Wellington

May 11, 2013 | | 5 Comments

I’ve seen Wellington many times by car: Route 16 goes on a bridge over the station. I know that it has a train yard in it. And yet, I had never explored the station before writing this review. In fact, I’ve only traveled on the northern arm on the Orange Line twice: once when I was on my quest to complete the system, and once for this review. Now that I’ve actually explored it, I’ve realized that it’s a nice station, although it has some flaws.

Situated at the border between Medford and Everett, the station itself is located in an interesting location. To the north of the station is residences and a radio station, to the west is a nice storefront and the Meadow Glen Mall, to the east is some sort of helipad and the Gateway Center Mall, and to the south is pretty much swampland, and in a few years, Assembly Square Station. Perhaps it’s because of the surroundings (except to the west) that Wellington is relatively low on the MBTA’s ridership statistics: 28th place. However, it does have a huge parking lot with 1,316 spaces accessible via a long walkway. My father and I decided to see what the trip on it was like.

Into the mouth of the walkway…

The walkway offers an interesting view of the train yard, and it’s very high up. However, every time a train goes by, the whole thing shakes. That made me question the structural soundness of it, although it was still a nice walk. Eventually, we ended up in a little area with elevators. Wanting to fully explore the station, we took an elevator all the way up to the eighth floor. Stepping out onto the roof of the parking lot, there was an absolutely amazing view of the surrounding areas. You could see the Boston skyline, a windmill, a power plant, and a lot of houses. It was absolutely gorgeous.

I can see my house from here! Okay, I can’t. This is zoomed in, by the way.

We then left the station from the parking lot to grab something to eat. The entrance/exit from the parking lot is a rather unassuming glass door. There aren’t any signs that say “Wellington” or anything, just a door. It might not even be obvious that you’re at a train station, since the station itself is so far away from the parking lot. After eating, we came back through the glass door and through the walkway again.

But the way we entered the station in the first place was from the busway, coming from the 110 (review coming at some point). Based on a quick glance, it seemed to offer some shelter, but not too much. Despite being a major bus hub with 9 MBTA buses and a contracted bus (a definite plus), the busway isn’t as much of a maze as other bus hubs are (I’m looking at you, Dudley). The buses here serve Everett, Medford, Somerville, and Malden.

And now to the platform itself. It’s actually rather ugly, with gray being the dominant color. However, Wellington does have the infamous Orange Line third track. It was meant to be an express track for a  possible extension of the line to Reading, but it was never carried out. Now there’s just a random third track there that never gets used.

I was having absolutely terrible timing that day. I was pretty happy with the results of this picture.

Station: Wellington

Ridership: Based on the fact that this station is almost surrounded by malls, shoppers. Also, its proximity to Everett and the fact that no trains serve that area means commuters probably use this station on weekdays. There’s not a huge parking lot here for nothing!

Pros: Offers some amazing views on the walkway and in the parking lot. It’s also close to many neighborhoods in Everett. It’s a major bus hub, and the busway is straightforward.

Cons: First of all, the platform itself is very drab. The station is quite far from the street, and you have to enter on the walkway (which must get really annoying if you use the station every day), unless you enter from the busway where you run the risk of getting run over by buses. The parking lot entrance is sort of disguised and signage at it is nonexistent.

Nearby and Noteworthy: Plenty of malls in relatively close walking distance: the Meadow Glen Mall, the Gateway Center, and Assembly Square Mall (although you have to walk a fairly long distance to get to these). My father and I ended up eating at Kelly’s, a fast food joint (sigh) located very close to the station. The food is okay, but I love how they have old photos of Revere on the walls.

Final Verdict: 6
I originally thought this station would get a higher rating. However, after looking back at the cons I had, I realized that there are actually some major flaws to Wellington. The walkway, interestingly, is the best and worst part of the station: it offers a great view of the train yard, but it’s annoying how you have to use it to get to the station. The view from the parking lot definitely is worth a look, and the busway is straightforward. (gasp!)

Latest MBTA News: From May 13 to May 18, there will be drain maintenance at the Hotel Commonwealth entrance at Kenmore Station. That entrance and the elevator from that entrance will be closed. Also, on May 11-12 and May 18-19, shuttle buses will replace the Red Line from JFK/UMASS to North Quincy.

52 (Dedham Mall or Charles River Loop – Watertown Yard via Oak Hill and Newton Center)

May 3, 2013 | | 5 Comments

The 52 goes through some serious back roads. It goes by a farm, for Pete’s sake! It’s also on the chopping block, unfortunately, which means its schedule isn’t that great: every hour and a half, weekdays only (although it does go every 25-35 minutes at rush hour, which is decent for a bus on the chopping block). My father had been wanting to take this bus for a while, and we finally had a free weekday to do it. After a pleasant ride on the 71 (review coming at some point), we had to make the trek to the other side of Watertown Square. See, Watertown Square is separated into two busways: Watertown Square, where the 59 and 71 buses board; and Watertown Yard, the former yard for the Green Line “A” Branch, and now the terminus for the 502/504 express buses, the busy 57 (also reviewing that in the near future), and the 52. To get to the yard, you must cross a very busy crosswalk that has one of those “push to cross” buttons that doesn’t work and you’re forced to jaywalk across…

Anyway, enough ranting about buttons. There were about 5 people waiting in Watertown (including us) for the 52, one of whom seemed a bit… off. After laying over for a bit, the 52 finally came to the stop, and we got on. The route starts out following the other buses from Watertown Yard (not square) down Galen Street. There are some businesses and a few residences on this stretch, but it’s pretty urban, overall. Upon reaching the Mass Turnpike and Newton Corner, it makes a turn around the impressive facade of the Crowne Plaza hotel (yes, the same Crowne Plaza I stayed at in Orlando), and then heads down Centre Street. The 52 is the only bus serving this stretch, with the other buses turning on Washington Street towards Boston. The part of Centre Street just south of Newton Corner is much more suburban and residential.

After passing by a branch of Boston College, the bus crosses Commonwealth Ave and comes into Newton Center. It’s more urban here as the bus connects with the Green Line “D” Branch. Note that at this point, the bus splits into two routes: more often, it goes via Parker Street, while occasionally (and on our trip), it goes via Winchester Street and Newton Highlands station. There’s a nice view of Crystal Lake as the bus crosses the Green Line tracks and things get suburban again. Some businesses pop up as the bus enters Newton Highlands. Note that the 52 actually stops a block away from the station itself, while the 59 (also from Watertown, with a better schedule) directly serves it. After this, the 59 splits off from the 52 onto the more urban corridor of Needham Street, while the 52 goes on the suburban Winchester Street. The stops are very spaced out as the bus cuts through a country club.

As the bus turns onto Nahanton street, it goes by that farm I mentioned. It then turns again onto Dedham Street, meeting up with its Parker Street route. There are more residences as the bus turns again onto Wiswall Road, serving a little neighborhood as well as Mount Ida College. There’s a turn onto Walsh Road and again onto Saw Mill Brook Parkway. It goes by a little plaza before turning again onto Fredette Road, again onto Spiers Road, and finally back onto Dedham Street, now called Baker Street. There’s some cemetery cutting here, the only other MBTA bus route besides the 30 that cuts through a cemetery (as far as I know). Surprisingly, the bus is in Boston now, but based on the surroundings you wouldn’t know it. The route passes some small businesses and a power plant, crosses the Commuter Rail tracks, and turns onto Spring Street. At this point, some 52 trips terminate at the Charles River Loop. Our bus, however, was going to the Dedham Mall, so we turned again onto VFW Parkway. The bus passes by (but doesn’t stop at) some businesses, and VFW Parkway becomes Providence Highway. Finally, the bus turns into Dedham Mall and makes two stops: “Dedham Mall,” and “Dedham Mall at Stop & Shop.” Here, the bus lays over for a bit before making its journey back to Watertown.

The 52 in Watertown. The destination screen malfunctioned and showed nothing by the end of the ride.

Route: 52 (Dedham Mall or Charles River Loop – Watertown Yard via Oak Hill and Newton Center)

Ridership: In this case, shoppers. A few people rode from beginning to end. There were some high school girls (being April vacation) who got on in that neighborhood where the bus breaks off of Dedham Street who were talking annoyingly loud. Overall, I’d say about 15-20 people rode, which isn’t a very good amount for a weekday.

Pros: Cuts through a huge part of Newton not served by other buses. It’s the only bus to serve Newton Center, which is a big plus. It also showcases a part of Boston you never knew existed.

Cons: The schedule, of course. Admittedly, not many people rode, but if the route had Saturday service, people might use it to shop at the Dedham Mall.

Nearby and Noteworthy: A lot of houses. The Dedham Mall seemed like a nice enough mall, but we only visited Five Guys Burgers and Fries. As you can probably tell from the link, it’s just a fast food joint, but the hamburgers are good.

Final Verdict: 7
Though the schedule is less than ideal, the 52 serves a lot of neighborhoods not served by other MBTA buses. There are some interesting things to see, like the farm. Just remember that the bus leaves from Watertown Yard, not Watertown Square. It’s easy to get the two confused.

Latest MBTA News: This weekend (May 4-5), there are Blue Line shuttles (scroll to the bottom of the linked page) between Airport and Wonderland. There might be some minor delays on the Orange Line in the coming months because of platform work at Oak Grove. Also, I’m taking a trip to the MBTA Control Center tomorrow! I hope I’m able to take pictures, as I want to write an extensive blog post about the visit on Sunday.

Transit Tales: The Only Time I Hate Riding Buses

Apr 28, 2013 | | 3 Comments

If only I had read my own blog post. If I had, I would’ve realized that there were Red Line shuttle buses between Alewife and Harvard. Boy, you should’ve heard the curses when my father and I came to the Alewife station entrance only to see a sign that said the entrance was closed. We had to walk to the busway to catch the dreaded shuttle bus to Harvard. I’ve had bad experiences on shuttle buses: once, it was absolutely packed on Mass Ave at rush hour. There was traffic and red lights, and it was simply awful. Luckily, the bus wasn’t quite as full leaving Alewife, though every seat pair was taken.

The bus starts out on that road that the 350 and 79 use to get to Alewife Brook Parkway, and then ends up on Broadway. It continues on Broadway, then turns onto Holland Street. There is minor traffic during this portion of the route, but not too bad. It then goes by the Clarendon Hill Busway. I’ve had an awful experience there: on a shuttle bus going towards Alewife, we laid over at the Clarendon Hill Busway for a really long time for no reason at all! The bus driver was arguing with someone for a while, and after a while, we finally left. Anyway, going towards Harvard, the bus stops at that stop in Davis Square that the 87 and 88 use. Alewife-bound, the bus directly serves the busway.

Looks pretty crowded from the back corner of the bus.

There were some standees as we left for Porter, going right through downtown Davis Square. This can be a pretty torturous part of the ride in terms of traffic. The bus turns onto Beech Street, following the 96, and then turns again onto Mass Ave. This is the absolute worst part of the ride, as anyone living nearby knows the sort of traffic one can find on Mass Ave. Stopping at Porter, we’re pretty darn full as we head for Harvard. After getting off at the busway, we enter the chaos known as Harvard Station while shuttle buses are running. The station already has huge crowds, and now the shuttle buses make them bigger. There was a huge mass of people leaving the station. So much, in fact, that the fare gates wouldn’t close with the crowds going through them! Nonetheless, I was honest and I tapped my CharlieCard anyway.

At the platform, there weren’t any trains coming. We waited for 15 minutes, which is a lot, even for a Sunday. Finally, a train came. You could feel tension in the crowd as the many people inside the train shoved themselves out. Then it was a mad dash for seats as everybody rushed in at once. Luckily, we got seats as the train left the crowded platform.

Say goodbye to the crowded deathtrap!

After this ride, I decided I’d evaluate shuttle buses as a whole:

Cons: Let’s start with these, as they’re numerous:

  1. Much slower than the train
  2. Really crowded
  3. Chaos at the train station

Pros: They’re free. That’s actually really nice if you’re going between just the stations served by the shuttle, because who doesn’t want a free ride? And at least they’re numerous. You won’t have to wait long for one.

But what do you think? Say your opinion on shuttle buses in the comments (as you might know, I attempted to do a poll about the very subject, but my polls seem to be cursed or something; they never work!). Also, if you have any “shuttle bus stories,” leave a comment as well. They might be compiled into another post!

Bowdoin

Apr 26, 2013 | | 6 Comments

Bowdoin is the last MBTA station I had to visit. I had gone through them all (except the “stations” on a section of the Silver Line, but that doesn’t count), but I never really got the chance to go to Bowdoin (or boy-doin as I used to pronounce it for some reason). It was probably because of Bowdoin’s schedule: it’s open weekdays only, and it closes at 6:15. During weekends and weeknights, Government Center is the Blue Line terminus. However, when my father and I were taking the train to Wonderland to ride the 439 (a bus, by the way, that I strongly recommend), we figured we’d pay a visit to Bowdoin first.

Frankly, Bowdoin seems like a rather pointless station. It’s a little over a thousand feet away from Government Center, a four minute walk. Why couldn’t the original builders have gone the extra half-mile, so we could’ve had a Charles/MGH transfer to the Blue Line? Alas, they didn’t, and we’re stuck with Bowdoin. Nonetheless, it’s about a 10 minute walk, so my father and I decided to go on foot from Charles/MGH to avoid the annoying downtown transfer (change to the Green or Orange Lines, then change to the Blue Line, then take it back to Bowdoin). The station has only one entrance, and that’s a weird triangle slab sticking out of the ground that doesn’t even look like a train station from a distance.

Not the most beautiful entrance in the world.

After paying our fares, we found ourselves on a platform that was triangular: it widened as you headed away from Government Center. The reason for this is that there’s an extremely tight loop right after the station, the only remaining turnaround loop on the MBTA’s heavy-rail lines, in fact. After trains drop off passengers, they turn their headlights on high, and screech around the loop. Another quirk about the station is that the eastbound platform is 50 feet shorter than the westbound! Because of this, the MBTA cannot fit the usual 6-car trains on it, requiring the use of “open door” buttons on the sides of the train. I’ll try to explain how they work as best as I can, but it’s easier to understand once you actually do it: basically, the train stops without opening any of its doors. To get in, you have to push buttons on the doors to open them. This way, not all the doors open. It’s actually very interesting, and it’s the only place on the system that you can do it.

Opening the train doors.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t help the fact that the station is very stark and drab. As you can tell from the picture above, the entrance isn’t anything interesting, and the plain white paint inside the station is peeling in many places. Pipes line the ceiling of the station, and it looks pretty ugly overall. A rehabilitation is probably not on the MBTA’s to-do list, however, since after Government Center’s two-year closure, Bowdoin is likely to be closed. Its replacement would be an entrance from the new Government Center. However, that’s not to say it’s necessarily a boring station. There are some interesting pictures on the walls of Boston and Cambridge in the 1800’s, before they filled up the Back Bay. I personally like seeing what the city was like 200 years ago, back when it was surrounded by water.

The new train contrasts with the oldness of the station.

Station: Bowdoin

Ridership: It seemed to be receiving a steady stream of people when we were there, around 3:00 or 4:00. I’m assuming that some people probably use this station to avoid the inevitable crowds at Government Center and State.

Pros: It’s a very unique station, in part because of the loop, but mostly because of the “open door” buttons. It’s also nice how the MBTA put up signs that tell you how to use the buttons.

Cons: It’s just such a dated station. There’s only one entrance that doesn’t look like an entrance, the paint is peeling, and it’s a very drab station in general. Plus, it’s insanely close to Government Center.

Nearby and Noteworthy: Seemed like a bunch of buildings to me. There seemed to be a large tent nearby, but we didn’t investigate. Anyone know something that’s close?

Final Verdict: 5
Unfortunately, the drabness of this station has forced me to downgrade its rating a bit. Nonetheless, it is a very unique station that I would recommend if you have a free weekday. It’s possibly the most interesting station on the system.

Latest MBTA News: Shuttle buses are replacing the entire Red Line Ashmont branch (JFK/UMASS to Ashmont) this weekend (April 27-28). That is all.

439 (Bass Point, Nahant – Central Square, Lynn)

Apr 19, 2013 | | 3 Comments

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS BUS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!

The MBTA is bound to get rid of the 439. It used to run six times a day in each direction, but the MBTA shaved off a trip recently, so it’s only five now. It costs the MBTA $9.76 per passenger to operate (according to the MBTA Route Performance Indicators chart), and is the most expensive bus route to operate on the entire system. The nice driver on our bus even said that an MBTA worker was taking notes on the bus, which is never good. It’s a shame that the bus is done for, as it provides one of the best views on the system.
I’ve actually wanted to take this bus for a couple of years now. My first encounter with it was waiting for the 77 at a bus shelter:
Me (looking at the full-system map in the shelter): “Wow, this looks like an interesting bus. It goes onto this island-like thing.”
My friend who knows nothing about transit: “Oh, is it a Duck Boat?”
No, it is not a duck boat, however it isn’t unlike being in a boat. Nahant is basically an island, but it’s connected to Lynn by a natural (according to Wikipedia) “tombolo,” or causeway. The causeway is very thin, meaning you’re essentially surrounded by water on the bus ride. Needless to say, it looked fun. Unfortunately, my father and I had never gotten the chance to ride it until we finally both had a free day. Looking over the schedule, I saw that there was a 2:00 bus and a 5:30 bus (the other trips were too early or too late). The 2:00 bus would leave from Lynn, which would be a hassle to get to, but the 5:30 bus would leave from Wonderland Station. That would be much easier to get to, plus it would still be bright out, so we opted for that trip.
After waiting for about 45 minutes around Wonderland (we were early), the bus finally came. I was expecting no one to get on, but the bus was actually half-full leaving Wonderland. The bus traveled on North Shore Road, where no one got on or off. This leg of the ride in itself was scenic, with the bus going by a swamp and riding over a bridge. North Shore Road becomes the Lynnway, where the bus pulls off to serve downtown Lynn. At the Commuter Rail station, about half the bus got off and two people got on.
Okay, so the destination board on the bus said “NOT IN SERVICE,” so I assumed it wasn’t the 439, but then it said “439”  and I couldn’t get the camera out in time so the result is this picture of the back of the bus.
After leaving the Commuter Rail station, it serves a little residential neighborhood in Lynn not served by other buses. Only seven people were left on the bus after this stretch. The bus then turned onto the causeway. On the left side of the bus, there was a beach bordered by some tall grass, but on the right, there was a fantastic view of the city. It really felt like we were in a boat, and the bus went very fast. Two people got off at Wilson Road, serving Little Nahant Island. Once getting to Nahant proper, the route makes a loop around before going back up to Lynn. Even here it was scenic, with many unique houses along the route. Some of them have boats right in their front yards!
Nahant is mostly residential, but we did pass such points of interest as Nahant’s only school, the town library, the town hall, and the “Village Store.” (an actual stop name) My father and I were the only people on the bus going back to Lynn, and the driver asked us if we meant to be on the 439. We talked about how we like exploring bus routes around the system, and the bus driver said that he would drive the 439 all day if he could; great views, and no traffic to boot! He also mentioned that the 441/442 to Marblehead offer views to rival Nahant, so that’s a trip to consider. Arriving back at Lynn, we got off and immediately hopped on a 442 back to Wonderland (yes, it was coming from Marblehead).
So even if the headways are a bit spaced out (okay, a lot spaced out), the ride is completely worth it because of the breathtaking views. Besides, the MBTA is bound to get rid of this first chance they get, so take it while you can.
This picture doesn’t do justice to the view, but it looks much better if you click on it.
Route: 439 (Bass Point, Nahant – Central Square, Lynn)
Ridership: You can tell from the schedule that the route is designed for commuters; a trip in the morning goes to Wonderland for subway service to Boston, and two trips at night come from Wonderland for subway service back. However, none of the people on our rush-hour trip seemed to be commuting. In fact, they all seemed to know each other and be friends.
Pros: I’ve been ranting about it this whole post, but I’ll say it again: the views. They are simply amazing.
Cons: The schedule is just terrible. I mean, I see why it runs so infrequently if it costs the MBTA almost 10 bucks per passenger to operate, but five times a day, weekdays only? Maybe if it had summer-specific Saturday service, people would use it to get to the beach. Also, the entire stretch from Wonderland to about the beginning of the causeway, the 439 gets absolutely no signage at all. Doesn’t this confuse people a bit?
Nearby and Noteworthy: I think this bus is noteworthy in itself, but the driver assured us that Tides Restaurant at Wilson Road offers good prices and amazing pizza. I’ve looked at the online menu, and I think it looks reasonable and very good. Perhaps driving would be a better way to get to it, though, since you do not want to miss the 439.
Final Verdict: 7 (I’d give it a 10 if I could)
I really wanted to give this bus a 10. It’s just that… I can’t. The schedule is just so bad. I mean, how can it cost the MBTA almost 10 bucks per passenger when there were at least 20 people on the bus? Do they not count the Wonderland portion? I don’t know, but you should absolutely take this bus if you have a free weekday, before the MBTA gets rid of it.

Latest MBTA News: ALL MBTA SERVICE IS SUSPENDED while they track down the person who set off the Boston Marathon bomb (please pray for those who were injured).

I Found Alewife Cows!

Apr 15, 2013 | | 1 Comment

I’ve known for a while that there’s a painting of cows at Alewife. However, it wasn’t until I rode a Red Line shuttle bus that I finally spotted it. It’s at the far end of the sheltered area of the busway. I snapped a picture of the painting, and here it is:

Sort of a contrast to the real-life surroundings of the station.

So, that’s all I wanted to say. Don’t worry, longer posts are coming soon!

MBTA Map Contest!

Apr 13, 2013 | | 4 Comments

If you read my Science Park post, I talked about how the signage in that station (and on the Green Line as a whole) could really be improved. Of the four branches of the Green Line, the B and D branches terminate at Government Center, the C at North Station, and the E at Lechmere. However, none of this is shown on the current MBTA map. Well now, you have the chance to fix this (or anything else you think is wrong with the map) with the “New Perspectives” T Map Challenge! Anyone can submit a redesigned version of the current MBTA map, or you can make a map showcasing a smaller part of the system. Click here for more information.

What’s wrong with this picture? You decide!

Science Park/West End

Apr 12, 2013 | | 4 Comments

It took some self-persuasion to go to Science Park (not always referred to as “West End”). After spending some time at the Museum of Science, I wanted to walk to Lechmere to experience the great Green Line ride. However, if I did that, I wouldn’t have a new station to post about. Instead, I decided to walk to Science Park, but take the train toward Lechmere. Then I would transfer to a train towards Boston and come back.

Before 2011, Science Park was painfully dated. It was a big, green, ugly elevated structure, there was ivy growing on the bridge pillar leading up to it, and it wasn’t wheelchair accessible. Because of this, the MBTA shut down the station (and Lechmere) for a six month rehabilitation project. The station reopened with a modern look and accessibility. And I have to say, it looks really good.

The old Science Park compared with the new. I couldn’t find any pictures of the old Science Park on the internet, so I’m lucky Google hasn’t updated Street View of the location yet.

Anyway, the station has four entrances: two stairs and two elevators, one on each side of the station. I wanted to experience the elevator ride, so I went into that entrance. I found myself in a tiny room with two other people. It was extremely cramped as I went through the single fare gate. The elevators have voices in them that tell you what floor you’re on (“lobby,” “mezzanine,” or “platform”). They’re also glass, so you get a good view of the street and surrounding areas on the ride up.

I got off at the mezzanine to see what that entrance was like. This one is also small, with a narrow passage leading to another single fare gate. Since I was going to Lechmere, I had to take a separate elevator on the other side of the station. This one had the same voice, and it provided great views of the Zakim Bridge. Going up to the platform, there was one other person waiting. That actually surprised me, since Lechmere’s only one stop away. There was a decent crowd on the Boston-bound side, however.

I just love this picture. I don’t entirely know why, but I do.

Station: Science Park/West End

Ridership: This is a very touristy (actually a word; you learn something new every day) kind of station. Obviously, people use this to get to the Museum of Science.

Pros: This station is one of the newest (if not the newest) station on the MBTA because of its rehab in 2011. This gives it a very modern feel. It also has a nice, simple layout. Plus, who doesn’t love elevated stations?

Cons: It’s just so cramped in this station. Even with only three people in the elevator entrance, I could barely move a muscle. The signage could also be improved; as my train back to Boston was leaving the station, I saw two tourists step out with a map of the system. I assumed they probably wanted to take the B, C, or D lines. The MBTA should really make it more clear that only the E line goes to Science Park (and Lechmere). Finally, it doesn’t have any MBTA bus connection, though Lechmere is in walking distance.

Nearby and Noteworthy: The Museum of Science… duh.

Final Verdict: 7
The modernity of this station is something I really like. Being the oldest subway in America, some stations are just too old fashioned. However, going to this station makes you miss out on one of the best views on the system. It’s also way too tight. I guess there’s just not much room to add more space to the station. Though this can’t really be helped, the station is relatively hard to get to, since it’s an island in the middle of the street. The signage thing can easily be fixed though. Make note of that, MBTA…

Latest MBTA News: Shuttle buses are operating between JFK/UMASS and Ashmont stations on April 20-21 from start to end of service. There are also a LOT of bus route diversions. Just look at the list on the MBTA website.

Deval Patrick vs Legislature

Apr 7, 2013 | | 3 Comments

If you haven’t been following the news, Deval Patrick made a plan in January to create large improvements to the MBTA, as well as to roads and bridges around the state. This would include Commuter Rail service to Hyannis, funding for the Green Line extension to West Medford, and a massive expansion of South Station (among others). To carry out this plan, there would be tax hikes to get the money, such as raising income tax, sales tax, or putting tolls on major interstate highways.

Evidently, the legislature thought this was a hefty sum, so they suggested a less extreme plan. It would raise cigarette and gas taxes to eliminate debt on the state’s transportation system and the MBTA. However, this would mean only half of Deval Patrick’s plans would be implemented. Patrick said he would veto the $500 million bill. Now his relationship with the legislature is uneasy as they enter a debate about the plan on Monday. What’s especially interesting is that Patrick and the legislature are in the same political party. We’ll see what happens in terms of the plan on Monday. For the full article, click here.

31 (Mattapan Station – Forest Hills Station via Morton Street)

Apr 5, 2013 | | 7 Comments

If this review seems a bit short, it’s because the bus itself is. However, in this case, that’s not a bad thing. The 31 is a great time saver if one needs to get from Mattapan to Forest Hills. It starts out on Blue Hill Avenue with the 28 and 29, but it quickly turns off onto Morton Street to Forest Hills.

Like the 28, the 31 has many more people getting on at Mattapan Square than at the station. After that, the stops on Blue Hill Ave are relatively minor, with only one or two people (if any) getting on at each stop. Once it gets onto Morton Street, the stops get much farther apart and the bus goes through southern Franklin Park. At this point, the bus travels very fast, not picking anyone up or dropping anyone off. It goes right by the Shattuck Hospital (though the route’s a good resource for people who need to get there), and pulls into Forest Hills Station.

This is a faster way to get between Mattapan and Forest Hills than the 30. It’s only a five minute difference (or so the MBTA schedule says) but the 31 runs much more frequently than the 30. So frequently, in fact, that you can pretty much forgo consulting the schedule and still not have to wait that long. The trip is scheduled to take about 12 minutes, but it probably took me 10. It’s also way faster than the train; with the train, you have to take the Mattapan High Speed Line to Ashmont, wait for a Red Line train, take it up to Downtown Crossing, wait for an Orange Line train, and take it back down to Forest Hills. If you need to get from Mattapan to JP, this is your bus.

You can tell from the snow in the background that I did not take this bus recently.

Route: 31 (Mattapan Station – Forest Hills Station via Morton Street)

Ridership: This is a route that people take from start to finish. Pretty much everyone on the bus was using it as a link from Mattapan to Forest Hills (though some people probably use the Shattuck Hospital connection, too). The bus was half-full on a Sunday – not bad.

Pros: Two words: time saver. This is such a fast, easy way to get from Mattapan to Forest Hills and JP. Its headways are absolutely amazing for a non-Key Bus Route: Every 5 (!) minutes rush hour, every 10 minutes midday, every 13 minutes on Saturdays, and every 18 minutes on Sundays. That’s better than the 116 and 117, and those are both Key Bus Routes!

Cons: This might be a con just for the sake of having a con, but this route should definitely be a Key Bus Route. Problem is, that’s not necessarily a con, since I’m saying it’s such a great route that it should be more prominent (EDIT: Turns out the 31 is actually being considered an upgrade to being a Key Bus Route, according to this Wikipedia article. I guess that makes this even less of a con!)

Nearby and Noteworthy: The place that comes to mind is the Shattuck Hospital. The 31, along with the 21 from Ashmont, provides very frequent service here. I wish I knew someplace good this bus goes that’s not a hospital… but I don’t.

Final Verdict: 10
Well, viewers, this seems like a good time to review my rating criteria. A 10 means a bus that is perfect (however, that perfection is relative; we all know public transportation will never be perfect). The only con I gave this bus was that it’s such a great route that it should have more recognition, and that’s not even a real con. So with that, I present to you and excellent time-saver and the first 10 on this blog: the 31 [smatterings of applause]!

UPDATE 7/6/19: 8/10
Long-time-coming update here, as this has been the case for a while. The route has since become every 21 minutes on Sundays, which is awful and I hate it. Until it becomes every 20 or less, I’m sticking with an 8.

Latest MBTA News: April 13-14, the Red Line will run shuttle buses between Harvard and Alewife. And don’t forget that the Blue Line is running shuttle buses from Airport to Wonderland this weekend. Finally, if you haven’t noticed, I’ve added lists of bus routes and train stations on the blog. You can find them by clicking on the tabs that say “Bus Routes” or “Train Stations” on the top of the blog page. Or you can just click on the links provided.

Service Change: Orlando International Airport Shuttle, Super Star Shuttle, LYNX Bus Route 42 (International Drive/Orlando International Airport), and the I-Ride Trolley

Apr 2, 2013 | | 12 Comments

I got back from Orlando yesterday, and that means a Service Change post with way too many pictures (and an insanely long title)! I wanted to take the Silver Line to Logan Airport, but since we were only going to be gone for three days, we took the car instead (darn). Anyway, at Orlando International Airport, the layout is a main terminal with two smaller areas for the gates. To get to the gate areas, you have to take a free monorail to get there (at least in Terminal B; I don’t know what the layout for A is). It’s a very short ride, with the automatically driven monorail shuttling between the two areas. However, you do get some nice views of the airport on the ride.

The stations are actually quite nice.

Interestingly, the monorail uses the same (or at least similar) rolling stock as the Atlanta airport train! They are both automatically driven, they both have the same shape, and they both only have two seats – one at each end. The resemblance is uncanny, but I don’t know if they’re exactly the same. The stations are very nice and modern, but the monorail can be very crowded. Overall, it’s a nice way of getting to your gate, and trains come every minute or so.

Adios, Mr. Train!

To get to the Universal Orlando amusement park from the Crowne Plaza (an excellent hotel, by the way) and a number of other hotels, you have to take the Super Star Shuttle. Sure, there are other ways of getting to Universal, but the Super Star Shuttle is direct and FREE! You just get a boarding pass from your hotel and get on. Unfortunately, my parents and I were late finishing breakfast. The woman at the front desk told us the bus left, and missing one is catastrophic, since the bus only goes every hour for a limited time. We had to make a mad dash across the street to get to it.

The buses are wrapped in an ad for the “Orlando FlexTicket,” making it impossible to see out of the windows.

Once we had gone to all of the hotels, the bus driver stood up with an introduction. At first I thought it would be a stupid lecture about safety, but it was actually quite entertaining. The driver made his safety instructions interesting, and he gave us some interesting facts about the park on the ride back. Speaking of which, don’t use this bus if you’re not planning to spend the whole day at Universal. The first bus to go back to the hotels is at 6:45 PM, so plan to spend a while at the park.

The buses have comfortable seats, but they get extremely crowded. They also have TVs in them. On the way there, the TVs showed a commercial for the FlexTicket on a continuous loop. On the way back, it showed that live action Garfield movie, which was considerably more entertaining. Overall, the Super Star Shuttle is a great, easy way to get to Universal.

This picture was taken during the commercial. See the TV?

I, of course, wanted to take a bus in Orlando. Preferably, I wanted to take the system that the locals use, the LYNX bus. A really nice woman at the hotel printed out schedules for us since we didn’t have a WiFi-equipped device. I noticed that one of them, the 42, was conveniently very close to our hotel and went to the airport! I managed to talk my mother into it (my father thought it was a good idea already), and we planned the trip.

It took a while to get the camera out, so the result is a shot that’s up close and personal.

Since almost all of the LYNX routes run every hour on Sundays, we had to know exactly where to pick up the bus. My mother and I went on a scouting mission, when we found the first con of the system: poor signage. Here on the MBTA, the bus sign tells you the route, as well as its destination. On LYNX, however, it only tells you the route. My mother and I had to ask three people to find out which way the airport was! However, almost all of the LYNX stops I saw had shelters and the LYNX logo, a paw print.

I wanted to take a picture of the I-hop sign, but the LYNX sign got in the way!
…Just kidding.

While waiting at the bus stop, I noticed that all LYNX buses are different colors. I thought that was an interesting idea, and you can still tell it’s a LYNX because of the large logo on each bus. My father and I were trying to see if the buses have a system for their coloring, but we couldn’t figure it out. It was when the 42 pulled up that we realized another flaw in the system: exact fare only. It’s really annoying having to have exact change to get on the bus, and it slows things down, too. Couldn’t LYNX introduce an Automated Fare Collection system like we have to speed things up?

The 8 runs every half-hour on Sundays? Sign me up!

I know I’m starting to sound like a LYNX hater, but that’s simply not true. The newer buses are very nice, with cushioned seats that are relatively comfortable. The 42 was a very interesting ride, plus it was practical for us! Along the route, there are stop announcements for major stops, but they’re kind of hard to hear. Anyway, we got on the 42 close to the start on International Drive. It was straightforward, running alongside the I-Ride Trolley (more on that later). International Drive is the main drag of that area, with numerous restaurants, stores, and theme parks along it. However, once the 42 turned off of International Drive, we were crossing a huge field. This is the interesting thing about Orlando, with plenty of things to do on one street, then nothing on the one next to it.

There weren’t many people on the bus…yet.

The 42 gets crazy after that, making a bunch of weird turns. One of the highlights of the ride is going on a bridge over a train yard. For every-hour service, the bus was very crowded. All together, there were about 42 fare-payers (coincidentally), which makes me wonder if the Sunday headways are a bit too spaced out. There was a surprising amount of people going to the airport, where the bus pulled into a parking space and we all got out. It was very quick and easy, with my parents describing it as “the least stressful trip to the airport I’ve ever had.”

In the International Drive Resort Area, however, the LYNX is relatively overshadowed (at least for tourists) by the I-Ride Trolley. When my mother was telling me about how our hotel is served by it (this was before we knew about the Super Star Shuttle), I thought it was a light rail train, or perhaps a trackless trolley. What I wasn’t expecting was a bus with a really creepy face plastered onto it. I mean, seriously, this overly-detailed smile looks like one that belongs to a psychopath. It doesn’t help that the bus is branded as “the fun way” to get around. Is it supposed to make kids happy? Because it creeps me out.

Hey, I-Ride Trolley, I hear Thomas the Tank Engine is hiring.

Nonetheless, despite not actually riding the I-Ride Trolley, it seems like a good deal. It runs every 20 minutes, every day (on the Red Line; the Green Line runs every 30 minutes), and it’s $1.50 over LYNX’s $2.00. It doesn’t serve all of the major theme parks (like Universal and Disney World), but it serves some major ones like SeaWorld. Overall, it seems like it’s a good way to get around if you’re staying in the International Drive Resort Area.

So that’s it on my Orlando trip. If I ever go back, I might have a post on the proposed Tri-Rail extension to Orlando. But until then, it’s back to the good ol’ MBTA for me.

This is a different kind of transit in Orlando.

83 (Rindge Ave – Central Square, Cambridge via Porter Square Station)

Mar 28, 2013 | | 3 Comments

The 83‘s primary function is to sew together the parts of East and North Cambridge that other buses don’t serve. In that sense, it does its job well. The route is the opposite of straightforward, making a lot of crazy turns along the way. In Central Square, note that it leaves from Magazine Street, not the large shelter on Mass Ave. The first time I took this bus, I got lost trying to look for it. Also, the bus shelter at Magazine Street can sometimes attract some… questionable characters. Once, I was waiting there next to a woman creepily singing the ABC’s. When I took the 83 for the blog, there was a guy trash-talking the bus, then storming off when he almost got run over.

Anyway, there were 18 people on the bus leaving Central. The bus cuts across Mass Ave and goes onto Prospect Street immediately after leaving the bus stop. The stop after Central, Bishop Allen Drive, is also a big one, with 6 people getting on there. However, Harvard St, the next stop, saw three people getting off already. We were only three stops from Central Square! After crossing Broadway, there were voluntary standees on the bus. Calvin St, the stop after Inman Square, was surprisingly a major one, with 6 people getting off (a shout-out to my friend Calvin, by the way). The bus then goes straight on Beacon St for a while before making a turn onto Park St that narrowly misses the curb. On the short straightaway, it makes a sudden stop at the railroad tracks. Though it may seem annoying, it’s a good precaution in case a surprise train is coming.

After the railroad tracks, the bus turns again onto Somerville Ave. This is where it starts to slowly leak out its passengers, with one or two people getting off at each stop. Unfortunately, this is also where the traffic starts. The bus can get stuck for a while on this street. Two people got off at Porter, and then the bus turned onto Mass Ave to follow the 77 for a bit. At Rindge Ave, there’s a deadly traffic light. Lately, I’ve been lucky with it on the bus, but it can be torturous if you’re stuck at it. The portion on Rindge Ave up to Clifton Street is where most people get off. However, some actually get on to save what can be an awful walk in inclement weather. The bus passes the Peabody School/Rindge Ave Upper Campus where many students get off in the morning and on in the afternoon.

The 83 at its little terminus.

From there, it goes a few more blocks, then ends at its terminus at Russell Field. For a while, I was wondering why it doesn’t go to Alewife, which is a block away. Then I realized that when going back to Central Square, it would have to go on Alewife Brook Parkway, go around a rotary, and then go back up Alewife Brook. It would be too convoluted, plus the bus would get stuck in a lot of traffic. Still, service to Alewife might be nice. Anyway, instead the bus ends at a funny little area by Russell Field. It originally had a nice bus shelter with orange glass. Over the years, however, the glass slowly disappeared (most likely by vandals) and now it’s just a frame with a bench. On most trips, the 83 pulls into the driveway-esque area, then struggles to turn around while avoiding the parked cars. However, sometimes the 83 will turn into another route with service from Alewife. On my ride, the 83 turned into the 62 to Bedford as it navigated the large traffic jam to Alewife.

A picture of much better quality – the 83 on Rindge Ave.

Route: 83 (Rindge Ave – Central Square, Cambridge via Porter Square Station)

Ridership: Locals who aren’t served by the other buses in Cambridge, particularly Rindge Ave. Some people pretty much use the 83 as a Rindge Ave shuttle bus. Plenty of Peabody School/RAUC students use the bus, too. Interestingly, some people took this bus from beginning to almost-end (and 4 people got off at the terminus, which surprised me somewhat). The bus had 36 fare-payers in total for my ride, which is a pretty good amount for the hour before rush hour.

Pros: It sews transit-starved neighborhoods together. The headways are good overall, running every 20 minutes during rush hours and every 30 minutes during off-peak times and Saturdays. Plus, those turns are fun if you’re not expecting them.

Cons: First of all, the headways are every 50 minutes on Sundays. Second, the 83’s crazy route makes a lot of left turns, meaning getting stuck at a lot of traffic lights. Third, Somerville Ave can get pretty hairy in terms of traffic, and trying to get onto Mass Ave from it is not fun. Fourth, the 83 side of Porter needs a bus shelter! I once had to wait for 15 minutes under pouring rain for a bus. Finally, service to Alewife would be nice, but it’s a relatively hard route to plan.

Nearby and Noteworthy: The bus goes by a nice, large playground that kids would like. Also, a place I forgot to mention in my Porter review (but that the 83 goes by) is Newtowne Grille, a good pizza joint that’s located near Davenport St.

Final Verdict: 6
I gave this bus a generous score because of its much-needed service. However, the left turns are awful (though this can’t be fixed) and the headways aren’t exactly optimum on Sundays. As for possible service to Alewife, I created a map that shows a possible route via Terminal Road and the Fresh Pond Mall. Unfortunately, the aforementioned traffic on Alewife Brook Parkway might not make this the best route.

Latest MBTA News: March 31 – April 1, shuttle buses will replace the Orange Line from Sullivan Square to Oak Grove starting at 9 PM. Regular service will resume the next morning. Also, the Silver Line SL1 and SL2 will be operating at street level from South Station to Silver Line Way due to work in the underground transitway. This will be happening today and tomorrow (March 27 – March 28) starting at 9 PM until the end of service, and on March 29 – March 30 from 9 PM on the 29th until 2 PM on the 30th. For connections, click here. Finally, on March 30 – March 31 and April 6 – April 7, shuttle buses will replace the Blue Line from Airport to Wonderland from start to end of service.

Transit Tales: That’s Just Gross!

Mar 26, 2013 | | 2 Comments

My father and I got on the train at Downtown Crossing. It was crowded. He got a seat, I had to stand. Being packed in like sardines, I couldn’t really see much. I did hear, however, the sound of a liquid falling onto the floor. I assumed someone spilled a drink or something, so I didn’t take much note of it. When we arrived at the next station, I saw some parents rushing their kid out of the train, saying that he was sick. Again, I didn’t take much note of it. Eventually, the train cleared out and I got a seat. Looking over at one of the doors, I saw a big pile of lumpy, pale liquid. “Is that vomit?” I whispered to my father. “Ew, I think so,” he whispered back. “Let’s switch cars.” When the train arrived at the station, we made a mad rush for the doors to go to another car. Looking back, I saw some people just casually stepping over the vomit to get out (although with a grossed out expression). Others would stop and then go to another door. I was glad to get out, and let me just say that I sincerely feel sorry for the guy who had to clean that up.