Hey, there! Log in / Register
Subways to run tomorrow, but with fewer trains; Red, Orange lines to be partially shut for midday snow removal
By adamg on Sun, 02/08/2015 - 5:44pm
The MBTA has announced abbreviated service for Monday that will mean longer waits for trains, even at rush hours. For example, at rush hour, Red Line trains will be scheduled every 14 minutes, instead of the normal 9 minutes; Orange Line trains will arrive every 10 minutes instead of every 6 minutes. Also:
Between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the MBTA will suspend Red Line service between Braintree and JFK/UMass Stations and Orange Line service between Oak Grove and Sullivan Stations so that jet engine powered snow blowers can be used to clear snow from the rights of way before the PM commute.
The Mattapan Line will be shut all day, replaced by buses - speaking of which, many regular routes will run on snow schedules. Commuter rail will run on regular schedules, but the T says count on delays. Also, "dress appropriately."
The MBTA is committed to providing service on Monday, February 9, even as the Boston region faces its third major snow event in less than three weeks and the authority’s aging fleet is depleted. The T’s focus will be on keeping its passengers and employees safe, providing a limited level of service for those who need to get to work or other destinations and preserving its vehicles and assets in order to return to normal service as soon after the storm as possible.
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
An unhappy medium
This is a useless and weak-willed attempt to have it both ways. Many employers base decisions on whether or not to open (and therefore whether or not to penalise employees for being unable to make it into work) on whether or not the T is running. Since there will be service, workplaces will expect less-essential employees to attend, thereby forcing people to take unnecessary risks; but the service will be even less reliable and timely than has been usual over the last few weeks, which means we'll all be endangering ourselves just to be late, angry, and freezing cold.
I understand that shutting down is considered to be a measure of last resort; but employers have made it eminently clear that they do not consider employees' safety unless they are forced to. For the city to rely on employers to make that call, rather than enforcing states of emergency, driving bans, and public transport closures, is to put business concerns ahead of citizens' safety.
It's especially ridiculous
It's especially ridiculous when you have a job where your work can easily be done at home, and your boss stills insists that everyone needs to come in as long as the T is running. Why force people to deal with some bulshit commute when they could probably be more productive staying at home?
Because your boss is an idiot
Because your boss is an idiot?
3rd Rail Sweepers
Many Chicago and some NYC subway cars are outfitted with a device which keeps the 3rd rail clean of snow and ice. Perhaps the T should pay these cities a visit if these aren't on the subway cars here.
NYC
I believe all NYC third rails are covered. That is, there's a board - a platform - above them all. My assumption has always been that this is a safety measure (if crossing tracks, it's impossible to step directly onto the third rail) but it also makes sense as a way to stop them from being covered by snow.
NYC Third Rail
(Scroll down to third photo and pay no attention to the cute feral kitten. Notice the board over the third rail.)
I've always wondered why the T hasn't built the same thing on top of their third rails.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Kittens!
Read the whole article, checked out all the photos. Forgot to look at the 3rd rail.
3rd Rail Cleaning Device
I know the NYC subways are covered and I've assumed for the same reasons, though presumably it doesn't hurt in the snow either. What I was referring to is a device on the train itself to keep the 3rd rail clear. See the below under "Sleet Scrapers"
http://www.transitchicago.com/winterprep/
According to that page all of their trains have them.
Edit: Also see this photo of the L has:
http://www.chicago-l.org/operations/power/images/cta5011-trolley_block.jpg
Metro-North Third Rail Is Designed To Avoid Ice Buildup
Winter Preparation
Just checked out how Chicago does it. From clearing the track to keeping the customers warm, it seems they've invested properly.
http://www.transitchicago.com/winterprep/
The MBTA could learn from this.
http://www.mbta.com/winterprep/
All of the Orange Line cars
All of the Orange Line cars and at least two-cars in each Red Line trains have third-rail sleet scrapers.
Not a fan of Gov Baker's call
Not a fan of Gov Baker's call on no state of emergency. Boston is expecting 12-20 inches of snow overnight and during the day tomorrow. Many private sector employers, mine included, use the state of emergency as the sole criterion for determining whether local offices are open or closed. No state of emergency and my colleagues will be commuting into Cambridge for work or taking PTO if they have to stay home. And the T isn't even running a full schedule.
Expect a Re-Run of Last Week's Disaster
Keeping people off the roads and off the T during the first blizzard gave work crews a chance to plow, shovel, and mitigate the mess. Sending the opposite message during last week's storm, which brought almost the same amount of snow, sent many more people to work, slowing all the plowing/shoveling/mitigation. As a result, we had epic transit failures at every level.
We are poised now to repeat that error a week later. Employers will expect employees, people will be stranded, and traffic will be awful, not just tomorrow but Tuesday and Wednesday as well because plows and shovels will be operating so much more slowly.
This is precisely why you won't hear this from the Governor
I think that he takes these things seriously (witness the travel ban for the blizzard), but he comes from the school that government shouldn't substitute its judgment for that of private industry except in the most extenuating circumstances.
There is a distinction here with the blizzard, too - the effects of the blizzard were forecast (and did) to be felt over at least half of the state. This particular storm is forecast to hit a smaller area hardest, with amounts as low as 6-8 inches expected in the (shadowed by the Worcester Hills) CT river valley (e.g., Springfield).
Perhaps the Mayor ought to be declaring a city-wide state of emergency (or should have a week ago).
I understand the logic that
I understand the logic that the private sector can make its own individual decisions, but that is not really how it works for many non-local companies. Many are open by default unless they're required to be closed. Personally, I work for a large, out of state employer with offices in various places around the country. Each office is open and employees are either present or take a PTO day unless the state government has issued a state of emergency. No one at our corporate offices is monitoring the weather in Cambridge. Whether Gov. Baker realizes it or not, the decision about whether we commute or not has been outsourced to him.
It's schizo.
How is the original travel ban justified but not one for this? Is he tacitly admitting the original ban was in error?
Because they're two different storms?
The word "blizzard' carried more panic factor. Even though this storm may be a bigger PITA with the existing snow on the ground.
No big surprise
A republican elected by suburbanites and business owners isn't going to care about the plight of public transportation-dependent inner-city types. God bless the almighty dollar.
Hahaha
Ya its because he's an evil Republican. If this is your best criticism of a newly elected Gov who was handed a deficit (from a Democrat) shy of $770mm id say he's doing a rather good job.
Has he started shopping for drapery and/or a new luxury auto? No he's gone in the opposite direction, he chose a small vs the Gov. suit.
I guess you're right...
...I mean, he is giving all non-emergency state workers the day off. Generous of him to look after his own like that. He's a peach, that fella.
Nice shot
Not really. It's simply because most of the state isn'the expecting crippling amounts of snow. It would be stupid to declare a state-wide state of emergency when N. Adams gets one inch of snow.
But yeah, make it a Repuplican thing.
Good thing he doesn't have to do it statewide
'cuz, you know, it's not all-or-nothing.
I sure do hate it when Southern governors say "We can't declare a state of emergency because of Hurricane Apoplexy, it only hit 10 counties!"
Baker already blew half the
Baker already blew half the snow budget with just the first storm.
https://twitter.com/JamieEldridgeMA/status/560164390356647936
Maybe that has something to do with it?
Well in his defense, the
Well in his defense, the parade route looked fantastic last week (even if the rest of the city looked like the third world).
That was Marty
Not Baker
stranding people between 10
stranding people between 10 and 3 seems harsh to the folks that have to go, or else not get paid...and then be stranded if the storm is bad enough for the job to close early.
It's clear that Baker is calling the shots.
The man has no understanding of public transportation, how people use it, and what their expectations are. Has anyone asked him the last time he took it?
Remember how many YEARS it
Remember how many YEARS it took Deval to ride the MBTA?
Nope
So why don't you enlighten us?
Remember how Dukakis used to ride it all the time? I used to see him at Park Street.
http://boston.cbslocal.com
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/09/21/%E2%80%98busted%E2%80%99-patrick-t...
Too lazy to Google it for yourself.
Patrick had to be embarrassed into riding the Red Line to work.
The MBTA is fast becoming the
ACA of rapid transit.
Nah
We force people to subsidize the ACA.
The MBTA is funded largely
The MBTA is funded largely through sales taxes; the fares/advertising make up a tiny proportion of their revenues.
No. About 40%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farebox_recovery_ratio ~40%.
The funny thing about numbers is they're falsifiable. Check before you troll next time.
I think you've forgotten how
I think you've forgotten how analogies work.
It's not nice to fool mother nature
I figured the T was running some kind of reduced schedule after last week's storms when the Orange Line was departing from Forest Hills every 10-15 minutes and was packed full of people. By the time the trains reached Ruggles, they were packed solid. When Friday rolled around, it was far less crowded (likely because it was extremely cold).
The Red Line fell into the same pattern. On Tuesday, it was "severe delays", but by Friday, it was about as normal as you could get (at 7 in the morning) with no delays.
Still, this weather's been a royal pain in the wazoo. We would complain the same in the summer if we had a long heatwave, but somewhere along the line, someone fooled Mother Nature and she's paying back big time.
Meanwhile in Canda:
Meanwhile in Canda:
">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yja2VmZOfdA[/youtube]
Train says, "Snow Eh? We'll see aboot that!"
That. Is. Awesome.
That. Is. Awesome.
They must use some sort of
They must use some sort of alien technology.
We can do that in
We can do that in Massachusetts.
Is someone calculating the economic loses?
I hope that someone, hopefully someone close to our "data-driven" governor (and the Senate President and House Speaker), is calculating the massive economic losses that are being incurred because we can't clear streets and our public transit system is a shambles.
I nominate you, Mr. Guzzi, and the rest of the Boston Chamber. We need a broad based industry association to stand up and demand action in the form of the investments necessary to ensure reliable service in general, and certainly not massive reductions in service when demand is increased!
I hope that Mr. Guzzi in particular will take his lame duck status as license to tee off on the ridiculousness of what is going on here.
Ashmont line
how come 2 of the 3 lines that were shut this wknd for Snowzilla are getting it again? Is Ashmont "done" or dispensable. When I rode it today, I looked and frankly, did not see much of a difference than before Snowzilla. I predict a week of T hell worse than B4
This is pretty much how it's
This is pretty much how it's been running for the last week and a half anyway, at least as far as the Orange Line is concerned. Trains have been coming every 10-15 mins and are packed. Usually I never have to wait to get on the next train when I go home in the evening but I've had to wait several times recently, and miss my bus on the other end as a result. I think they will be criticized no matter what they do but at this point, they may as well just shut it down and use the time to clean up and perform maintenance.
Right, IOW, they're finally
Right, IOW, they're finally admitting the reality that that can't keep the system running at its normal speed—finally.
The Problem with this
So, I have employees. They live all over eastern MA. My office is in Harvard Square. So, do I want them to take the commuter rail or bus in the morning which is expecting delays into Boston only to get shut down because the red line won't run to Harvard after 10:00. But my employer may decide to open since the T is not actually shut down. This sucks as a middle manager. I can't tell them just stay home.
Just make a freaking actual decision. I would respect a politician who makes a hard call much more than a weenie who wants to placate all parties.
Red Line will still run to Harvard after 10 am
Read the announcement again. It's the Braintree branch that will shut down at 10.
Which obviously affects an
Which obviously affects an employee traveling between Braintree and Harvard Square on the, you know, red line...
"I can't tell them just stay home."
Not to let the MBTA off the hook, but if the nature of your business will allow it, you might consider developing a work-from-home capability. My company's normal mode of operation is half of the time from home, so when storms come, it's really no big deal.
(of course there's a LOT more to it than giving people laptops and saying, "Hey, work from home!" -- but for at least some kinds of businesses, it can be done and be perfectly functional)
"Just make a freaking actual
"Just make a freaking actual decision."
Why don't you make a decision, manager boy?
Keep reading..
He's middle management, which is why it's not his decision. Good reading comprehension, comment boy.
Youll note that the most
Youll note that the most reliable, efficient, and comfortable line at all, the state of the art Silver Line (TM) will be running at 100% service all day.
In my experience...
...it is unwise to use the phrase "will be running" in reference to any service of the MBTA.
Ditto buses
The above-ground parts of the silver line's routes will experience the same hellacious conditions - and delays - as the buses that will be 'running' tomorrow.
Snow Route in Effect
Silver Line - SL2 Snow Route in Effect: Omitting 88 Black Falcon Pier. Connect at Northern Ave.
http://www.mbta.com/rider_tools/transit_updates/
1 stop a block away from
1 stop a block away from another isnt really an issue
Once again
I love how your scope of the entire Silver Line is only the North side, a-k-a Waterfront/Airport.
Latest MBTA Alert for Silver Line:
"All bus lines experiencing moderate delays due to snow."
Since you never get to the South side, a-k-a Washington Street, let me explain to you what that means:
We can only hope the T"s plan
We can only hope the T"s plan will work. I dont drive and rely solely on the T to get me from the South Shore to Charlestown everyday. I have to go to work. Hopefully the track cleaning will make for a better night,unlike last week.... The Braintree line is more heavily traveled.
Bleep that. These trains are
Bleep that. These trains are dying of old age. We're now at the point where we put our jobs (and lives, for that matter) in jeopardy because of such poor service.
No love for the blue line
Why isn't the MBTA using these jet engines to clear snow from the blue line? It continues to suffer delays even today, but we only clear off the orange and red lines?
One of the few planes that
One of the few planes that manages to take off from Logan will just buzz the Blue Line and give it a quick dusting with its jet exhaust.
Ride sharing
Ride Sharing activities around the Boston metropolitan area exist. But a) are they well designed with current available technologies/software ? b) What are the available ride sharing online boards/lists/forums ?...
I for one appreciated that I
I for one appreciated that I could take the T to work today.... as a hospital employee without a car who's required to be here whether or not the T is running or there's a state emergency, not having to take an uber over yesterday and sleeping on a cot was nice. From my morning commute, it looks like a lot of people are taking the day off or working from home.... 10 people on the 39 and 4 of them got off at the VA with me...