MBTA Construction Projects

Re: T construction news

One side platform for each station with the preliminary design for a second platform but no plans to construct immediately.
 
Re: T construction news

So basically one platform for the next thirty years until we're ready to tear it down and rebuild it as the same platform, but back on the Pike side?
 
Re: T construction news

Union Station in Worcester is getting a second platform and a passenger foot bridge accessing both platforms from the two surface lots.

https://www.mbta.com/projects/worcester-union-station-improvements

C4tuVaG.jpg


iKdD8Ol.jpg


QIjpXzb.jpg

source: MBTA

Cost is between $40M - $48M, ETC is August 2022.
 
Re: T construction news

That platform seems excessively narrow (and needs to be, due to the ROW it's on). But this seems like it can only be a good thing, right?
 
Re: T construction news

ulrichomega said:
That platform seems excessively narrow (and needs to be, due to the ROW it's on). But this seems like it can only be a good thing, right?
Click to expand...


It's not narrow...it's 12 ft. standard island width mandated by the T construction manual for MA Architectural Board state-level accessibility compliance.
 
Re: T construction news

The new platform would serve the other side of Station Track as well as Track 1. What reason would they have to not shift Track 1 and construct the island between Tracks 1 and 2? That way they could allow boarding from all three tracks in some way, instead of two? Is it a freight concern?
 
Re: T construction news

F-Line to Dudley said:
It's not narrow...it's 12 ft. standard island width mandated by the T construction manual for MA Architectural Board state-level accessibility compliance.
Click to expand...

Huh. Fair enough. I was mostly referring to the section by the eastern staircase that seems like it would be tough to get a wheelchair through, but I'm probably off on the scale I'm imagining this at.
 
Re: T construction news

Good PR week for the T, two long awaited projects with customer facing milestones in a row?
 
Re: T construction news

Since Worcester is the end of the line, and its not like Amtrak is blowing through at 150mph, why not just let people cross the track at grade?
 
Re: T construction news

sm89 said:
The new platform would serve the other side of Station Track as well as Track 1. What reason would they have to not shift Track 1 and construct the island between Tracks 1 and 2? That way they could allow boarding from all three tracks in some way, instead of two? Is it a freight concern?
Click to expand...

The pre-1974 second platform used to be on the same spot, so that's the structural allowance for it that the viaduct offers.

Freight is a concern on all other tracks as CSX has both ownership and dispatch control. The division post between control is almost a mile east at the freight yard junction. CSX assumes mainline control from there while T dispatch only controls the station/layover turnout. They have an agreement in-place to trade control of Track 2 when the new platform opens, but to attempt something with Track 3 would create an awkward last-mile situation where 2 tracks are under T control and 1 is under foreign control frequently preempted by freight traffic.

2 platform tracks is plenty for Worcester even in an RER + Amtrak Inland universe. Biggest concern going forward is finding bigger layover digs downtown with non-awkward shuffles on/off platform.
 
Re: T construction news

jass said:
Since Worcester is the end of the line, and its not like Amtrak is blowing through at 150mph, why not just let people cross the track at grade?
Click to expand...


There's a full daily slate of nonstop freights. Worcester's just the intermodal yard; several hundred daily cars of general freight are expressing at 40+ MPH through Worcester to/from Framingham and Westborough.
 
Re: T construction news

jass said:
Since Worcester is the end of the line, and its not like Amtrak is blowing through at 150mph, why not just let people cross the track at grade?
Click to expand...

Worcester is the end of the Worcester line but not the end of the rail line. Especially with eventual goals of high speed east west rail Springfield to Boston which will pass through there. And even with all the studies and stalling, my view from what I've heard inside is that east west rail has some good support in the org.
 
Re: T construction news

F-Line to Dudley said:
The pre-1974 second platform used to be on the same spot, so that's the structural allowance for it that the viaduct offers.

Freight is a concern on all other tracks as CSX has both ownership and dispatch control. The division post between control is almost a mile east at the freight yard junction. CSX assumes mainline control from there while T dispatch only controls the station/layover turnout. They have an agreement in-place to trade control of Track 2 when the new platform opens, but to attempt something with Track 3 would create an awkward last-mile situation where 2 tracks are under T control and 1 is under foreign control frequently preempted by freight traffic.

2 platform tracks is plenty for Worcester even in an RER + Amtrak Inland universe. Biggest concern going forward is finding bigger layover digs downtown with non-awkward shuffles on/off platform.
Click to expand...

I'm not certain they'll find a big enough space in downtown. Might have to head further down to the P&W yard or further west on the B&A.

With the island though, will they even bother keeping the partial high that currently exists?
 
Re: T construction news

Does that bridge from the parking lot allow them to install more (but stub-end / terminal) aerial platforms on the "front" of WOR station?
 
Re: T construction news

Equilibria said:
Breaking this out from the other thread to give the bustitution discussion room to breathe :).

Newton CR stations approved for design today with one platform apiece:

https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/...n-cr-stations-public-meeting-presentation.pdf

Note that even with one platform the new stations would be an enormous improvement on the current tin shack/strip of asphalt design.

A couple of other tidbits in there - the $43M cost for each Newton station would be basically the same as Chelsea and less than Winchester Center. No word on what Lansdowne or Boston Landing cost. Also, NTP for Winchester Center is expected in 2020.

FMCB also approved construction of Oak Grove improvements:

https://www.mbta.com/projects/oak-grove-station-accessibility-improvements
Click to expand...

For Alternative 1 which approves one new full-high on the north side of the tracks.. why can't they just keep the stairs and egresses to the south-side platform for two-way service (until they can be rebuilt later)?

Also, Wollaston opens today.
 
Re: T construction news

WormtownNative said:
I'm not certain they'll find a big enough space in downtown. Might have to head further down to the P&W yard or further west on the B&A.

With the island though, will they even bother keeping the partial high that currently exists?
Click to expand...

Yes...current side platform and it'll be extended into a full 800-footer onto the footprint of the former '74-01 low platform, though there will probably be a pinch to sub-6' width over the Grafton St. bridge (MA Architectural Board approves since that's rear-cars only and doesn't affect overall accessibility with the new island...but they'd have to keep the wall clear of all obstructions). This was the traditional historical layout of Union Station.

The layover yard is a pickle because they passed on grabbing land when it was cheap, and now downtown is getting too built up. Apparently there were some inquiries west on the B&A, but that didn't turn up anything. Land-swap down by P&W may be the only way to do it. Either the Castle Metals complex on Cambridge St. (very tight, might get neighborhood opposition), or Dennison Lubricants abutting 146 (larger, very well-buffered from abutters, P&W can barter land to rebuild them) would work + upgrades to the easternmost track of the P&W Providence main for freight-separated movements to/from Union Station. But no doubt it's a lot harder now than if they acted 10-15 years ago on a land grab.
 
Re: T construction news

Speaking of Worcester - this is courtesy of google ads:
https://www.bsrc.com/sbonds/
Hilarious.

Still trying to sell bonds for Prov - Worcester commuter trains

EDIT! - their system map now shows the line going to Concord NH via Ayer and Lowell!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top