MBTA Red Line / Blue Line Connector

They should build the original art deco tower that the Great Depression stopped.
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F-Line to Dudley said:
This needs to be Dev Forum'ed:

- WAT'S TEH FAA HEIGHT LIMIT 4 CHARLZ?!?!
- DEPRESSION WUZ A BUNCH OF SHADOW NIMBYS!
- MOAR SPIRE!!!
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This one made me chuckle, and is evidence of why we need like buttons in the new forum.
 
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When Suffolk Downs really starts filling in I see no way that they can not finish this. Theyre going to have no choice at that point. Is there any way that like other cities they could get the money from the new developments going in that are going to need this and would benefit from it?
 
From FMCB meeting:
  • Consultant has been engaged to identify a preferred alternative for design, construction staging.
  • Goal is to have an RFP ready for environmental permitting in Fall 2020.
Set up as though they're building this. Aiello mentioned MGH is delighted about this and wants to make sure their construction is coordinated. No mention of headhouses. Need to mention headhouses.
 
Good question. On one hand, it would provide the opportunity to eliminate some truly nasty curves, which would make future rolling stock orders cheaper (and perhaps even allow fewer-but-longer BL cars, which would add capacity).

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On the other, simply using the existing yard would be vastly cheaper, allow construction of the extension with basically no impacts on service, and keep the station open. The ideal scenario would be to leave the existing station while constructing the extension ASAP, then come back later to modify the station with smoother curves and elevators.
 
The EGE said:
Good question. On one hand, it would provide the opportunity to eliminate some truly nasty curves, which would make future rolling stock orders cheaper (and perhaps even allow fewer-but-longer BL cars, which would add capacity).

On the other, simply using the existing yard would be vastly cheaper, allow construction of the extension with basically no impacts on service, and keep the station open. The ideal scenario would be to leave the existing station while constructing the extension ASAP, then come back later to modify the station with smoother curves and elevators.
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I think I'd much rather see them bulldoze the existing station and just close it for the duration of construction. With MGH as a terminus with questionable tail-track space, that GC to MGH stretch can already be a significant headway-limiter (like the Alewife switches). Only thing we need is another 10mph curve to gum it up.

Bowdoin also has pretty minimal ridership (1500 on a weekday, I believe one of the lowest in the entire HRT system), so sending all of those to nearby Gov Center is not a big disruption. But knowing the MBTA there is 0% chance this will get done.

Edit: For stop spacing, Bowdoin should get eliminated in favor of MGH anyway...
 
sneijder said:
I think I'd much rather see them bulldoze the existing station and just close it for the duration of construction. With MGH as a terminus with questionable tail-track space, that GC to MGH stretch can already be a significant headway-limiter (like the Alewife switches). Only thing we need is another 10mph curve to gum it up.

Bowdoin also has pretty minimal ridership (1500 on a weekday, I believe one of the lowest in the entire HRT system), so sending all of those to nearby Gov Center is not a big disruption. But knowing the MBTA there is 0% chance this will get done.

Edit: For stop spacing, Bowdoin should get eliminated in favor of MGH anyway...
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I'm with you. They missed the chance to render Bowdoin truly redundant when they made the northern BL platform access emergency-only. Nonetheless, the Blue Line has an absurd number of stops Downtown - 0.6 miles between the Marriott Long Wharf and Bowdoin Square, 4 sets of platforms. Honestly, the T should be looking into eliminating State as a platform stop as well. Rename the State OL stop "Government Center" and connect it to the rest of the station with pedestrian tunnels.
 
Equilibria said:
I'm with you. They missed the chance to render Bowdoin truly redundant when they made the northern BL platform access emergency-only. Nonetheless, the Blue Line has an absurd number of stops Downtown - 0.6 miles between the Marriott Long Wharf and Bowdoin Square, 4 sets of platforms. Honestly, the T should be looking into eliminating State as a platform stop as well. Rename the State OL stop "Government Center" and connect it to the rest of the station with pedestrian tunnels.
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Would there be room to do that between all the basements?
 
WormtownNative said:
Would there be room to do that between all the basements?
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I question if it's a good idea even if it were possible. Having a direct connection to the Orange line (as roundabout as it can be at State) is vitally important. Adding a huge amount of extra walking from GC would be a major issue.
 
ulrichomega said:
I question if it's a good idea even if it were possible. Having a direct connection to the Orange line (as roundabout as it can be at State) is vitally important. Adding a huge amount of extra walking from GC would be a major issue.
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It might not be much extra walking, particularly when compared to other cities. The London Underground, Paris Metro, and others have transfer stations that involve a lot of passageways. State itself has long passageways within it.

It's not at all clear to me what "direct connection" means. Obviously the North Station cross-platform approach is as close as it gets, and Park Street and Government Center have platform-to-platform stairs, but Downtown Crossing and State are pretty walking-intensive even today.
 
The problem with that, is I don't think that's actually where the tunnel is, at least if Google Maps is accurate, which places it under Water St. at the intersection with Orange.
 
Equilibria said:
Honestly, the T should be looking into eliminating State as a platform stop as well. Rename the State OL stop "Government Center" and connect it to the rest of the station with pedestrian tunnels.
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I'll disagree there, as I believe that passenger loads that would result on the platforms are something the system wouldn't be able to handle.

Bowdoin gets barely any ridership, so it's irrelevant for that. Gov Center + State split ridership about 50/50.
 
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