Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

[chrisbrat]

GLX Track repair work loses out due to bad winter weather forecasts. Due to a winter storm forecasted on January 7th, work to repair tracks on the Green Line Extension would not be able to proceed on January 7th, 2024.

View attachment 46477

Too bad, especially since it'll wind up being half an inch of slush in Somerville/Medford, but I suppose better safe than sorry.

 

[as02143]

I think the issue isn't necessarily just the work on the tracks itself but all the other potential emergencies that may hit the system at the same time. Any additional flexibility in supporting MBTA staff from power, tracks, management, etc need to pivot to respond to anything happening with the storm.

 

[JeffDowntown]

I think the issue isn't necessarily just the work on the tracks itself but all the other potential emergencies that may hit the system at the same time. Any additional flexibility in supporting MBTA staff from power, tracks, management, etc need to pivot to respond to anything happening with the storm.

Like the Orange Line shutdown due to smoke at Chinatown Station.

 

[Delvin4519]

0.0 inches of snow this morning in the City of Boston. Perhaps cancelling GLX work was overkill? It has mostly rained all night long.

 

[Stlin]

0.0 inches of snow this morning in the City of Boston. Perhaps cancelling GLX work was overkill? It has mostly rained all night long.

Keep in mind the contractor would also have to deploy *to* GLX and get home. If the contractor was Middlesex, for example, they're based in Littleton which got a healthy 7 inches as of 9am.

Plus, I can imagine the wet and snow, even an inch of slush, making it difficult to use the track guager to get it within 1/4 in.

 

[Teban54]

Also, when it comes to weather forecasts, it's just as likely to be worse than expected than it is to get better. Especially at a time when the T is concerned about safety of workers, I don't think it's a bad idea to be prudent.

 

[devnull]

Also, despite Boston not getting much actual snow, parts of Somerville have been. The area around Medford/Tufts is pretty slushy with snow laying on top of the slush:

 

[WestMedford]

Also remember that the 0.0 inches recorded is at Logan airport, the official measurement location for Boston. It’s always been a quirky spot to measure Boston weather since it’s on a peninsula in the ocean. This can and often does lead to material differences in the data measured there vs what is experienced just a couple miles west inland. The prior site (<1936) was in Boston Common.

 

[Jahvon09]

Also, despite Boston not getting much actual snow, parts of Somerville have been. The area around Medford/Tufts is pretty slushy with snow laying on top of the slush:
View attachment 46588

What is that thingy with the ramps in it? I was about to assume that it's part of a stop, but there's one in close proximity to it.

 

[Brattle Loop]

What is that thingy with the ramps in it? I was about to assume that it's part of a stop, but there's one in close proximity to it.

Emergency exit at the north end of Medford/Tufts.

 

[Jahvon09]

Emergency exit at the north end of Medford/Tufts.

Thanks.

 

[as02143]

Like the Orange Line shutdown due to smoke at Chinatown Station.

At this point I have no clue if I should laugh or cry.

 

[kingofsheeba]

At this point I have no clue if I should laugh or cry.

Laugh so you don’t cry.

 

[Blue Line to Lynn]

Sorry if this was mentioned elsewhere, I haven't seen it. From what I can tell, the idiocy of only allowing one trolley between Science Park and North Station seems to have been ended. Looks like they're letting 2 in now, and using the switch between Haymarket and North Station instead of using the turnback, which has definitely helped the headway situation between North Station and Medford/Tufts and Union Square.

 

[Teban54]

Sorry if this was mentioned elsewhere, I haven't seen it. From what I can tell, the idiocy of only allowing one trolley between Science Park and North Station seems to have been ended. Looks like they're letting 2 in now, and using the switch between Haymarket and North Station instead of using the turnback, which has definitely helped the headway situation between North Station and Medford/Tufts and Union Square.

AFAIK, the limitation (at least when there are closures from Haymarket south) was often because the switch south of Haymarket often can't be used safely when there's Government Center Garage work above. As this shutdown is initiated by the T and not due to the garage demolition, it makes sense to not use the turnback (which is terrible for turning trains from the north).

There is a more permanent restriction of one train in each direction between Science Park and at least the turnback, possibly all the way to North Station, as quoted here. I'm not sure if that's the one you're referring to, and/or if that limitation has also been lifted (temporarily or permanently).

 

[alewife]

They used the crossover between North Station and Haymarket for the last couple of garage-related closures as well. I’m not sure if they were doing work on a different portion of the garage, further away from the tunnel, or if the T revisited its safety analysis. Either way, it’s a very welcome change.

 

[Delvin4519]

Why didn't the MBTA do full 24/7 closures of the GLX in early November as soon as GLXC identified the amount of track repair that would have been needed to to be done in late October?

Postponing the work from November 1st to November 27th, then restricting track repairs to overnight hours 9pm and after, has resulted in relentless extensions and cancellations of the diversions/track repairs due to the slow pace of repairs, plus the bad winter storm weather conditions, and is only going to drag out the repair timeline longer and longer.

A full 24/7 closure starting at the contractor's originally proposed timeline of beginning track repairs on November 1st, would've allowed the MBTA and GLXC to complete all track repairs (round-the-clock all day), before the arrival of winter, and therefore avoid any winter weather that could disrupt track repairs.

The nighttime closures have a huge problem where there is the break in time after service ends at 8:45pm, and then they have to finish work and get ready for service to resume at 4am, which is probably causing some inefficencies in the rate of track repairs.

All of this winter storm disruptions and contractor failures has turned what was supposed to be "only 2 weeks of repairs in the first half of November", into a 2 month long boondaggle since Thanksgiving with 2 months of evening diversions: the contractor fails to complete repairs in 2 weeks of overnight work, an extra week in December is given, a handful of winter storms suspends repair works, the contractor is given a whole extra month of more evening and weekend shutdowns, 2 more winter storms forces repair work to come to a halt, which would mean the repair work is going to get further dragged out.

GLX track fix may require two weeks of overnight repairs, MBTA general manager says - Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

Miles of tracks that are too narrow across the Green Line Extension could be fixed by mid-November following up to two weeks of evening closures,<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="https://whdh.com/news/glx-track-fix-may-require-two-weeks-of-overnight-repairs-mbta-general-manager-says/">Read More</a>

whdh.com

 

[JeffDowntown]

Why didn't the MBTA do full 24/7 closures of the GLX in early November as soon as GLXC identified the amount of track repair that would have been needed to to be done in late October?

Postponing the work from November 1st to November 27th, then restricting track repairs to overnight hours 9pm and after, has resulted in relentless extensions and cancellations of the diversions/track repairs due to the slow pace of repairs, plus the bad winter storm weather conditions, and is only going to drag out the repair timeline longer and longer.

A full 24/7 closure starting at the contractor's originally proposed timeline of beginning track repairs on November 1st, would've allowed the MBTA and GLXC to complete all track repairs (round-the-clock all day), before the arrival of winter, and therefore avoid any winter weather that could disrupt track repairs.

The nighttime closures have a huge problem where there is the break in time after service ends at 8:45pm, and then they have to finish work and get ready for service to resume at 4am, which is probably causing some inefficencies in the rate of track repairs.

All of this winter storm disruptions and contractor failures has turned what was supposed to be "only 2 weeks of repairs in the first half of November", into a 2 month long boondaggle since Thanksgiving with 2 months of evening diversions: the contractor fails to complete repairs in 2 weeks of overnight work, an extra week in December is given, a handful of winter storms suspends repair works, the contractor is given a whole extra month of more evening and weekend shutdowns, 2 more winter storms forces repair work to come to a halt, which would mean the repair work is going to get further dragged out.

View attachment 46672

GLX track fix may require two weeks of overnight repairs, MBTA general manager says - Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

Miles of tracks that are too narrow across the Green Line Extension could be fixed by mid-November following up to two weeks of evening closures,<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="https://whdh.com/news/glx-track-fix-may-require-two-weeks-of-overnight-repairs-mbta-general-manager-says/">Read More</a>

whdh.com

Postponing the work was likely because they are holding the contractor accountable. And the contractor had to work out the fix approach, then schedule the crews and equipment. MBTA could not just snap their fingers and make it happen.

 

[Ruairi]

Took this last Saturday.
Wonder if the T conversation went something like...

Boss - Get that temporary sandwich board sign up for the GLX B branch shuttle.
employee - But shouldn't it be the E branch.
Boss - Doesn't matter. Put it near the East Somerville station at O'Brien Highway
Employee - But theres no O'Brien Highway in Somerville, It's McGrath Highway there.
Boss - Doesn't matter. Put it at the stop at the end of Allston st.
Employee - You mean Alston st, with one 'L'
Boss - Doesn't matter, none of this matters.

 

[Teban54]

Took this last Saturday.
Wonder if the T conversation went something like...

Boss - Get that temporary sandwich board sign up for the GLX B branch shuttle.
employee - But shouldn't it be the E branch.
Boss - Doesn't matter. Put it near the East Somerville station at O'Brien Highway
Employee - But theres no O'Brien Highway in Somerville, It's McGrath Highway there.
Boss - Doesn't matter. Put it at the stop at the end of Allston st.
Employee - You mean Alston st, with one 'L'
Boss - Doesn't matter, none of this matters.

View attachment 46673

And they only put that plastic sticker for 90 to Davis half a year after it was amended there? Wow.