MBTA Construction Projects

It's time for my semi-annual construction photo dump. The new east elevator at Oak Grove is nearing completion:
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The new inbound elevators at Kendall/MIT are taking shape:
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It's pretty neat to see the old lobby exposed:
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The temporary inbound headhouse has a temporary elevator, which I've never seen before.
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Reconstruction of the Carlton Street footbridge over the D Branch is proceeding, with some concrete poured:
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Reconstruction work on the Fairmount Line bridge over Norfolk Avenue:
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Stormproofing modifications at the Long Wharf headhouse of Aquarium station - a concrete pad to support aluminum planks - are complete. Similar modifications were made to the other two headhouses and the Long Wharf emergency exit.
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The EGE said:
Reconstruction of Natick Center station is progressing. This will be the east stairs and ramp to the inbound platform:


An outbound train arriving:


And facing west:
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Was (wasn't) Natick supposed to get a center passing track? This looks like "some but not enough" new space is being created at the centerline?
 
Arlington said:
Was (wasn't) Natick supposed to get a center passing track? This looks like "some but not enough" new space is being created at the centerline?
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I believe a potential third track is being accommodated in this construction, but the track is not being laid as part of this project.

Construction isn't planned to begin on the Worcester Line Triple Track project (including reconstruction of Wellesley Farms, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Square, and West Natick) until 2025.
 
bigeman312 said:
I believe a potential third track is being accommodated in this construction, but the track is not being laid as part of this project.

Construction isn't planned to begin on the Worcester Line Triple Track project (including reconstruction of Wellesley Farms, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Square, and West Natick) until 2025.
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Are there any more detailed specifications about the Triple Track project? Especially the modifications to CP-11?
 
Not to get off-topic, but when, JUST WHEN will something be done about the outbound entrance to Suffolk Downs Station? That has sat, & sat, & sat there with no repairs being done! :unsure:
 
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Jahvon09 said:
Not to get off-topic, but when, JUST WHEN will something be done about the outbound entrance to Suffolk Downs Station? That has sat, & sat, & sat with no repairs being done! :unsure:
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The truly sad part about the outbound entrance to Suffolk Downs is that you have to walk the “maze” to the inbound side to pay your fare, then walk the maze back again to the outbound side (although the maze inside the fare zone has stairs either end of the ramps).

I believe the MBTA or city of Boston extracted or will extract concessions from the developer to contribute $$$ partially to a Suffolk Downs station redo. Both northwest of Suffolk Downs and southwest of Beachmont are where the first two phases of the massive development are starting.
 
I used to have to go in on that side after coming back from the Comcast office. Boy!! That was a pain to have get back in through all that hokey-pokey!! I was pissed off to no end & I was so tired after walking up that long wide road!! Either they should put stairs in their or an elevator! Whoever the brainchild is that thought of that design, needs to have his head examined!!! Not very smart. If he had a brain, he'd be dangerous!! :unsure:
 
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Suffolk Downs Reconstruction is included in Draft FY23-27 CIP, but it is lumped with rebuilding of the Long Wharf Emergency Egress ($$), track and tunnel infrastructure improvements between Aquarium and Maverick ($$), and communication rooms improvements ($), all of which have a combined Programmed Spend of $50.6M between 2023 and 2027 out of a $73.7M total Authorized Budget.
 
Aquarium & Maverick Stations were seemingly just rebuilt several years ago!! There always seems to be a bunch of red tape & BS when it comes to things like this!! :mad:
 
JeffDowntown said:
Actually tunnel work all the way between Aquarium and Airport, and track work Maverick to Airport.
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Ok, thanks. The tunnel itself kind of reminds me of the PATH tunnel that operates between the Newark Penn Station & the World Trade Center, & it DOES look like it's crumbling at the bottom of the side walls.. :eek:

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Forgot to mention that they should WELD the tracks end to end, so that we don't get that "clickety-clanking" noise along that way. Just a smooth quiet ride!! :)
 
I also went by the recently rebuilt Brookline Hills station. All the shelters and catenary poles are on high foundations, which I imagine will make future raising for Type 10s easy.
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Possibly the best aspect of the rebuild is the inclusion of a south entrance from Brington Road through the BHS parking lot. That reduces the walking distance by >300 feet for anyone coming from south of the tracks.
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The EGE said:
I also went by the recently rebuilt Brookline Hills station. All the shelters and catenary poles are on high foundations, which I imagine will make future raising for Type 10s easy.
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Possibly the best aspect of the rebuild is the inclusion of a south entrance from Brington Road through the BHS parking lot. That reduces the walking distance by >300 feet for anyone coming from south of the tracks.
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Wait so when the type 10’s come all of the stations will have to be rebuilt again? So why are they redoing all of these stations when there going to have to rebuild them again?
 
cubbe8 said:
Wait so when the type 10’s come all of the stations will have to be rebuilt again? So why are they redoing all of these stations when there going to have to rebuild them again?
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The work for the Type 10s will be, for the most part, very simple. Sandblast the platform surface, pour 6" more of concrete to the final 14" height, adjust ramps and stairs as necessary. Elevators are pretty easy - you just move the door frame and doors, and program it to stop at the new location. Some stations with stairs very near the platform edge might need slightly more aggressive modifications to prevent weird half-steps, but even that is not unreasonable. It's orders of magnitude less work than a full subway station renovation, and even rather simpler than a full accessibility renovation of a surface station, because the only thing changing is the platform height. All of the GLX stations, and likely other recent renovations, have been explicitly designed to permit the platform raising to be as easy as possible.

Full platform modifications for Type 10s cannot be done until it is certain that a Type 7 and Type 8 will never stop at that station again - the folding doors on those vehicles will stick on any platform higher than 8". That can be done branch-by-branch on the surface as soon as all service on that branch is Type 9s and Type 10s, which means late 2020s at the earliest, and cannot be done in the Central Subway until all 7s and 8s are gone. For better or for worse, all renovations till then will be to the lower 8" height. I certainly find myself in the camp of "make everything accessible as soon as possible, even if some work is duplicated, rather than waiting on an uncertain timetable."
 
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