My (admittedly built-in) GPS has never told me to turn onto the train tracks in Brookline or Brighton. Or anywhere else. It's occasionally sent me onto an excessively potholed road, but I chalk that up to New England weather, rather than the GPS.

But if it did, would you

By Hyde_Parker on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 9:33am.

But if it did, would you listen to it? That's what always gets me.

Since when has driving along and over train tracks been a legitimate way of getting anywhere in Boston? I can't speak to places like the Australian Outback, but at least in the 617 we use paved roads.

Since when has driving along

By anonalex on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 11:57am.

Since when has driving along and over train tracks been a legitimate way of getting anywhere in Boston?

"E" Branch? Maybe they figure if you can drive on one Green Line track you can drive on all of them.

Driving over train tracks

By Ron Newman on Wed, 01/15/2014 - 1:54am.

also, the non-revenue tracks on Chestnut Hill Ave. in Brighton, which connect the B and C lines.

I have some recollection of freight tracks on East First Street in South Boston, but they aren't there anymore.

remember kids

By anon on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 12:52am.

THOSE DAMN CYCLISTS!

If only the pedestrians would

By Scratchie on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 9:44am.

If only the pedestrians would wear bright-colored clothing, this wouldn't happen.

Close. Visibility needed

By Markk02474 on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 12:40pm.

Better lighting at road/track intersections would let drivers see the tracks better at night. Are these events happening more at night than day? If so, visibility is a factor.

Perhaps some fluorescent paint and/or reflectors on the side of rails and on ties would help reduce these events too.

There was a bollard

By Matthew on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 1:05pm.

To protect the tracks and platform, apparently, but it was taken away because cars kept hitting it.

People waiting for the train are much squishier and don't cause as much damage to cars.

Many ways to mark edge of driving area

By Markk02474 on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 6:33pm.

If it were a RR crossing instead of the MBTA green line, signage and marking would be much more overt.

Many roads have fog lines in retro-reflective white paint to mark the edges of a roadway. Ends of and sections of guard rails usually have reflectors. It just seems like more than sometimes rubber cones can be used to prevent such service disruptions by idiots out there.

Ha ha ha ha ha

By Scratchie on Wed, 01/15/2014 - 12:45am.

Highly visible reflectors on Boston roadways. That'll definitely happen.

Here's a novel concept

By SwirlyGrrl on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 1:15pm.

How about drivers who actually pay attention, look out their windows, and don't speed ... OR STOP DRIVING?

The greenline is a lost cause

By anon on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 11:16am.

it should be nuked and maybe replaced with heavy 3rd rail subway. Obviously not in this lifetime or the next.

Yeah, because there's

By Scratchie on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 11:41am.

Yeah, because there's obviously no possible way to stop car drivers from just going wherever the fuck they want.

Change parts of it to a

By Better idea on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 12:04pm.

Change parts of it to a modern concrete elevated right of way. It would work wonders to avoid cross traffic on Commonwealth Avenue and cost far less than a subway. The land underneath could be converted to a linear park/bikeway/metered parking as needed

That's an OLD idea

By Markk02474 on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 6:32pm.

Obviously won't be done because it has proven effective and safer for many decades around the world. People, bicyclists, and cars crossing at surface level is much more "friendly" and "livable".

Sure

By Matthew on Wed, 01/15/2014 - 12:41am.

You don't happen to have a few billion dollars lying around do ya?

Or a NIMBY flyswatter?

Another motorist stops the Green Line by driving on the tracks

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