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Thoughts on the MBTA
Dec. 31st, 2004 07:27 pmI have been through South Station several times in the last few weeks. I have to say that I am really impressed by how fast this last part has been going together. The below ground Silver line stop looks great. The control center is beautiful, as is the new lighting, tiling and flooring. Even with the continued work things flow smoothly through the station. I guess that is no surprise given how long all the commuters have been living in the middle of the construction. (It was going on 2-3 years ago when I was going through everyday.)
I will be sad to see the G-scale model train leave South Station when the season is over. I missed most of the beginning of the season and was pleasantly surprised the week before Christmas. Seeing it actually made me miss TMRC a lot (although they use a radically different scale).
The busing situation north from North Station for the green line is absolutely ridiculous. I have no idea how anyone is dealing with it during commuting hours. I went that way at about 2:30 pm and it was crazy. Although buses were leaving approximately every 5-10 minutes, they were completely crammed full. I had to wait until the 3rd bus to be able to get on one. Don't those things have a legal capacity beyond "however many you can cram behind the yellow line"?
But I have to say the new underground green line stop for North Station looked really good too. There too there was a new control center and it is good to see that track in use. The above ground area around North Station seems so open now with out the raised track.
For all my complaining I have to say that I have enjoyed watching the progress. There is something satisfying about tearing down (man-made structures) and building back up. I think I like it for the same reason that I love standing in the front of the train as it runs down the tunnels. It feels like a testament to our engineering. It is like saying "We are mankind, this is what we do."
I will be sad to see the G-scale model train leave South Station when the season is over. I missed most of the beginning of the season and was pleasantly surprised the week before Christmas. Seeing it actually made me miss TMRC a lot (although they use a radically different scale).
The busing situation north from North Station for the green line is absolutely ridiculous. I have no idea how anyone is dealing with it during commuting hours. I went that way at about 2:30 pm and it was crazy. Although buses were leaving approximately every 5-10 minutes, they were completely crammed full. I had to wait until the 3rd bus to be able to get on one. Don't those things have a legal capacity beyond "however many you can cram behind the yellow line"?
But I have to say the new underground green line stop for North Station looked really good too. There too there was a new control center and it is good to see that track in use. The above ground area around North Station seems so open now with out the raised track.
For all my complaining I have to say that I have enjoyed watching the progress. There is something satisfying about tearing down (man-made structures) and building back up. I think I like it for the same reason that I love standing in the front of the train as it runs down the tunnels. It feels like a testament to our engineering. It is like saying "We are mankind, this is what we do."
