The empty city: Orange Line, Wednesday morning

By adamg on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 10:07am

With people feeling freer to venture outside again, we haven't had many "empty city posts. But Chris Ferry shows us his Orange Line car shortly after 9:30 a.m today, and asks:

Is it luxury travel when you have the brand new orange line train to yourself?

Topics:

The T

Free tagging:

Orange Line

Covid-19

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Comments

Lucky.

By anon on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 10:23am.

There's really no way to socially distance on a moderately full train. Doubly so with a bus (especially when 1/3rd of the bus is reserved as a safe space for the driver).

Can confirm. Taking the 111

By HCL on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 11:03am.

Can confirm. Taking the 111/116/117 is not fun generally, especially not so these days.

Also true of Green Line Trolleys

By Irma la Douce on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 11:29am.

I had to ride the E-Line yesterday inbound to Park at about 3:15 pm and then outbound a couple of hours later. The trolley on the inbound train was maybe 1/3 full when I got on at Northeastern, with passengers added at each stop. At one stop an elderly person with a cane got on and the only available seat was next to another person. On both trips there was at least one rider who was not wearing a mask.

Things were somewhat better on the Red Line, which I had to take just one stop to get to/from MGH.

The "empty city" era is definitely over.

Buses

By anon on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 12:26pm.

Does anyone know when all of the buses will be back to the normal schedule? I understand the busier ones are, but many are still on a Saturday schedule, which is not good for social distancing but also not good for people who depend on them to get around.

In Phase 3

By Cleary Squared on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 6:58am.

The MBTA will restore regular weekday bus service when Gov. Baker announces Phase 3 of the reopening. That should be around next week or so.

I wish the Blue Line looked like that

By anon on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 11:20am.

I wish the Blue Line looked like that. Since I've been back to work it's always been at least moderately crowded. Often not enough for a six foot distance. Some people don't wear masks but far too many more have them hanging half off their faces with their noses not covered. It seems far too many people just don't understand how masks work. Just HAVING one with you and hanging off your body is not enough.

The T's response

By anon on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 1:09pm.

Ridership is up on the orange line.

Davis Square station, June 18, 8:03 am

By Ron Newman on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 1:33pm.

I took the Red Line, for the first time in four months, to Mass Eye & Ear for an appointment. This is what Davis Square station looked like on Thursday, June 18, at 8:03 am (normally the height of rush hour):

Take the Red Line from Quincy or Ashmont

By anon on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 11:01am.

and there are a lot more passengers.

Just what Baker and the Democrats ordered

By O-FISH-L on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 5:45pm.

Every seat represents not only lost fare revenue but lost state and federal taxes for those who've been laid off and loss of sales tax paid by those who use the T to go shopping. With hospitals empty and laying off, the goal is to tank the economy until the election in order to hurt President Trump. Funny, he was unlikely to win here anyway, so the Baker-Walsh team are only hurting themselves and their voters. The average age of death in MA is still 81 with almost no risk of death to those under 60. Next year's state and local budgets will be a fraction of recent years. Every day on the T should be at Sunday service levels. Great job Charlie and Marty! Now let's change the name of the BU terrier mascot. Priorities!