Silver Line to Chelsea

[cybah]

Hey All-

Well its been a while since an update (and some gross weather), so I figured since it was a nice day yesterday I would seize the nice day and take photos!

Like everything about this project.. it's "moving along". Lots of little stuff here there. Better curbing in place, more of the retaining walls being done (and the start of forms for the top edging of the walls), electrical panel pre-wiring being done.. stuff like that, so you know its moving along.

The biggest thing to note is the new glass panels at Box District Station, as you'll see below. No where in any of the drawings are there these panels.. unless something changed (and I glazed over it somewhere).

Even still... meh. Glass Panels. While the extra thought.. and I do mean thought of the panels as more of a weather shield, they really are for aesthetic reasons. And I know Chelsea... and don't get me wrong, I love Chelsea... I know these will be targets for vandals. Meh.

The other big thing that is going on is that different levels of construction at each station. Chelsea Station has one done canopy, but one still has exposed metal (just waiting for concrete to be poured). Bellingham Sq Station just has footings, while Eastern Ave Station is almost ready for finishes (and looks like it will be getting the same treatment as Box District Station soon).

But it's all coming together, very very quietly.

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
Pics from 10/5/16
Pics from 11/10/16
Pics from 12/14/16

And if you'd like to see the ALL of NEW photos, you can click here

Now for the highlights..

Finished canopy's at Eastern Ave Station, as seen from Eastern Ave

(note: the brown thingys on the sides are for the louvers, as see below at Box District Station)

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Looking toward Eastern Ave Station (and the finished canopy's) from the Cottage Street Crossing

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Looking into the busway toward Box District Station from the Bellingham Street Bridge. (notice the nearly finished wall!)

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Finished curbing (black) near Library Street

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Box District Station with its new glass peices!

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Another shot of Box District Station with its new glass pieces!

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Another shot of Box District Station with its new glass!

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Rendering of Box Distrct Station, as originally provided by MassDot (for reference!)

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New shared use path (right) and busway (left) as seen from the Broadway bridge

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Them putting the finishing pieces on the retailing wall near the Broadway bridge

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The finished wall (or nearly finished wall) at the Broadway bridge looking toward Box District Station

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Future shared used path as seen looking toward Bellingham Sq Station

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The footings of Bellingham Sq Station, as seen from Sixth @ Arlington.

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I saw a couple of these at key train/busway intersections (Spruce & Everett), they look like they are going to be massive by the footing.. more so than the other ones they put in a few moths ago. Anyone know why?

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Finished and construction of canopy at Chelsea Station

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That's all for now. Probably more pics early March, unless big changes happen. And as always, let me know what you think!

 

[jass]

Great pics like always.

I still wonder why the stations were designed in 1965 though.

 

[cybah]

Great pics like always.

I still wonder why the stations were designed in 1965 though.

Yeah I know.. I've always thought they look very 60s/70s concrete jungle transit system (i.e. Wellington, Malden, etc). But concrete is cheap and durable so I can see why they used it.

 

[jass]

Yeah I know.. I've always thought they look very 60s/70s concrete jungle transit system (i.e. Wellington, Malden, etc). But concrete is cheap and durable so I can see why they used it.

It only takes a cheap outer layer to bring it to at least 1990

 

[JohnAKeith]

Geez this seems to be going slowly for a bus lane.

 

[tangent]

Geez this seems to be going slowly for a bus lane.

If they did it too quickly or too cheaply they would make the green line look bad.

 

[cybah]

Geez this seems to be going slowly for a bus lane.

Its actually on schedule. They said it would take ~2 years and it'll be just a little over when it opens in late spring. I see little minor changes here and there each time I go, it's moving along. A lot faster than some other projects. Plus it is winter, I didn't expect many real big changes from the last time. However, I do expect since they are installing glass panels, the rest of the finishes will soon follow. So as I say.. 'it's coming along.."

 

[Arborway]

I'm honestly surprised they paved large sections of it, then moved in heavy equipment to build the rest of the infrastructure.

I would've thought they'd wait until the last minute to pave, but I guess I'm not a project manager.

 

[cybah]

I'm honestly surprised they paved large sections of it, then moved in heavy equipment to build the rest of the infrastructure.

I would've thought they'd wait until the last minute to pave, but I guess I'm not a project manager.

I think thats a pre-pave (if there's such a thing).. cuz it doesn't run the entire length of the busway and is missing in spots. I think it was to level out the surface some before a final pave before it opens. Alot of the edging/curbing looks odd.. like its not in place right yet.. maybe it will get an extra pave before it opens.

 

[Arborway]

I think thats a pre-pave (if there's such a thing).. cuz it doesn't run the entire length of the busway and is missing in spots. I think it was to level out the surface some before a final pave before it opens. Alot of the edging/curbing looks odd.. like its not in place right yet.. maybe it will get an extra pave before it opens.

Yeah, I'm hoping it's just a base layer or something to help stage the heavy equipment.

Those photos gave me flashbacks to the Silver Line transitway pavement failing immediately after opening, and the LA Orange Line BRT transitway having to close twice for repaving in the first few years of operation.

 

[cybah]

Yeah, I'm hoping it's just a base layer or something to help stage the heavy equipment.

Those photos gave me flashbacks to the Silver Line transitway pavement failing immediately after opening, and the LA Orange Line BRT transitway having to close twice for repaving in the first few years of operation.

No, I think what's there is just to flatten out the initial surface and give them a smoother road to drive on (almost all the construction trucks use it). If you look in this older picture from 8/16/16 (before it became a mud pit) you can see the pavement ends flat with the dirt.

There's other sections where they cut the pavement all together so, either for drainage or wiring, so you can tell it was just put there so construction vehicles had something to drive on.

so yeah I think they will give it one final complete paving once they are near completion.

 

[North Shore]

Hey All-

I saw a couple of these at key train/busway intersections (Spruce & Everett), they look like they are going to be massive by the footing.. more so than the other ones they put in a few moths ago. Anyone know why?

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Looks like a standard MassDOT traffic signal footing for a mast arm. Usually 3'6 to 4'6" in diameter with the steel ring and anchor bolts.

Is there an overhead signal/ped signals slated for this location?

 

[cybah]

Hey All-


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Looks like a standard MassDOT traffic signal footing for a mast arm. Usually 3'6 to 4'6" in diameter with the steel ring and anchor bolts.

Is there an overhead signal/ped signals slated for this location?

The answer is yes and no. The SLG is two phases:

Phase 1 - New Busway, BRT Stations, Replacement of Washington Ave Bridge
Phase 2 - New Commuter Rail Station

Phase 1's design is already complete, and currently being constructed. This includes just about all the work in the pictures I take.

Phase 2's design was completed early 2016 with construction starting in late 2016, which includes the new commuter rail station. However, this phase also includes traffic signals where the busway crosses Arlington, Spruce, and Everett Ave. These signals will stop traffic on local streets so the SLG buses do not wait at these crossings to continue down the busway.

I mean this is what I THOUGHT they were for. The placement of them doesn't make a whole lot of sense (see below). I thought they were for railroad signals, but many have been replaced/moved earlier last year, and the footing is far smaller. However... not all of them are done yet.

Spruce's are done and were moved over the summer.

Arlington I believe really needs more work to be done on the busway and the stations before the railroad signals could be moved. One smaller footing (ones that are in similar size to the ones at Spruce) for these already exist on the far side of the intersection (diagonal from the entrance to B'ham Sq Station and the busway), just no lights yet.

And Everett's have not been done at all. (it's clear that they have not). And they may not be done at all because of the layout of the busway/intersection and may not need it.

The placement of these huge footings are kinda weird, which is why I didn't think they were for railroad crossing signals. And some intersections have them already. Everett has two, see below, Spruce only had one. And Arlington has none yet. Of course this could be an oversight on my part as I could not get near one area of that intersection due to the construction guys working.

Here's a rudentmentary diagram of the Everett Ave crossing and current placement:

The blue dots are the current railroad signals. The yellow dots are the huge footings.

I guess after doing this diagram .. Yes.. they are for the traffic signals for the BRT line.

I guess what's throwing me off are two things

Placement - Just seems odd you would put one traffic light on the OPPOSITE side of the railroad tracks so stopped cars could in theory stop on the railroad tracks to wait for the light (bad idea). And of course the light being blocked when a train goes buy! Of course, I know I'm not a traffic person, so I could not know the real reason why it was done this way (but I am sure, one of you will tell me!)

Construction Plan - Originally we were told (in meetings) that the lights would be done as apart of Phase 2 and could not possibily be done for a year or two after the busway opened, depending on when the grant for the new Commuter Rail station came thru. But that came thru early last year so I guess construction for Phase 2 could begin sooner than later.

Regardless, if they are for traffic lights for the busway, glad to see its happening. It was one of my concerns about the project initially is that it would be forgotten about, and we'd kinda stuck with something that sucks and just doesn't work!

PS - I apologize for the word salad but lots to say and hard way to format into something that flowed right.

 

[cybah]

That looks like about the right location for a signal foundation. Signals have to be at least 40 feet from the stop bar so you can see them below the top of your windshield. If the stop bar were behind the RR tracks, that would be about 60-70 feet. Gate equip will be at the tracks, signal equip past the tracks. You don't need to see the traffic signals when a train is passing, the RR signals govern at that point (and the big f'in train).

Yeah I was wondering where the stop line would be, it just seems like the stop line would be closer to the tracks on the inbound side of everett ave (to Chelsea), rather than the opposite side of the busway so the stop line is further back from the tracks. (I know, confusing to draw a mental picture)

Anyways thanks for your reply. I knew someone here would know the correct answer. Anyways regardless, glad to see them getting installed. Yay for something done right at the T for once!

 

[cybah]

So it's been confirmed. These are signals for the busway. I went to Market Basket today and saw these up.

Interesting enough, two are going up one side. One on each side of the tracks and busway. Still confused at why.

Maybe so if a train is going by you can still see what signal it is. Or maybe there will be one side that faces the busway itself (as a signal for the buses). #confused

I guess we'll find out soon enough!

Who knew signals could be so exciting!!!

 

[North Shore]

Who knew signals could be so exciting!!!

Me! (Well, it gets me paid, at least )

 

[cybah]

Me! (Well, it gets me paid, at least )

haha.

I'm excited because it's going to be done the *right* way.

Does anyone know if this will be "gold standard BRT" when it's done? (I'm asking because I'm unclear what gold standard is or not)

 

[JeffDowntown]

haha.

I'm excited because it's going to be done the *right* way.

Does anyone know if this will be "gold standard BRT" when it's done? (I'm asking because I'm unclear what gold standard or not)

Are the stations pre-paid, controlled access, all door boarding, or do you pay on boarding (pre-paid is gold standard)?

Platinum Standard includes dual station stops with all door exit, all door boarding, first stop for exiting, the second stop for boarding, both elevated, level with the interior (no steps).

Are the signals triggered for the buses, or do they have to wait at street crossings (signal priority is gold standard).

 

[cybah]

Are the stations pre-paid, controlled access, all door boarding, or do you pay on boarding (pre-paid is gold standard)?

It's on board fare collection. Machines will be at stations to sell tickets, but its not pre-payment. And no, controlled access to stations. (more due to cost & location. A few stations are a VERY tight fit)

Platinum Standard includes dual station stops with all door exit, all door boarding, first stop for exiting, the second stop for boarding, both elevated, level with the interior (no steps).

I was asking gold, not platinum. All door exit, yes.

All-door boarding should come with AFC 2.0, but not currently upon opening of this line in a few months. (I believe AFC 2.0 is whiles away)

Are the signals triggered for the buses, or do they have to wait at street crossings (signal priority is gold standard).

I would assume so, wouldn't make sense to have signals that randomly change if the buses aren't there, especially at busy intersections like Everett Ave. But to answer truthfully.. I can't answer that definitively. I'll add it to my list of questions I want to ask when I get my tour (which is coming soon btw..)

 

[JeffDowntown]

Well, look at it this way, you have a really good dedicated busway.

As long as demand is not too high (which would be demand like the Silver Line Washington Street, where bunching is endemic), single door boarding probably won't mess up headway too much. Waiting for people to enter and pay through a single door really slows things down (even prepaid Charlie Tickets process slower than a Charlie Card tap).