great for the lifespan of the thing.

Or is this "standard operating procedure" in terms of getting an elevator -- specifically at a train station -- ready for usage?
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This does not sound normal, to put it kindly.
 
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