With the suspension of public hearings and withdrawal of the fare hike proposal for now, things have quieted down a bit on the MBTA front. The big news today is that Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi has been forced out and will not be taking over the reins of the new state transportation agency that will be formed this November.
That said, I think it's important to mention a couple of important service changes proposed during the fare hike saga. These changes would save money and improve service efficiency on the T, thus providing a better experience for a vast majority of T riders.
Service Change - Net Cost Savings
Close Low Ridership or Redundant Commuter Rail Stations - $650,000
Eliminate Redundant Green Line B Branch Surface Stations - $27,500
Eliminate Redundant Green Line C Branch Surface Stations - $27,500
Total Annual Cost Savings - $705,000
The reason I say this should be a no-brainer in terms of reform is because rail lines operate more efficiently when stations are better spaced. Everyone who rides the Green Line knows the B and C lines are bad because they have so many stops. Removing a couple of stops that are 1/4 of a mile or less away from other stops would decrease travel times while not really inconveniencing the vast majority of riders. The commuter rail is even more inefficient with too many stops. The trains are driven by large diesel engines and have so much weight that it takes a long time to slow them down. Ideally, the trains should reach their top speeds of 60-70 mph between stops. However, when stations are less than 2-3 miles apart, it becomes impossible to really get going. Taking the Fitchburg Line everyday, I see this when we have to stop at both Belmont and Waverly, which are only a mile apart. The train hardly pulls out of one station before it starts braking for the next. Waverly is recommended to close in this report, which I would fully support. It may inconvenience the few people who use the Waverly stop, but they could pretty easily switch to Belmont. These people would be better served by a convenient local bus system that could bring them to and from the commuter rail stations while keeping the train running quickly for the entire line.
Let's hope the MBTA can take small steps such as these to improve efficiency across all of its operations and provide better service at a lower cost for its riders.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Toro
Toro - 1704 Washington St (South End, Worcester Sq)
Perhaps first impressions aren't the most important. When I visited this place with Ann shortly after she had first moved to the South End, I came away not very impressed. We had stuck to more traditional tapas that we had had elsewhere and I thought the food was mediocre and overpriced. However, after a year of walking by the place and seeing it packed every night, I decided it was time to give it a second shot.
This time we strayed a little farther from the traditional and found some great dishes. The grilled corn with alioli and cheese was as great as anything smothered in cheese must be. It is also the 'house specialty'. I had bone marrow for the first time and loved it! The short ribs were incredibly tender but perhaps overpriced. We went for a daily special of lamb sausage and it was good but not great. Finally, the dessert plate of churros with melted chocolate was delicious.
I'd recommend Toro as a place to stray a little out of your comfort zone and experience the lively atmosphere every night of the week. I think it's especially fun with a group if you can get a table.
Perhaps first impressions aren't the most important. When I visited this place with Ann shortly after she had first moved to the South End, I came away not very impressed. We had stuck to more traditional tapas that we had had elsewhere and I thought the food was mediocre and overpriced. However, after a year of walking by the place and seeing it packed every night, I decided it was time to give it a second shot.
This time we strayed a little farther from the traditional and found some great dishes. The grilled corn with alioli and cheese was as great as anything smothered in cheese must be. It is also the 'house specialty'. I had bone marrow for the first time and loved it! The short ribs were incredibly tender but perhaps overpriced. We went for a daily special of lamb sausage and it was good but not great. Finally, the dessert plate of churros with melted chocolate was delicious.
I'd recommend Toro as a place to stray a little out of your comfort zone and experience the lively atmosphere every night of the week. I think it's especially fun with a group if you can get a table.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Train Simulator
This came up in my news feed today and I felt I just had to share it. It is a train simulator that has been done on the major US transit networks. It shows each train trip as a white dot as it travels along each line simultaneously. At one point on the MBTA, there are over 110 trips in progress. It really makes for a cool demo. This comes from the MA EOT blog and shows the MBTA subways and you can follow links to the Commuter Rail or other transit networks.
ACES Train
This weekend I went down to Atlantic City to hang out and do some gambling. One of the nice things about AC is the ability to get there completely via mass transit. My roommate Jay and I took Bolt Bus to and from NYC and stayed in the city with my friend, Will. I had taken Bolt Bus once before and I must say that although the buses are newer and nicer than other Boston-NYC buses, the seats are not more comfortable. I was never able to find a particularly comfortable sleeping position, which was definitely unfortunate on the 4+ hour ride.
The highlight of transit for the weekend was the Atlantic City Express Service train, or ACES, operated by Amtrak between New York and AC. It was just rolled out this year and features four double decker cars with coach, first class, and even lounge seating available. The brand new cars are very comfortable, and as an added bonus, you're never more than one car away from the beverage station.
The train is scheduled to take two and a half hours and makes one stop in Newark. It takes an interesting route in that you leave NYC going southwest along the Northeast Corridor until you almost reach Philadelphia. Then you switch over to New Jersey transit track and go southeast to NYC (this also requires changing from electric to diesel engine). This was the first time I got to travel on the NEC south of New York and the ride was very smooth. I estimate the train topped out at about 80-90 mph. At one point on the way down we were passed easily by an Acela train probably going 125 mph. It would certainly be nice if all of the track between Boston and NYC were as smooth as that we rode over.
Our trip was not without its problems, mainly a 25 minute delay leaving New York on Friday. The trip cost us $29 each way. The bus is cheaper and without traffic can take about the same amount of time, but I would recommend the train for its comfort, access to drinks, and more or less guaranteed travel times.
The highlight of transit for the weekend was the Atlantic City Express Service train, or ACES, operated by Amtrak between New York and AC. It was just rolled out this year and features four double decker cars with coach, first class, and even lounge seating available. The brand new cars are very comfortable, and as an added bonus, you're never more than one car away from the beverage station.
The train is scheduled to take two and a half hours and makes one stop in Newark. It takes an interesting route in that you leave NYC going southwest along the Northeast Corridor until you almost reach Philadelphia. Then you switch over to New Jersey transit track and go southeast to NYC (this also requires changing from electric to diesel engine). This was the first time I got to travel on the NEC south of New York and the ride was very smooth. I estimate the train topped out at about 80-90 mph. At one point on the way down we were passed easily by an Acela train probably going 125 mph. It would certainly be nice if all of the track between Boston and NYC were as smooth as that we rode over.
Our trip was not without its problems, mainly a 25 minute delay leaving New York on Friday. The trip cost us $29 each way. The bus is cheaper and without traffic can take about the same amount of time, but I would recommend the train for its comfort, access to drinks, and more or less guaranteed travel times.
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