There are actual cuts in the massive icebanks along Cambridge Street, which means you can get out of a 66 bus without having to walk in the street for half a block before you can get on the sidewalk.

I suppose I'm lucky...

By Chris Tucker on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 12:48pm.

...in that when I need to catch a bus here in Mattapan, it's easiest for me to just catch it at the trolley stop at River and Blue Hill. Last time I was on the #31, people were standing in the street to get the bus.

It'd be nice if the MBTA would shovel out the MBTA Commuter rail overpass on River Street and the sidewalk abutting its right of way by Public Storage. I mean, they ARE the owner of that stretch of right of way and they ARE required by law to clear that stretch of sidewalk, right?

actually...no

By anon on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 1:37pm.

the area you described is the city's responsibility. good luck getting them to lift a finger

Actually, you'er wrong.

By Chris Tucker on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 6:50pm.

The property next to Public Storage is MBTA right of way. They OWN the right of way. Their property goes all the way up the hill to the sidewalk, where their fence prevents access to their right of way.

As the sidewalk parallels the MBTA fenceline, it, and the overpass sidewalks are abutting the MBTA property.

Therefore, as the landowners abutting the sidewalk, they are obligated to clear it.

lazy MBTA / city government

By Brett on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 2:41pm.

It seems like the city and the MBTA realized they couldn't just leave the snow piled up everywhere in everyone's way...that they had to actually REMOVE IT, or we'd all be fucked in a few days. The amount of snow in front of Boston Public Library a few days ago was comical - it reached well past 6 feet in places.

Nobody's doing anything about the snow in neighborhoods where the streets have become pencil-thin. What if there's a fire or someone needs an ambulance?

South Street near Forest Hills has been so choked with snow buildup that two 39 busses can't pass each other unless one of them pulls into empty space left by the intersection of a side street. It's been that way for weeks. Let's not forget that the last storm hit overnight, when plows should have had really good access...

That stretch of South Street is a riot

By Michael on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 2:47pm.

...especially because people are still parking there and occasionally getting rear-view mirrors taken off by one of those 39s that can't get through unless somebody with the nerves and reflexes of a Blue Angel is driving. I've seen it happen twice already.

And then traffic backs up for blocks and blocks and I whistle as I walk past it to the Orange Line (at least until I get there and find out what fresh hell the MBTA has in store for its train riders)

Very Overdue

By massmarrier on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 2:43pm.

I rarely take buses (mostly bike, walk and some subway). I did the 32 to Forest Hills from HP and then on to Copley on the 39. I don't know whether I felt sorrier for the driver or the passengers. Stop after stop was impassable. The driver had to guess where the least unsafe place to let off and pick up was. The folk had to scramble over snowbanks and big icy patches.

It looked like the plow operators were worse than ignoring the stops. The way the snow was heaped, it was more like they made a game of punishing the bus users. Triple boo for them.

The driver (66638) of the 39 was cool about it though. He really tried. He called out whether it would be safer to exit in the front or back too. At one point a passenger yelled at him for a long time about not being let off at the actual stop (which was nearly covered over on the curb); the driver didn't bite, just letting him rant and saying, "Whatever..."

Why is JCDecaux skimping on

By J on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 4:35pm.

Why is JCDecaux skimping on their contract and not clearing the shelters as they are required to do so?

Looks like NYC is having the

By J on Mon, 01/31/2011 - 5:59pm.

Looks like NYC is having the same problem, with CEMUSA selling ads but not shoveling snow.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/01/31/201...

MBTA bus-shelter shovel blitz along Blue Hill Avenue

Comments

Support Universal Hub

In other Mattapan news