I wonder if Proterra will eventually make bendy buses.
https://cleantechnica.com/2016/09/1...tric-buses-350-mile-range-catalyst-e2-series/
https://cleantechnica.com/2016/09/1...tric-buses-350-mile-range-catalyst-e2-series/
Silver Line to Chelsea
- Thread starter cybah
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cybah
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Hey Folks,
It's been a while!
First, I apologize for not posting an update in well over a month. I've had a few busy weeks at the beginning of the month, and the weather hasn't cooperated the last two weeks (cloudy or rainy). And it looks like it's not going to cooperate this weekend either (rainy).. and I'm back on the cape for the long weekend, next weekend so....
I really try to take the photos on sunny Saturdays between 9am and 11am. I do this so I am not taking pictures of construction folks working. I don't wanna be that weird guy taking photos of them, since I take my time and make sure I get the right shot, so I'm often standing in the same spot for several minutes taking photos. I also take the photos in almost the same spot each and every time. Yes I am that specific.
I want to keep up with this same whole pattern because I've decided once the SLG is up and operational, I'm going to create a montage video of the pictures showing the progress from start to finish from several vantage points along the route. (similar to those fast frame videos you see of construction projects)
But if we get a sunny afternoon next week (although the long range forecast says differently), I may just suck it up and take the photos. It being sunny (with no construction workers working) is more important than the time or day of the week, since the bright sun really makes the pictures crisp and very clear.
I know I'm weird about it, but it's important to do so to maintain consistency if I want the montage video to look good
If I am unable to next week, it may be close to 2 weeks before I am able to actually do so again, and about 2 months since the last set, which is way longer than my liking for this project's progress. Especially since I've gone by a few spots along the route recently, and the pavement is down near the MassPort Garage for Eastern Ave Station, and the retaining wall between Washington Ave and Broadway is just about finished. So it's definitely, moving along, and definitely picture time.
So pray for at least one sunny late afternoon next week, and pictures will happen
It's been a while!
First, I apologize for not posting an update in well over a month. I've had a few busy weeks at the beginning of the month, and the weather hasn't cooperated the last two weeks (cloudy or rainy). And it looks like it's not going to cooperate this weekend either (rainy).. and I'm back on the cape for the long weekend, next weekend so....
I really try to take the photos on sunny Saturdays between 9am and 11am. I do this so I am not taking pictures of construction folks working. I don't wanna be that weird guy taking photos of them, since I take my time and make sure I get the right shot, so I'm often standing in the same spot for several minutes taking photos. I also take the photos in almost the same spot each and every time. Yes I am that specific.
I want to keep up with this same whole pattern because I've decided once the SLG is up and operational, I'm going to create a montage video of the pictures showing the progress from start to finish from several vantage points along the route. (similar to those fast frame videos you see of construction projects)
But if we get a sunny afternoon next week (although the long range forecast says differently), I may just suck it up and take the photos. It being sunny (with no construction workers working) is more important than the time or day of the week, since the bright sun really makes the pictures crisp and very clear.
I know I'm weird about it, but it's important to do so to maintain consistency if I want the montage video to look good
If I am unable to next week, it may be close to 2 weeks before I am able to actually do so again, and about 2 months since the last set, which is way longer than my liking for this project's progress. Especially since I've gone by a few spots along the route recently, and the pavement is down near the MassPort Garage for Eastern Ave Station, and the retaining wall between Washington Ave and Broadway is just about finished. So it's definitely, moving along, and definitely picture time.
So pray for at least one sunny late afternoon next week, and pictures will happen
F-Line to Dudley
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Jeez, don't worry about it. You're truly doing yeoman's work with the photo documentation. It's all good when we get an update, but don't feel like you're under any pressure or obligation to burn valuable free time on it. We've already gotten more discussion-stimulating info on this project than we'd ever imagined because of these photos.
cybah
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Hey All -
It's time for another monthly installment of Silver Line Gateway photos!
Sorry about the delay, again. I know I shouldn't feel that way, because yes, F-Line, you're right.. I'm doing a service. But I'm doing a dis-service by not keeping up on the updates. I'm not only doing this for you folks (although it did start that way with some egging from datadyne), but just since this is the most active somewhat major T project that has happened in a while. I just want to photo document it now as best as I can. So keeping up with updates on a regular basis is most important to me.
I went against my judgement today and took photos. I just wanted to get them done and out of the way, as this weekend, once again may not cooperate weather wise, and i had some free time so I decided to take photos.
Now on to the update.
The construction is moving along. It seems like most of the work has been with the retaining walls, some work at the Arlington @ Sixth Crossing, and now big holes at Chelsea Station (at Market Basket). So work is happening and moving along.
If you'd like to see the previous photo sets they can be found here by clicking on the links below:
Pics from 4/25/15
Pics from 6/20/15
Pics from 8/1/15
Pics from 9/19/15
Pics from 10/31/15
Pics from 1/9/16
Pics from 3/12/16
Pics from 4/16/16
Pics from 5/15/16
Pics from 6/26/16
Pics from 8/13/16
And if you'd like to see the ALL of NEW photos, you can click here
Now for the highlights..
Here's looking at Eastern Ave Station from Eastern Ave. Unlike the last time, where it was just graded, now there's pavement and light posts!
---
Here's another look at the new pavement at Eastern Ave Station.
---
And another look at the new pavement at Eastern Ave Station.
---
Here's looking into the busway toward Box District Station as seen from the Bellingham Street bridge. You can see work on the retaining wall is coming along
---
A look at the retaining wall installation as seen from Willow Street.
---
Box District Station. Not much going on here, except it's being used as a construction worker parking lot
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Retaining wall installation as seen from near Box District Station
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Another look at the retaining wall installation from near Box District Station
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Future shared use path entrance from the Broadway Bridge
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Getting ready to build the retaining wall for the shared use path as seen from the Broadway Bridge
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Looking toward the Washington Ave bridge from the Broadway bridge, with the new retaining wall for the shared use path being built on the left.
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Another shot looking toward the Washington Ave bridge from the Broadway bridge, with the retaining wall installation for the shared use path on the left.
---
And another shot Another shot looking toward the Washington Ave bridge from the Broadway bridge, with the retaining wall installation for the shared use path.
---
The nearly finished Washington Ave Bridge (which recently opened to two-way traffic again)
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A shot looking toward the Broadway Bridge from the Washington Ave bridge with the new retaining wall on the right
---
Lots of activity at Arlington @ Sixth again. I think they are doing signal work today.
---
The continuing reconstruction of the Washington Ave bridge, as seen from the current CR platform.
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Just about finished Spruce Street crossing!
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Another shot of the nearly finished Spruce Street Crossing!
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Finished Busway at Everett Ave
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Work being done at Chelsea Station (ex-Mystic Mall Station). Looks like the base for the station is being installed!
---
Another shot of work being done at Chelsea Station (ex-Mystic Mall Station). There's actually two holes (one I couldn't get a good shot of)
---
That's it for now. So lots of changes and a ton of progress. More pics to come late Early/Mid November!
It's time for another monthly installment of Silver Line Gateway photos!
Sorry about the delay, again. I know I shouldn't feel that way, because yes, F-Line, you're right.. I'm doing a service. But I'm doing a dis-service by not keeping up on the updates. I'm not only doing this for you folks (although it did start that way with some egging from datadyne), but just since this is the most active somewhat major T project that has happened in a while. I just want to photo document it now as best as I can. So keeping up with updates on a regular basis is most important to me.
I went against my judgement today and took photos. I just wanted to get them done and out of the way, as this weekend, once again may not cooperate weather wise, and i had some free time so I decided to take photos.
Now on to the update.
The construction is moving along. It seems like most of the work has been with the retaining walls, some work at the Arlington @ Sixth Crossing, and now big holes at Chelsea Station (at Market Basket). So work is happening and moving along.
If you'd like to see the previous photo sets they can be found here by clicking on the links below:
Pics from 4/25/15
Pics from 6/20/15
Pics from 8/1/15
Pics from 9/19/15
Pics from 10/31/15
Pics from 1/9/16
Pics from 3/12/16
Pics from 4/16/16
Pics from 5/15/16
Pics from 6/26/16
Pics from 8/13/16
And if you'd like to see the ALL of NEW photos, you can click here
Now for the highlights..
Here's looking at Eastern Ave Station from Eastern Ave. Unlike the last time, where it was just graded, now there's pavement and light posts!
---
Here's another look at the new pavement at Eastern Ave Station.
---
And another look at the new pavement at Eastern Ave Station.
---
Here's looking into the busway toward Box District Station as seen from the Bellingham Street bridge. You can see work on the retaining wall is coming along
---
A look at the retaining wall installation as seen from Willow Street.
---
Box District Station. Not much going on here, except it's being used as a construction worker parking lot
---
Retaining wall installation as seen from near Box District Station
---
Another look at the retaining wall installation from near Box District Station
---
Future shared use path entrance from the Broadway Bridge
---
Getting ready to build the retaining wall for the shared use path as seen from the Broadway Bridge
---
Looking toward the Washington Ave bridge from the Broadway bridge, with the new retaining wall for the shared use path being built on the left.
---
Another shot looking toward the Washington Ave bridge from the Broadway bridge, with the retaining wall installation for the shared use path on the left.
---
And another shot Another shot looking toward the Washington Ave bridge from the Broadway bridge, with the retaining wall installation for the shared use path.
---
The nearly finished Washington Ave Bridge (which recently opened to two-way traffic again)
---
A shot looking toward the Broadway Bridge from the Washington Ave bridge with the new retaining wall on the right
---
Lots of activity at Arlington @ Sixth again. I think they are doing signal work today.
---
The continuing reconstruction of the Washington Ave bridge, as seen from the current CR platform.
---
Just about finished Spruce Street crossing!
---
Another shot of the nearly finished Spruce Street Crossing!
---
Finished Busway at Everett Ave
---
Work being done at Chelsea Station (ex-Mystic Mall Station). Looks like the base for the station is being installed!
---
Another shot of work being done at Chelsea Station (ex-Mystic Mall Station). There's actually two holes (one I couldn't get a good shot of)
---
That's it for now. So lots of changes and a ton of progress. More pics to come late Early/Mid November!
Charlie_mta
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This is how GLX should have gone up: simple and fast.
JeffDowntown
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The Chelsea right-of-way is much easier construction.
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Agree with both of you.
Agreeing on Charlie's point:
+ simple station structures
+ simple accessways
+ GLX's neighbors demanded/got treats (paths & USq park) as if smooth electric transit needed mitigation (when GLX was, itself, mitigation for the Big Dig)
Agreeing with Jeff's point, GLX had:
+ commuter rail that needs to stay open
+ commuter rail that sometimes needed to be moved
+ serious retaining wall / ROW width issues
+ close-by and numerous residential abutters
odurandina
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Jane you ignorant slut....
cybah
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Okay a quick update.
I got a phone call today from my buddy who drives Silver Line Buses. Now I can't reveal everything he told me but he did tell me somethings I can say.
The 60 Foot New Flyer XD60 Excelsior buses are arriving. About 1-2 a week. I think he said 20 of these will be repainted from MBTA Bus colors to MBTA Silver Line Colors in the next week or two. These 60 foot buses that are repainted into SL colors will be used for the new SLG (or SL6 has he refers to it). I'm pretty sure not all 20 will be used for SLG, but a good portion of them will be. Yay new buses!
They are also training on these new buses this week! Says they are a real nice ride and a upgrade from some of the older 60 foot buses.
He also stated that "unofficially" the SL6/SLG should begin service in Spring 2017. I'm thinking *late* Spring considering the state of construction right now.
However, I have a feeling they cannot setup forms and pour concrete in the summer (I think it may have to do the type of concrete used). Which is why Box District Station was done last fall (forms were removed by January), and no other concrete work has been done since then.
I'm gonna try to pop over to Market Basket this weekend and see how far along they are over there. As seen in the pictures above, they are just starting. If they are hauling ass, and trying to setup forms by late October, they have alot of work to do so some noticeable changes should occur very quickly over the next few weeks.
There were a few other details he did say but I can't say just yet. I'm waiting for confirmation. He's also gonna try to snap a few pictures for me of the new buses to share here in the next week or so.
So stay tuned!
I got a phone call today from my buddy who drives Silver Line Buses. Now I can't reveal everything he told me but he did tell me somethings I can say.
The 60 Foot New Flyer XD60 Excelsior buses are arriving. About 1-2 a week. I think he said 20 of these will be repainted from MBTA Bus colors to MBTA Silver Line Colors in the next week or two. These 60 foot buses that are repainted into SL colors will be used for the new SLG (or SL6 has he refers to it). I'm pretty sure not all 20 will be used for SLG, but a good portion of them will be. Yay new buses!
They are also training on these new buses this week! Says they are a real nice ride and a upgrade from some of the older 60 foot buses.
He also stated that "unofficially" the SL6/SLG should begin service in Spring 2017. I'm thinking *late* Spring considering the state of construction right now.
However, I have a feeling they cannot setup forms and pour concrete in the summer (I think it may have to do the type of concrete used). Which is why Box District Station was done last fall (forms were removed by January), and no other concrete work has been done since then.
I'm gonna try to pop over to Market Basket this weekend and see how far along they are over there. As seen in the pictures above, they are just starting. If they are hauling ass, and trying to setup forms by late October, they have alot of work to do so some noticeable changes should occur very quickly over the next few weeks.
There were a few other details he did say but I can't say just yet. I'm waiting for confirmation. He's also gonna try to snap a few pictures for me of the new buses to share here in the next week or so.
So stay tuned!
winstonoboogie
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The 44 new New Flyer 60-foot hybrid artics on order are to replace the 44 CNG Neoplan artics. Half will be painted yellow for Route 39 and the other half Silver to replace the fleet on the SL4/SL5 Washington St. service. The contract with New Flyer does have an option to buy 46 more hybrids that would have an extened range battery option to operate in the Silver Line Waterfront tunnel, but the MBTA has not yet exercised the option to buy these buses.
The MBTA also has five battery-powered electric articulated buses on order from New Flyer, but these won't arrive until next year and are considered experimental test buses. If they work well, they could order a fleet of these. Either the extended range hybrids or the battery buses, or a combination of both could eventually replace the Neoplan DMA fleet and allow the wires to be removed from the waterfront Silver Line tunnel. In the meantime, the 32 dual-modes are being overhauled by a quasi public/private contractor in Maine, bu as noted elsewhere, the governor of Maine wants the MBTA to pay more to finish the overhaul because of higher than expected costs.
The target to open Silver Line service to Chelsea is late fall 2017, but it could be delayed if the dual-mode overhaul is delayed or halted.
Last edited:
cybah
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I'm not sure why you said that or who your sources are.. my info is coming from the a silver line driver at the MBTA who was told "unofficially" it was spring.
This also validates anything I've heard from the state regarding the project. Even the SLG's website says "The Busway and BRT stations are expected to be operating by mid-2017.", which would meet what I said about "late spring"
The new XD60s will be used for the SL6.. so no delays if the dual-mode overhaul doesn't happen.
The project in Maine is for the initial set of SL Washington Street buses which are single mode only. This does not include the SL Waterfront, since those are dual mode. At least this is what my buddy says..
The EGE
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Sorry, cybah, but your buddy hasn't been given the best info. Mr. Winston O'Boogie is our resident expert on MBTA fleet issues, and his comments here match the unofficial-but-drop-dead-accurate NETransit roster.
The XD60s are single-mode; they cannot generally go into the Waterfront Tunnel. Not outright prohibited like CNG buses, but no way they'll be used in regular service. It's not like the Harvard tunnel where a certain percentage of electrics is enough for decent ventilation.
The contract with MMA is for the 32 dual-modes, of which eight are finished are already in service again.
The XD60s are single-mode; they cannot generally go into the Waterfront Tunnel. Not outright prohibited like CNG buses, but no way they'll be used in regular service. It's not like the Harvard tunnel where a certain percentage of electrics is enough for decent ventilation.
The contract with MMA is for the 32 dual-modes, of which eight are finished are already in service again.
winstonoboogie
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Just in case he wants another source, here is the MBTA Board vote with MMA which identifies "32 dual-mode" buses as the buses in the Maine contract:
https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/AboutUs/BoardofDirectors/BoardAgendasandReports/June182014.aspx
And here is the MBTA control board presentation on the 44 XDE60 order, which confirms they will be replacing the Neoplan CNG buses, not the Neoplan dual-mode buses:
http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Board_Meetings/4460FootLowFloorHybridBuses10052015.pdf
cybah
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That is actually MY mistake. He didn't say XD60s.. my notes said so.. or at least my chicken scratch on a stickie. I made a bad assumption there. He DID however say they were the dual mode ones that could be used in the tunnel.
And thank you Winston for posting some other source to your argument. I always err on the side of caution with internet posters because as we all know there's alot of mis information out there out. I just try to get information direct from people who would know. Apparently you are "in the know".
On a related note.. I'll be able to verify all of this with someone else who works further up the food chain at the MBTA later on today, as I was called this morning by them with more information (actually similar info that I already knew)
F-Line to Dudley
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Can't do that. Once the 73's back under-wire in a few months Cambridge is going to be back to thin, thin vehicle reserves on the TT fleet. On a normal day they have to be supplemented with occasional diesels, which are also hard to come by when Charlestown garage is itself straining under load. Back when the current Cambridge fleet was covering inaugural Transitway service prior to the full dual-mode fleet being delivered, Cambridge still had a dozen or so of the old 1970's TT's on reserve to cover the losses while the new buses were on loan to Silver. No such flexibility today.
There's also the problem of where to store them. Inaugural Transitway service wasn't firing on full headways so they could stuff them in every nook and cranny in the tunnel and SL Way. Can't do that anymore, especially with SL Gateway coming online. There's always enough buses paused on the loop or on SL Way during shift changes that they don't have the extra storage slots they had way back in '04. Silver's serviced out of Southampton garage 2-1/2 miles away. You have to tow those limited-service TT 40-footers a long distance to get them out of the way, or send some 60-footer dual-modes out-of-service to the garage during shift changes and cripple baseline service by making these "supplemental" 40-footer TT's transfer at SL Way all day long from lack of options for clearing them out of the way.
Ultimately every bus expansion plan runs into the same brick wall: the big garages that divvy up Downtown are all at- or over-capacity, and very small Southampton is the only one on the system that can service 60-footers so there's a seriously low cap on how many routes can be equipped with them. It's constraining all systemwide flexibility to solve route-specific problems in any targeted fashion because the storage isn't elastic enough to send service reinforcements without robbing some other route of its baseline service. You only get fairly rigid incremental improvements through cosmetic tweaks to schedules, robbing lesser routes of equipment to feed the beast, or by reserving what few crumbs of breathing room there are at the existing garages for whatever premium-tier service like Silver can be buffed out with a handful more padding.
And it's going to be this way until they start getting serious funding appropriations to enact the very unsexy garage expansion they detailed 12 years ago in the Bus Facilities Master Plan study. No two ways about it...options for slicing/dicing and pinpoint-control over service levels by scrambling more equipment only happens if they have more places to store more equipment (especially the 60-footers).
cybah
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Hey Folks!
I was going by Market Basket on the 112 today and saw one set of forms being built for Chelsea Station! Yay Progress! I'm going to guess the ones at Eastern Ave Station will go up super soon (as they are done grading, the concrete forms really are next)
This also means I should probably take photos soon. Maybe toward the end of the week if it's nice out I'll do the walk again. I'm about due again.
Take a peak at the forms!
#Progress
I was going by Market Basket on the 112 today and saw one set of forms being built for Chelsea Station! Yay Progress! I'm going to guess the ones at Eastern Ave Station will go up super soon (as they are done grading, the concrete forms really are next)
This also means I should probably take photos soon. Maybe toward the end of the week if it's nice out I'll do the walk again. I'm about due again.
Take a peak at the forms!
#Progress
cybah
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Oops and I was wrong. After I voted yesterday.. I walked over to Bellingham Sq Station will be and saw the footings for the cement station structures being built.
Annnnnddd... I took the 112 to Wood Island and saw new concrete forms at Eastern Ave Station. They must have just went up, as when I went by on Sunday they were not there.
Looks like they will be building all three stations at once! Pictures definitely coming soon! Yay Progress.
Annnnnddd... I took the 112 to Wood Island and saw new concrete forms at Eastern Ave Station. They must have just went up, as when I went by on Sunday they were not there.
Looks like they will be building all three stations at once! Pictures definitely coming soon! Yay Progress.