3 years in. Same garbage system. She can no longer say "The state needs to do this or that" She is the state. When Pollack says the MBTA:MassDOT failed to do something in 2018, it means Pollack failed to do something. Its time for Baker to have some deep introspection.
The new trains won't fix signal issues, or track fires, or several other issues. It's a start, but I don't understand why new trains seems to be their only plan.
But what is the chief source of Gaffin rhyme worthy T delays on a regular basis? Trains build before 1986 86ing on us. Same thing with his consecutive Red Line stories here. New trains plus the theoretical investment in system maintenance should handle this.
But yes, signal and switch problems should not be happening as much as they do.
Yes. Baker and his fellow highway bros are to blame for the terrible funding systems. However, Dukakis signed off. Dukakis had N-S Link dreams running through his head. He didn't review the potential loopholes.
And if you read the post Adam wrote, I would say that Cellucci, Swift, Romney, and first term Patrick should most of the blame for us having Nixon era railcars breaking down on the Red Line and Carter era Orange Line cars breaking down on the Orange Line. I mean, do you drive a car built in 1979 to work every day? If you do, I bet you’re late a lot.
I don’t recall Adam mentioning the Red or Orange lines being shut down due to a tunnel collapse, and the Orange Line has been running well this week. Maybe it was a different Downtown Crossing in a different city.
If so, UHUB would just be a long list of T failure every day all day. Several T fails are not picked up by the press. And anyone who transfers at DTX has seen the tunnel collapses; er I mean; "station improvements". Just like minor and severe delay word-smithing. The station and tunnel collapses are getting the PR treatment
Luis "no experience required" Ramirez isn't responsible for anything. If something is broken, it must be Barbara Scott's fault.
Teflon Charlie is still polling great numbers.
Looking back it's quite enraging that Baker so publicly tanked Beverly Scott's leadership after service problems that nowadays would look like a normal week on the MBTA. Might have been worth it to at least wait a little while to see how the MBTA does under an actual transit expert with a track record leading major public transportation systems. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But I believe that Elmer would probably mention that before leaving office, Governor Patrick ordered new trains to replace the ones that entered service during the Nixon administration. They start coming online in 2020(?)
Blame "Winter Resiliency" when the switches and track get messed up during the cold weather. Of course, blame mismanagement when the switches and signals get messed up during good weather.
Based on that it sounds like the real problem was the state saddling the MBTA with debt incurred as part of the state implementation plans that were forced on the state as transit mitigation for the vehicular portion of the Big Dig.
Basically the state wanted to improve vehicular traffic, payed for that portion of their work, but then decided that the MBTA should be forced to deal with paying for the federally required transit portion while balancing it's own budget, and then gave it an inadequate revenue source to do so. So the MBTA started operating on its own starting with poor funding and 3.8 billion in debt. Brilliant I'd say.
all the new trains, switches, and tracks in the world can't fix the fundamental infra issues. The T expanded too quickly. And without enough money to maintain the existing tunnels.
The oldest parts of the system - centered on the park street/downtown crossing red line/ green line nexus - are failing particularly around electrical issues. The center can no longer sustain the older expansions let alone any new ones. New cars and going deeper into Somerville will not solve this fundamental problem only make it worse.
Comments
Perfect Weather. crashing system
Time for some T introspection. Cut all expansion. Improve all existing service
Why didn't the Winter Resiliency program work?
It should have prevented all of these problems. Today isn't even that cold.
Because the T's problems are
Because the T's problems are much greater than "winter". These are year-round issues.
Pollack has some explaining to do
3 years in. Same garbage system. She can no longer say "The state needs to do this or that" She is the state. When Pollack says the MBTA:MassDOT failed to do something in 2018, it means Pollack failed to do something. Its time for Baker to have some deep introspection.
You know what they should do?
Buy some new trains, because these trains are breaking down a lot.
I hope they read these comments and look into buying new Red Line cars.
Come on, MassDOT. The Red Line needs some new trains. Put out the contract tender soon, because it takes a while to build these things.
The new trains won't fix
The new trains won't fix signal issues, or track fires, or several other issues. It's a start, but I don't understand why new trains seems to be their only plan.
Yes
But what is the chief source of Gaffin rhyme worthy T delays on a regular basis? Trains build before 1986 86ing on us. Same thing with his consecutive Red Line stories here. New trains plus the theoretical investment in system maintenance should handle this.
But yes, signal and switch problems should not be happening as much as they do.
Stop trying to defend Dukakis' terrible decisions
The existing tunnels are falling apart. Dukakis expanded without considering maintenance. End of story. Move on.
You spelled the guy's name wrong
It's B-A-K-E-R, as in the guy who came up with the Big Dig funding scheme that saddled the MBTA with all those debts it couldn't really pay for. HTH.
You're Correct. But
Yes. Baker and his fellow highway bros are to blame for the terrible funding systems. However, Dukakis signed off. Dukakis had N-S Link dreams running through his head. He didn't review the potential loopholes.
The tunnels aren’t falling apart
And if you read the post Adam wrote, I would say that Cellucci, Swift, Romney, and first term Patrick should most of the blame for us having Nixon era railcars breaking down on the Red Line and Carter era Orange Line cars breaking down on the Orange Line. I mean, do you drive a car built in 1979 to work every day? If you do, I bet you’re late a lot.
No. The T tunnels, stations, and bridges are all falling apart
Its reality
Yes they are
DTX had a partial collapse a few days ago.
Funny
I don’t recall Adam mentioning the Red or Orange lines being shut down due to a tunnel collapse, and the Orange Line has been running well this week. Maybe it was a different Downtown Crossing in a different city.
You can't rely on UHUB to report every T failing
If so, UHUB would just be a long list of T failure every day all day. Several T fails are not picked up by the press. And anyone who transfers at DTX has seen the tunnel collapses; er I mean; "station improvements". Just like minor and severe delay word-smithing. The station and tunnel collapses are getting the PR treatment
It just seems like
A tunnel collapse would cause service to be stopped for hours, if not days. Kind of a big deal.
Duk, Wel, Cel, Rom, Dev, Bak
They're all responsible. Not just Dukakis
Winter Resiliancy
Luis "no experience required" Ramirez isn't responsible for anything. If something is broken, it must be Barbara Scott's fault.
Teflon Charlie is still polling great numbers.
Looking back it's quite
Looking back it's quite enraging that Baker so publicly tanked Beverly Scott's leadership after service problems that nowadays would look like a normal week on the MBTA. Might have been worth it to at least wait a little while to see how the MBTA does under an actual transit expert with a track record leading major public transportation systems. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You mean Beverly Scott, right? Pollack's old punching bag?
Pollack would blame Scott for everything. Now Pollack can only blame Pollack
Old trains are old trains
They break down all seasons.
But I believe that Elmer would probably mention that before leaving office, Governor Patrick ordered new trains to replace the ones that entered service during the Nixon administration. They start coming online in 2020(?)
Blame "Winter Resiliency" when the switches and track get messed up during the cold weather. Of course, blame mismanagement when the switches and signals get messed up during good weather.
Also, it's been below freezing.
Dear Dukakis devotee
no. just no.
we are here because of Dukakis debt.
Um. no.
Not as simplistic as that:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/02/05/how-entered-tunnel-debt/QxA...
And currently more Baker's fault than Dukakis:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2015/02/15/baker-helped-p...
Ever heard of "forward funding"?
It's something that was developed while the Duke was teaching at Northeastern. Here's a little tome to help you understand more.
Perhaps we should call it Cellucci debt?
required reading
Based on that it sounds like the real problem was the state saddling the MBTA with debt incurred as part of the state implementation plans that were forced on the state as transit mitigation for the vehicular portion of the Big Dig.
Basically the state wanted to improve vehicular traffic, payed for that portion of their work, but then decided that the MBTA should be forced to deal with paying for the federally required transit portion while balancing it's own budget, and then gave it an inadequate revenue source to do so. So the MBTA started operating on its own starting with poor funding and 3.8 billion in debt. Brilliant I'd say.
Wrong again
all the new trains, switches, and tracks in the world can't fix the fundamental infra issues. The T expanded too quickly. And without enough money to maintain the existing tunnels.
Please don't tell Amazon.
maybe they will read Facebook or Twitter and find out.
The oldest parts of the
The oldest parts of the system - centered on the park street/downtown crossing red line/ green line nexus - are failing particularly around electrical issues. The center can no longer sustain the older expansions let alone any new ones. New cars and going deeper into Somerville will not solve this fundamental problem only make it worse.
Correct
The GLX needs to be "postponed to 2040"