So yeah.
As I said in a previous post.. the best way to describe the SL3 is:
"When it's good, it's good. But when it's bad, it's really bad"
Today, was no exception. As you can see from
my sheet, The AM was OK. But the PM...ouch.
Yeah a bit of traffic in the tunnel, and then the bridge went up. Since it was raining and I had a seat, I didn't care. But what happened next is what got me.
We finally get over the bridge (mind you, we're pushin 20 minutes behind), and the driver turns around at Eastern Ave to the inbound stop and says "everyone out".
Uh.
So I asked the inspector lady here WHY would you do such a thing? Her reply "Well since the bridge went up, the driver is late so we have to short turn here".
Let me get this straight... traffic in a tunnel and a bridge that went up for 20 minutes, both of which you have no control so the bus is already late getting these passengers to their location because of said bridge and tunnel; And your solution here is just to dump the passengers off in the rain at Eastern Ave Station only to be told "oh there will be another one in a few" on a line that already has headway issues??
Got it!
That *screams* customer service. /snark
Yeah.. *flips hair back* Now, I want to speak to your manager.
Not kidding, I am going to raise holy hell about this. That is just not right.
It also supports my idea of offering a "Chelsea Shuttle" (Airport Station <-> Chelsea loop route) to supplement service.
My main issue with dumping people off is that there would be no "another one" for at least 7 or more minutes (more like 10). At least if there was a shuttle (even just one lone bus doing loops all day), it's something to get people where they want to go.
Regardless I still don't think the T should have just dumped everyone off there. The bus can do the entire loop in about 10 minutes (Eastern Ave <-> Chelsea) if it has no passenger delays. The bus is already late, so why make the passengers suffer?
And my other issue is if you can't let the guy get off schedule, then why don't you just add 2 more buses to the route to help with the off timings? It's pretty obvious the T is barely keeping its promised headway, and we could use 2 more buses to do so. Yet I see a dual mode bus being used for the Shuttle between SS and SLW instead of the 2 re-branded trackless trolley's sitting there at courthouse everyday.
And if not those, then see suggestion about a Chelsea Shuttle, those can be done with standard Silver Line livery (SL5 livery), or even some SL branded 40 footers. Again this is a super easy win, and provides options. (OK the SL3 is late, but this bus will take me to the blue line at least so I can keep moving.. kinda thought process). Plus frankly, it will give the appearance of actual service. Maybe not ideal service, but again.. options. People like options.
The T will have to do something. I know it's still early and I'm trying to be as fair as a I can, but I fear that if the service continues to have issues, it's going to be a hard sell as a alternative to local current bus routes.
Anyways /rant