Back From Florida!
I was in Florida for the past few days, and I rode some public transportation over there! I’ll be doing posts about that in the coming days, so look forward to that.
89 (Clarendon Hill or Davis Square – Sullivan Square Station via Broadway)
Split terminals. Ugh. Yes, I consider it lucky that most of the MBTA’s bus routes are linear and only have one terminus. However, there are those unfortunate few that have to deal with two…such as the 89. Much of the route is shared, but on its eastern end, there is ultimately a split, with some buses going to Clarendon Hill and some going to Davis Square. Let’s check ’em out.
 |
| The bus at Clarendon Hill. |
Clarendon Hill was quiet, and so we left with a mostly empty bus. Turning onto Broadway, there was a mix of houses and businesses, but it became mostly the latter as we reached Teele Square. Here, the 87 and 88 headed onto Holland Street to go to Davis Square, but we stayed on Broadway. The street was lined with dense houses all the way to Powderhouse Square, where there were connections to some other routes.
 |
| Another bus on another day at Davis Square. |
Those “other routes” included the 89’s second branch, which heads down to Davis. I figure I’ll discuss this branch as well, starting at the Davis Square busway. Turning onto College Ave, it runs along with the 94 and 96, passing mostly houses. The section is short, and it soon reaches Powderhouse Square to join the other branch of the 89.
Rejoining my ride at Powderhouse Square, we continued down Broadway after navigating that horribly rotary. Now joined with the 80, the street was lined with houses for a bit, but it became all businesses at Ball Square. We crossed over the Commuter Rail tracks, then passed a field.
It was all retail again at the intersection with Medford Street, where the 80 turned off. We continued down Broadway, getting a short independent section. The street was mostly lined with houses, with a few apartments in there. As we started to head down a hill, the 101 joined us from Main Street.
 |
| Hey, is that Boston? Or a blurry mess? |
It was around this point that Broadway got a grassy median and businesses started to appear. It became almost entirely retail the further we got, but we also passed a fire station and a park. Eventually, we crossed under I-93, went over the Orange Line tracks, and pulled into the Sullivan Station busway.
 |
| Another picture from the time I took the route to Davis Square. Note the second 89 behind the foreground bus. |
Route: 89 (Clarendon Hill or Davis Square – Sullivan Square Station via Broadway)
Ridership: Okay, so on weekdays, this route is really crowded! It has even higher ridership than the 88, with an average of 4,156 riders, slotting it at number 30 on the ridership rankings. However, there’s a massive drop on Saturdays, with only 1,917 riders, and an even larger drop on Sundays, with a measly 858 riders. My ride was on Saturday, and the bus had a good 25-30 people in total.
Pros: I like to think that this route sews up northern Somerville (and Medford, to an extent). I mean, by running right down Broadway the whole time, it makes for a nice, straight artery through the dense area. In addition, it has a pretty good schedule on weekdays, when it gets used the most. So good, in fact, that it runs every 9 minutes during rush hour! This becomes roughly every half hour during the day, and on Saturdays, it’s every 35 minutes.
Cons: Well, first of all, the route runs every hour at night and a dreadful every 70 minutes on Sundays. However, there’s an even more glaring problem with the route than that: split terminals. Even when the 89’s schedule is good, the service to the individual terminals is always half that. And this doesn’t matter too much, since most service is on Broadway, but what if someone needs to go to Davis Square? On Saturdays, the route only goes there every 70 minutes, and it doesn’t go there at all on Sundays! Too bad for you, Davis Square commuter!
Nearby and Noteworthy: There are a lot of businesses the 89 passes, but I’m just gonna go with my gut and say Davis Square. Of course, service there is once in a blue moon (and nonexistent on Sundays), so good luck with that.
Final Verdict: 6/10
I can’t get over the split terminal thing! And yes, I know it doesn’t affect that many people, since most riders use this route for the Broadway section anyway. But come on, Davis Square is an important subway connection, while Clarendon Hill is…Clarendon Hill. I mean, I think putting split terminals on bus routes is just asking for trouble. Seriously, just pick one! Or maybe only have split terminals during rush hour. I dunno, but this route is just too complicated and infrequent as it is.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
88 (Clarendon Hill – Lechmere Station via Highland Ave)
This is a pretty hard route to have a catchy intro for. I mean, the 88 is a very simple bus that just gets its job done. It runs mostly through Somerville, with a brief section in Cambridge as it comes into Lechmere. Um…and that’s about it. Let’s look at the route in more detail.
 |
| The bus coming toward Lechmere on McGrath Highway. |
Heading down McGrath Highway from Lechmere, we went past various hotels and industrial buildings, then passed the Twin City Plaza shopping mall. The road then rose up to cross over the Commuter Rail tracks, and then we exited off the highway as it went onto an elevated section. After we crossed Washington Street, the highway returned to ground level and we turned onto Medford Street, then Highland Ave.
 |
| In terms of the route, this picture comes before that first one, but I just like the first one more… |
We passed the Somerville High School/City Hall complex, then the surroundings became more residential. The street was lined with houses, as well as a few apartments here and there. At important intersections, there would be occasional businesses blocks, but they were outnumbered by the houses for sure.
 |
| City Hall! |
There wasn’t too much variety in the surroundings overall, except for a small hospital and a fire station. And we were just about to reach the businesses of Davis Square, but we turned onto Grove Street just before. We then pulled into the Davis Square busway, exchanging a few passengers, and from there we made our way to Holland Street.
Leaving Davis Square behind, the street became lined with dense houses as we passed a field and playground. The retail came back at Teele Square, where we merged onto Broadway. It was a decent mix of houses and businesses until we reached the three huge apartment buildings of Clarendon Hill. Here, we turned into the busway and let the few remaining passengers out.
 |
| The bus, with one of the apartment buildings behind it. |
Route: 88 (Clarendon Hill – Lechmere Station via Highland Ave)
Ridership: On weekdays, this is the busiest “80” route out of Lechmere, with 4,075 average riders. It drops a bit below the 87 on weekends, but the ridership is still high – 2,794 riders on Saturdays and 1,664 on Sundays. My Saturday ride had pretty good ridership, with about 30 people in total.
Pros: This isn’t the only bus route on Highland Ave, but it might as well be, since the 90 runs about as frequently as a sack of potatoes. Luckily the 88 can pick up the slack, since its schedule is pretty good: every 16-20 minutes during rush hour, every 20-25 minutes during the day, every 20 minutes on Saturdays, every 30-40 minutes at night, and every 40 minutes on Sundays.
Cons: Honestly, there isn’t much. The only real complaint I have is that the night and Sunday schedules aren’t that frequent. And the latter could be more efficient, with two buses operating with long layover times at Lechmere.
Nearby and Noteworthy: Davis Square, simple as that. I’m sure there are other fine businesses along the route, but you’ll find the highest concentration of good ones in Davis Square.
Final Verdict: 8/10
Well, the three “80s” routes from Lechmere have all gotten consistent 8s, and for good reason, too. They all serve very dense neighborhoods, and they all have pretty decent and efficient schedules. Sunday is the only time when the 88 doesn’t run that often, but it has to be said that it’s coordinated with the 87 to run every 20 minutes, which is much better. Not enough to raise the score, but much better.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
Merry Christmas, everyone! The MBTA is running on a Sunday schedule today, just to let you all know.
80 (Arlington Center – Lechmere Station via Medford Hillside)
Oh, how I hate the 77 sometimes. After waiting 20 minutes for a bus on a Saturday (when headways should be 10), I ended up just walking from North Cambridge to Arlington Center. And the whole way, I kept checking back to see if a bus was coming, and when one finally did come, I got on and realized that Arlington Center was literally a few blocks away. But because of traffic and the sheer amount of people on the bus, it took forever to go just a couple of stops! Ugh! Sigh…okay, with that out of the way, here’s the 80.
 |
| The bus rounding the turn onto Medford Street in Arlington Center. |
The 80’s stop in Arlington Center is different from the 87’s, which also goes to Lechmere. This one is on Medford Street outside of a theater, and it’s basically just a sign. Of the few people who were waiting with me, some stood under the canopy of the theater, while others just paced around. The bus came late, and then the driver left to go somewhere. 10 minutes later, the driver came back and let everyone on, now even more late than before.
 |
| That destination board is awfully faint… |
Leaving the street stop, we headed down Medford Street, and the businesses of Arlington Center stopped pretty quickly. After passing a cemetery, the street was leafy and lined with dense houses. We went by a little park and playground, then the road curved east. There was a rotary that led to a crossing over the Mystic River, sending us into Medford on High Street.
 |
| Did I get a bad picture of the river crossing? Of course I did! |
There was another rotary in Medford, but the surroundings were basically the same as they were in Arlington. After a small retail block, we turned onto Boston Ave, joining the 94 and passing more houses. Eventually, we went over the Mystic River again, entering a brief industrial section in Somerville before once more returning to Medford.
 |
| A second river crossing meant I could redeem myself, picture-wise! Too bad I didn’t… |
As we got closer to Tufts, a bunch of university-related businesses started coming up. We came into the university itself soon, passing lots of college buildings, which continued when we turned onto the suitably-named College Ave and entered Somerville. At the rotary of death known as Powderhouse Square, we headed onto Broadway, which soon became lined with businesses.
 |
| If you look closely, you can see the John Hancock building peeping up in the distance! |
We crossed over the Commuter Rail tracks, then passed a field a little further down Broadway. We then turned onto Medford Street (a different Medford Street from the one in Arlington), which became residential after a little while. There were a few businesses on occasion, but it was mostly houses all the way to when we turned onto Pearl Street.
 |
| That’s right…that tiny little section between the two traffic lights is the split between two intersections. |
 |
| And the Lechmere busway sits in the background rusting away… |
Pros: This route serves a lot and connects it to the Green Line – indeed, it roughly follows the path of the may-or-may-not-happen Green Line Extension. Also, it has a pretty good schedule most of the time: every 20 minutes during rush hour, every 25-30 minutes during the day, every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and every hour at night and on Sundays.
Cons: Yeah, okay, that last one is pretty bad. No one likes every hour bus service. But honestly, I think it makes sense here. Running every hour, the 80 can use a single bus going back and forth, and on Sundays the ridership averages out so that each trip has a decent number of people on it.
Nearby and Noteworthy: I would say Arlington Center is the most interesting locale this route serves, but it does hit up a lot of other businesses on its way down to Lechmere.
Final Verdict: 8/10
All of the “80s” routes out of Lechmere may not have the best schedules all the time, but they always make sense. Every hour on Sundays isn’t optimal service, but it’s efficient service. One bus shuttling back and forth along this route generally picks up a good amount of people on Sundays, and of course, it runs often most other times. Overall, this route is run as efficiently as possible, and manages to be somewhat frequent in doing so.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
14 (Roslindale Square – Heath Street via Dudley Station, Grove Hall, and Jackson Square Station)
The 14 has always struck me as a bit of a weird route. For one thing, its northern terminus is Heath Street, making it the only bus that terminates there (though the 39 goes by that stop, too). For another, the 14’s southern terminus is Roslindale, which seems odd. Isn’t that an isolated place for the route to end? Well, let’s find out.
 |
| Night pictures are hard, okay? This is the bus on Corinth Street. |
The route starts out next to the Roslindale Village Commuter Rail station, but I got on a stop later on Corinth Street. Since the stop was on a corner, we immediately turned onto Washington Street, then Cummins Highway, leaving the businesses of Roslindale Square behind. The street was mostly residential, but there were a couple of churches and schools, too.
We crossed over the Providence Line tracks, then turned onto Hyde Park Ave right after. The wide street was commercial/industrial for a little while, then it became lined with houses. And just as it started to get industrial again, we turned onto the equally wide American Legion Highway.
We passed a huge shopping plaza, then crossed Cummins Highway a little further north. Interestingly, we were only two blocks from where we had originally turned onto Hyde Park Ave. Continuing past that intersection, there were houses for a bit, then we passed another big shopping plaza.
After a few more businesses, we entered the Boston Nature Center. As the name suggests, the surroundings were basically just woods, and they whizzed by as we sped through without any stops. We crossed over Morton Street on a bridge, then we started get back to civilization. With Franklin Park on one side and apartments on the other, the highway curved east.
We merged onto Blue Hill Ave, joining a few other routes. Passing the Franklin Park Zoo, the street became lined with apartments, but once we reached Grove Hall, the businesses came back. It was here that we turned onto Warren Street, which meandered its way past mostly apartments. However, there was retail again soon enough, as we went by the third shopping plaza on the route, the Mall of Roxbury.
It was mostly residential north of the mall, with the businesses returning once we reached Dudley Station. After pulling into the busway and (surprisingly) not picking anyone up, we started to head down Malcolm X Boulevard. However, instead of going with the many other routes heading for Ruggles, we followed the 41 and turned onto Roxbury Street.
 |
| Aw, yeah, a picture from earlier in the day! Too bad it’s blurry… |
Reaching a bit of retail at John Eliot Square, we followed Centre Street, which was lined with houses. The street started to go downhill and curve west, where we turned onto Columbus Ave, pulling into the Jackson Square busway right after. Returning to Columbus Ave, we headed north again, this time turning onto Heath Street.
 |
| The bus and a Green Line train at the Heath Street Loop. |
We went by the infamous Heath Street projects, then around a small little rotary. There were a few more apartments after that, which soon became houses. After a school, we passed some more apartments and the huge V.A. Hospital building. And right after that, the driver let us off, and the bus went around the Heath Street Loop to lay over.
 |
| The bus speeding away. |
Route: 14 (Roslindale Square – Heath Street via Dudley Station, Grove Hall, and Jackson Square Station)
Ridership: My ride was at 5 o’clock on a Saturday, so you can imagine that it wasn’t too busy. In total, there were only about 15 people in total who rode. For a pretty niche route like the 14, though, it gets decent ridership overall: an average of 1,377 riders on weekdays and 1,030 riders on Saturdays.
Pros: This is the only bus to Roslindale that doesn’t go up Washington Street to Forest Hills, which is both good and bad. On one hand, the bus is the only direct connection from Roslindale to Blue Hill Ave and Dudley Square, and it’s fast. Well, the part on American Legion Highway is, anyway. Once it gets more local, it slows down. Finally, I like how the bus goes a little past Jackson Square to terminate at Heath Street, giving the station its second bus connection.
Cons: Of course, since this is the only Roslindale bus that doesn’t go to Forest Hills, its terminus feels kind of isolated. That doesn’t matter too much, though, since Washington Street is crowded enough with other routes. No, the real problem is the schedule. The 14 runs a miserable every 40 minutes during rush hour, every 63 minutes during the day (how specific), every 35 minutes on Saturdays, and not at all nights and Sundays.
Nearby and Noteworthy: On the route’s independent portion, there are a few shopping plazas, as well as the Boston Nature Center, which looks like a nice park in the middle of the city.
Final Verdict: 5/10
As a route, the 14 is pretty good. It may not serve a lot on its own, but it connects some important parts of Boston and it does it with speed. But the schedule could really be better. Every 40 minutes during rush hour is just ridiculously infrequent, and though the route runs pretty often on Saturdays, the complete lack of Sunday service is a dealbreaker.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
Roslindale Village
My friend Michael and I had just walked from Central Square, Cambridge all the way down to Roslindale. Sitting in an empty pizza joint eating really bad pizza, we silently looked out the window at Washington Street. Night was falling. Finishing the food, we stepped out into the cold rain, trudging past some hearty souls listening to live music at a small park in the village. And then we arrived at our destination: a really boring Commuter Rail station.
 |
| There’s no live music here, that’s for sure. |
Coming from Belgrade Ave, the Commuter Rail station is up on an embankment. In order to get up to it, there’s a set of stairs leading up to the single track, where you can cross over to the platform. If you have a disability, you can use the station underpass, which goes under the tracks and comes up on the other side, where the platform is at ground level. As you can see in the picture, however, the underpass is low and dingy, especially at night.
 |
| The station shelter. |
Roslindale’s shelter is a generic Needham Line shelter, and I’ve talked about how I’m not a fan of the Needham Line’s shelters. Like most other stations on the line, Roslindale’s shelter is just metal, and has a single bench under it. It also has a lone newspaper box, as well as a wastebasket a little further down the platform.
 |
| Looking down the platform. |
As with any Needham Line stop, the boarding area is waaaaaaaay on the other side of the station! Thus, you get to walk on bare asphalt, passing a bunch of ads along the way, in order to get to your train. Perhaps this is some sort of subliminal messaging on the advertisers’ parts?
 |
| The boarding platform. |
You know, I had gotten used to having nice boarding platforms with a few benches to comfortably wait for your train. But nope, this is the Needham Line, where amenities are unheard of! Roslindale’s high-level boarding platform is just a tiny shelter, and…yeah, that’s it. There’s really nothing else to say. Next!
 |
| The station’s third entrance, |
On the western side of the station, there’s one more entrance. Two staircases, one for each side of the platform, descend from the station to Robert Street. The stairs are pretty rudimentary, but having an entrance over here is convenient for those coming from the west.
 |
| The station’s larger parking lot. |
There are parking lots on both sides of the station, one to the south, and one to the north. The southern lot is next to Belgrade Ave, and is pretty much right next to Roslindale Square. The northern (and larger) lot is on South Street, right in a residential area. All of the parking amounts to 160 spaces, which are 80% empty on weekdays – better safe than sorry, I guess.
 |
| No train pictures this time, so here’s Roslindale Square! Hard to believe we’re still in Boston. |
Station: Roslindale Village
Ridership: This is the fourth-busiest station on the Needham Line, with 423 inbound riders per weekday. I’m honestly surprised that the ridership is so high, considering there are so many buses that go from Roslindale to Forest Hills. If you use the Orange Line to get downtown from there, you save almost four dollars! Of course, the Commuter Rail’s more direct, though.
Pros: Well, I literally said this a sentence ago, but the Commuter Rail provides a fast, direct route from here to Boston. In addition, Roslindale has a huge amount of parking, considering that it’s in a dense area. Finally, the station is accessible, which is always good.
Cons: It’s so boring and bland! I mean, this is the Needham Line, that’s nothing new, but still! Aside from the fact that the station is elevated, there’s nothing aesthetically pleasing about it. The shelter is boring, the platform is just asphalt, and the boarding platform literally just that – a platform with no benches at all. Yes, I know that’s the norm for the Needham Line, but that doesn’t make it a good thing.
Nearby and Noteworthy: Roslindale Village has a bunch of restaurants and businesses, as well as the Bay State Model Railroad Museum. Unfortunately, I just missed the Holiday Open House, but mark your calendars for March 5-6, the Spring Open House. If you think you might be interested in visiting the museum, check out my post from way back when about my visit. I was so young back then…
Final Verdict: 4/10
The sad thing about this score is that I really love Roslindale Village. Honestly, it’s a very nice place that feels like a suburban downtown, and yet it’s right in Boston. But…this station is so bad. It’s mostly bare, with the only bench being a million miles away from the boarding platform, and under a really bland shelter. The final blow, though, is the fact that bus service from here to Forest Hills is so frequent. I get that the Commuter Rail is much faster, but if I were here on a Saturday, I wouldn’t even consider it. Sorry, Roslindale…but you’re in a great little neighborhood, at least.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
I would be remiss not to talk about the runaway train this morning. Luckily, no one was hurt, but you can find more info here.
Ruggles
Okay, I certainly had a lot of praise for Mass Ave, going as far as to call it the best station on the Southwest Corridor. I still stand by that, but it has to be said that Mass Ave’s southern neighbor, Ruggles, is quite impressive. With an Orange Line station, Commuter Rail station, and massive busway, this station has quite a lot to talk about, so let’s get right into it.
 |
| The Columbus Ave entrance. |
Ruggles’ entrance is very big and imposing, and that’s a good thing. With a huge glass semicircle above the door, it looks great. Also, for some reason, they decided to imprint “Ruggles” into the concrete instead of doing a typical MBTA sign – interesting choice, but I like it. Another weird thing about the Columbus Ave entrance is that it advertises Commuter Rail trains but not Orange Line trains.
 |
| The entrance on the Forsyth Street side. |
 |
| Inside the Forsyth Street entrance. |
 |
| No picture could ever do this hallway justice. |
 |
| The huge busway. |
 |
| The busway…from above. |
 |
| The bus drop-off area. |
 |
| The Commuter Rail platform. |
 |
| The Orange Line mezzanine. |
 |
| The room past the mezzanine. |
 |
| If it weren’t for that “Ruggles” sign, I’d think I was back at Mass Ave! |
 |
| A bad picture, but here’s the underground part of the platform. |
 |
| Not an entrance, huh? Sure. |
 |
| A train stopped at the station (from above). |
Massachusetts Avenue
Woah, a subway station review! There aren’t many of these left… and yes, I know I still have to do a bunch of the downtown transfer stations. I say best for last, my friends, best for last. With that said, here’s a station that…well, it’s actually pretty good. Let’s take a look at Mass Ave.
 |
| Only 10 seconds left to cross! Gotta take the picture quickly. |
Well, the first thing you’ll notice about the entrance is that it appears to have some ad space. Quite a lot of it, in fact. I mean, I could talk about the fact that it’s a nice-looking entrance with lots of glass, or the fact that there’s a convenient Subway restaurant right next to it, but I’m a bit distracted. Is anyone else thirsty for vitamin water?
 |
| Ah, that’s better. |
Luckily, the side entrance isn’t so…corporate. The main entrance has a little plaza next it, which a few doors lead out to. It has a good amount of bike spaces, but the main purpose of this side entrance is to serve people coming from the south. See, there’s this nice park that runs along the Southwest Corridor, and this plaza is what it feeds into.
 |
| OH NO, IT’S BACK! |
There’s another entrance to the station on the other side of Mass Ave. Interestingly, it doesn’t lead to the station itself – instead, it leads to an underpass that goes under the street to the main mezzanine on the other side! It’s pretty unnecessary, considering there’s a crosswalk right there, but the fact that there’s a sheltered way under Mass Ave directly to the station is great. Also…gosh, why do I keep thinking about vitamin water?
 |
| Just…ignore that pink thing on the left side of the picture. |
This side of the station has a plaza, too. Again, it has bike spaces, plus a wastebasket as well. It also has a bunch of different plants lined along the station, which is great. And the plants continue down the Southwest Corridor Park as it heads further into the South End (the portion from Mass Ave to Back Bay is arguably the best one).
 |
| You’ve gotta be kidding me… |
One of the station’s bus shelters features – what else? – another huge ad! What is it with this station and driving advertising down your throat? Well, anyway, Mass Ave has two buses that serve it: the 1 and the CT1. Both of them are crosstown routes down the station’s namesake street, and are useful for getting to many locations along the thoroughfare.
 |
| The underpass. |
The station’s underpass under Mass Ave is…well, it’s better than other underpasses I’ve seen, we’ll put it that way. It’s reasonably well-lit, with the walls and floor made out of bricks. The ceiling, however. has some chipping paint issues, and it’s a bit low. Still, the fact that this underpass exists in the first place is great, especially considering it doesn’t have to.
 |
| The mezzanine. |
Mass Ave’s mezzanine is surprisingly impressive. I mean, keep in mind, this is the Southwest Corridor – the most boring stretch of track on the MBTA! And yet, here we have a really great mezzanine with a high ceiling and a good amount of fare gates, plus lots of natural light. Good job sticking out from your peers, Mass Ave.
 |
| Down on the platform. |
 |
| Boy, this looks familiar… |
 |
| No ads on this exit! Mwahaha. |
 |
| A train coming in. |
50 (Cleary Square – Forest Hills Station via Roslindale Square)
Need to get from Cleary Square to Forest Hills? Sick of using the frequent, albeit crowded 32? Well, boy, do I have the bus for you, then – it’s pretty much the exact opposite. Cue the 50! (Incidentally, it took me way too long after that 32 post to realize that it wasn’t my last Key Bus Route. Sorry about that, there’s still one more…)
 |
| The bus laying over on Hyde Park Ave. |
When I tried to get on the bus at the stop above, the driver told me to wait across the street, along with a few other people already there. After a few minutes, the bus left its stop and banged a uey around an intersection, returning north on Hyde Park Ave. Everyone waiting boarded the bus, and we continued up the street, passing the businesses of Cleary Square.
 |
| Ignoring the weird stuff in the foreground, here’s the bus making its u-turn. |
We only spent a block on Hyde Park Ave, though, turning onto River Street almost right after we started. After going over the Commuter Rail tracks and Hyde Park Station, it instantly got residential. We turned onto Gordon Ave just after the crossing, then onto Summer Street. This was a residential one-way street, with the inbound route running a block away on Austin Street.
 |
| The bus again, this time on River Street. |
We soon turned onto West Street, joining the inbound route again a block later. After struggling up a hill (with some interesting noises from the bus), the street became Poplar Street, still lined with houses. And after that hill, we were just speeding past everything.
At this point, the Stony Brook Reservation occupied the left side of the street. Something I didn’t realize, though, was that apparently they put golf courses in reservations, as we passed one along Poplar Street. The street then curved to the northeast, once more lined with houses, aside from a small school at one point.
We turned onto Metropolitan Ave, which was up on a hill that sank down to the north. This meant that in between houses there was an absolutely amazing view of the Boston skyline. The problem was that it would show up for less than a second at a time, making it incredibly hard to get pictures. All of mine were terrible, and we started going down the hill disappointingly soon.
 |
| This is on Washington Street. It is also an awful picture. |
Turning onto Washington Street, we joined a few other bus routes on their way to Forest Hills. After a few businesses at the intersection, the street became lined with dense houses and apartments. Of course, once we reached Roslindale, there was lots of retail once more. The businesses thinned out as we headed north from the village, now joined by a bunch of other Washington Street routes.
We passed a big field, but from there the surroundings were mostly houses and apartments again. There was a short industrial section, then after a bit of an open stretch, we pulled into the Forest Hills busway. The…roofless Forest Hills busway. Because they removed the roof. Um…why did they do that?
 |
| The bus at Forest Hills. |
Route: 50 (Cleary Square – Forest Hills Station via Roslindale Square)
Ridership: The 50 is pretty low on the MBTA’s ridership list, slotted at number 99 on weekdays. That equates to an average of 1,310 riders. On weekends, meanwhile, the 50 gets 412 riders every Saturday, while the 40/50 combo gets 309 riders on Sundays – the 9th worst Sunday route. My ride was quiet, with about 10 people.
Pros: Well, for one thing, this bus is quick. Since its independent portion is so local, it can cover the whole route in 20 minutes at most. Its schedule isn’t great, but it makes sense – every 25 minutes during rush hour, and every hour all other times. On Sundays, the 50 combines with the 40, making a loop that covers both routes. I think this is a good way of keeping costs down, although the 6 minute layover at Cleary Square could be annoying for those going further around the loop.
Cons: This is a very hilly route, which does make for a fun ride. However, this means that when it snows heavily, the 50 doesn’t run at all. How annoying must that be for people? I mean, okay, I get why it wouldn’t run, of course, but still – cancelling the route entirely seems a bit unfair. They could throw extra trips onto the 40 that continue to Cleary Square, at least. That would soften the blow on snowy days.
Nearby and Noteworthy: You’ve got Cleary Square, and…that’s about it. I mean, this bus goes through Roslindale, too, but in terms of its independent portion, that’s all houses.
Final Verdict: 6/10
Look, this is the sort of route that just inherently gets a 6. It’s uber-local, it doesn’t get much ridership, and it doesn’t run often. It wouldn’t make sense to run the 50 more frequently, though, since again – not much ridership. I also don’t like how they completely write off this route on snowy days. They could use the extra buses to buffer service on the 40, running all the way to Cleary Square to at least help some 50 riders.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
Hyde Park
Since Fairmount and Hyde Park are so close together, passengers essentially get a choice between the two. There are advantages to both. Since Hyde Park is on the busy Providence Line, as well as the Franklin Line, it gets frequent service, while Fairmount does not. That said, if you’re looking for a station that’s not terrible, Hyde Park isn’t the place for you…
 |
| The entrance to the inbound platform – ramp on the left, stairs on the right. |
The pedestrian entrances to Hyde Park are just kind of…there. I mean, there aren’t any signs to mark that they lead to a train station. That said, both platforms get a set of stairs and a ramp that lead from River Street. Of course, the ramps have rusting metal shelters above them and the stairs are entirely metal and feel dangerous, but…well, no buts! That’s horrible!
 |
| The station’s parking lot. |
Of course, there’s a way for cars to get into the station, too. A T symbol along Hyde Park Ave marks the side street where cars can turn to go to the station. There, one can find a sizeable parking lot (considering the urban surroundings), with 121 spaces. And since about 60% of these spaces are available on weekdays, it’s safe to say that there’s more than enough parking.
 |
| Looking down the platform. |
Okay, look, this station is just decrepit. I mean, the first of its many problems is the horrible bare asphalt of the platforms. Or at least, it would be bare if it wasn’t in such awful condition. The outbound platform is a mess, with these old chain link fences and a wall that’s falling apart, plus some sort of mechanical box that makes a bunch of noise. The inbound side has a shelter, but it’s not where the boarding platform is, so it’s kind of useless.
 |
| An old “honor box” and some bike spaces. |
 |
| The outbound boarding platform. |
 |
| No train pictures, unfortunately, but here’s a view of the outbound platform near the pedestrian entrances. It’s just so…awful. |
Fairmount
Okay, guys, I have another pronunciation problem. So, based on the way Fairmount is spelled, I’ve always assumed the second syllable is pronounced like “mountain”. But according to a local I met on my walk to the station, it’s pronounced like “Fairmont”. I know I should probably just trust the local, but I have to ask you guys: “Fairmount” or “Fairmont”? Well, anyway, let’s talk about the station.
 |
| The inbound entrance. |
There are two different ways of getting into Fairmount. The first of these consists of pedestrian ramps from Fairmount Ave that lead down to the station. There are two of them (one for inbound and one for outbound), and both have T symbols outside. The ramps themselves are long, curving around in order to make it down to the platform. Luckily, there are also stairs to speed things up for people who don’t need the ramps.
 |
| Hmm…that road there…I’m not sure if it’s in the best condition… |
The other way of getting into Fairmount is by road, and there are two different ones that go there. The first is a short street off of Fairmount Ave called 3rd New Way. It’s a steep, treacherous road that comes down to a mostly unpaved drop-off area next to the station – and that’s about it, aside from some sheltered bike spaces. Perhaps we should try the other side?
 |
| Some of the station parking. |
Luckily, the other side is less nerve-racking. 2nd New Way is significantly less steep and is actually paved all the way. Additionally, Maple and Walnut Streets go to this side of the station, coming from residential areas that would normally take a long time to access from Fairmount Ave. This side of the station is also where the parking is, and though there are only 51 spaces, most people get here by other means, so the lot usually has free space.
 |
| The outbound boarding platform. |
Fairmount is the only station on the Fairmount Line (besides Readville) that isn’t fully high-level. Instead, the station has smaller high-level boarding platforms. Personally, I think this setup has more character, but ultimately high-level is more efficient. Nonetheless, the ramps from Fairmount Ave lead directly to the boarding platforms, which have benches and wastebaskets. A weird quirk about the platforms, though, is that there’s a gap between the platform itself and the yellow part close to the tracks. I’m not sure why, but it’s odd – doesn’t seem like it would be dangerous, though.
 |
| The low-level part of the platform. |
Aside from the inbound shelter extending a bit past the boarding platform, there really isn’t much along the low-level section. It is important to note, however, that you can’t cross over the tracks here. In order to get to the other side, you have to go up to Fairmount Ave and walk over. I guess the street above acts as a footbridge of sorts for pedestrians, but I can see it being annoying having to go up and down those stairs. Why can’t there just be a level crossing like at other stations?
 |
| A train was leaving right when I was coming to the Fairmount Ave entrance, so I had to quickly snap this picture from above. |
Station: Fairmount
Ridership: In fairness, this is the second-busiest station on the Fairmount Line. That said, it’s the Fairmount Line, so that doesn’t mean much. This station gets an average of 188 inbound riders per weekday, and I believe many of those people come in by foot. That’s based on the fact that the parking lot really doesn’t get much usage at all.
Pros: Well, speaking of the parking lot, it’s great that there is one, even if it’s not utilized by many people – better safe than sorry. In addition, I think this might be the only Fairmount Line station with any form of character. I mean, the red shelters over the platforms look better than any of the bland stuff you’ll get further north.
Cons: The only problem I have with this station is the lack of a level crossing for pedestrians. For example, if someone wants to get dropped off on the inbound side, the two options are using the treacherous 3rd New Way, or using 2nd New Way and crossing over via two sets of stairs.
Nearby and Noteworthy: The businesses of Logan and Cleary Squares are only a few blocks from this station – it’s a short walk.
Final Verdict: 8/10
The absence of a level crossing isn’t enough to deter Fairmount! Honestly, it’s probably just for safety that crossing the tracks is prohibited. That said, if safety is an issue, then 3rd New Way has to be improved, because…whoof, that’s a scary road. Of course, 2nd New Way is a fine alternative, and that street leads to the parking lot, too. Besides, Fairmount’s platform is pretty nice and accessible for people with disabilities. I haven’t traversed the whole Fairmount Line yet, but I think this is my favorite station on it so far.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
The Boston Globe had a bunch of articles today about train travel in the United States that were quite interesting. Check them out here.
24 (Wakefield Ave and Truman Highway – Mattapan or Ashmont Station via River Street)
A little while back, I reviewed the 33, which runs from Mattapan Station to Dedham Line, via River Street. I wasn’t a very big fan of that route. Now we’ll be looking at the 33’s companion along River Street, the 24, which goes to Fairmount. Does it stack up more favorably than the 33? Let’s find out.
 |
| Wooooooah, that’s a weird angle! |
Leaving the busway at Mattapan, we looped around onto River Street. We avoided the main drag of Mattapan Square, however, by simply continuing straight on the same street. Leaving Mattapan’s businesses behind, River Street was mostly lined with dense houses.
 |
| Crossing over the Fairmount Line. |
Eventually, the road went onto a bridge, going over the Fairmount Line. On the other side, we passed a shopping plaza. then it got a bit industrial. There were auto shops and empty plots of land lining the street for a little while. It got residential after that, though, with individual houses, as well as a few apartments.
 |
| A clock tower in Logan Square. |
Eventually, the street became lined with businesses as we entered Logan Square. This was where we split from the 33, turning onto Fairmount Ave. After passing some more retail, we went up onto a bridge, crossing over Fairmount Station, then the Neponset River.
 |
| This wasn’t taken from the bus, but here’s the Neponset River, seen from Fairmount Ave. |
Now we came to the main part of the 24, which is a loop around a neighborhood of Hyde Park. It was very local and very twisty, and it started right when we left the bridge. Turning onto Beacon Street, we rose up a steep hill with houses on either side of the road. At the top, we turned onto Metropolitan Ave, passing the small Boston Baptist College.
 |
| Looking down a side street. |
We then turned onto Summit Street, going into Milton for the very briefest of moments before returning to Hyde Park. From there, we turned onto Milton Ave, which had no sidewalk and more spread-out houses. Once we were on Highland Street, though, the houses were denser again.
 |
| Another side street. |
The road made a few sharp twists, becoming Pond Street in the process. Reaching the end of that street, we turned onto Williams Ave, then Summit Street again, passing the Boston Police Academy. This road changed names twice as we went along, becoming Washington Street, then Wakefield Ave.
 |
| A nice-looking park. |
Around that last name change, we went by a school on one side and a park on the other. We then turned onto Truman Highway, reaching a shelter. Right across the street from a small shopping plaza, this was the last stop of the route.
 |
| The bus further down Truman Highway. |
 |
| The bus getting ready to turn onto Fairmount Ave. |
Providence
Whenever I pass through Providence Station on Amtrak, I always look out onto the platform and think “Man, this place looks horrible.” And when I was walking toward the station and saw the exterior, I assumed the rest would be just as bad. Boy, was I wrong.
 |
| Well, let’s start with the bad part… |
Okay, I guess I can sort of see the appeal of Providence’s brutalist building. The dome looks alright, and the fact that the clock tower isn’t a perfect square is interesting. But, I mean, it’s quite bland, isn’t it? The clock tower is just a big concrete slab rising up from the building – which in itself is another concrete slab with a dome on top.
 |
| At least it’s well-lit… |
My friend and I approached the station from the southwest, which seemed to be the uninviting side, though it did have a few useful amenities. That side has an open concrete area with a few bike spaces, which is a good thing. There’s also a café that was closed at the time, though I will say that it looks like it would be pretty good when open. But there were only two single doors into the station, and one of them was locked!
 |
| One of the station’s main entrances. Also, my friend Michael makes a cameo. |
Luckily, the station’s main entrances are more inviting. There’s one to the north on Gaspee Street and one to the south on Railroad Street. They’re pretty similar, and they’re both significantly more inviting than the entrance by the bike area. The Gaspee Street side has connections to four RIPTA routes, while the Railroad Street side functions as a drop-off/pick-up area. However, with the latter, you can walk a block to Park Row, where RIPTA’s R-Line rapid bus stops.
 |
| The underground parking garage. |
The station has 330 parking spaces, all housed in a two-level underground garage. Considering that this is an urban station that’s pretty close to the hub of most RIPTA routes, it seems like the existing parking is plenty. Although the elevator used to get down to the garage is a bit disgusting, the stairs are fine and the garage itself is…well, a generic parking garage, but that’s not a bad thing.
 |
| Oh, yeah! Here we go! |
Okay, this station’s waiting area is amazing. Its main attraction is the dome, of course, which is very high up and has a small window at the top. There are benches that circle it, and old-fashioned lamps everywhere to light the place up.
 |
| My camera’s not the best at night pictures, so this was the best one I could get of the ticket office. |
As this is an Amtrak station, Providence has a few ticket booths for last-minute purchases. There are four in total, but I think only Amtrak tickets can be bought there – with the Commuter Rail, you just buy them on the train. Also, unlike South Station, you can go down to the Amtrak platform without a ticket. There’s no “line up to show me your ticket before you even go to the platform” madness like what happens at South Station.
 |
| A few side rooms. |
The station has a few more amenities, located in rooms leading out of the waiting area. For one thing, there’s a telephone room, though most of the payphones are gone. I guess a room like that isn’t going to be too useful nowadays, anyway. There are also bathrooms, and they’re not as disgusting as you might think. Okay, they’re train station bathrooms, so don’t expect to be blown away, but they’re not as bad as other ones I’ve been to.
 |
| The vending machine room. |
Providence even has a room called “Vending”! And that’s literally what it is: a room full of vending machines. I mean, it has every machine you can imagine, from drinks and snacks to those fancy ones that give you coffee and ice cream. Truly, this room is a boon to humanity.
 |
| A closed shop. |
There are also a few shops inside the station. The first one is that café I mentioned earlier, which is apparently French. Right outside of it is a flower kiosk – I feel like these show up in train stations a lot, for some reason. Finally, there’s a general-purpose kind of store, with souvenirs, magazines, snacks, and more. Unfortunately, all of these were closed when I was here, but they probably get busy during rush hour.
 |
| Man, Providence, you just gotta keep blowing me away, don’t you? |
I seriously was not expecting a departure board here, and yet…there it was. Yes, this station has a small departure board showing when trains leave the station. And right below it is this big gaudy display about Providence with information about the city. Okay, so I like the board more, but the Providence display is useful to tourists, I’ll give it that.
 |
| Descending down to the Amtrak platform. |
The station itself is split into two platforms – one is for Amtrak trains, while the Commuter Rail stops at the other. We started with the Amtrak platform, and I gotta say, I was scared going down there. Based on the bland staircase, it felt like Providence would be another Back Bay…
 |
| Hmmmmmm… |
Well…okay, so the platform is certainly not as bad as Back Bay, but it could be better. A lot of the pillars have peeling paint, and there’s graffiti on the station walls. That said, though, the platform is pretty bright, since it has strong lights and white pillars. It doesn’t have any benches, but that’s because passengers are expected to wait upstairs.
 |
| The Commuter Rail platform. |
The Commuter Rail platform is pretty similar, albeit with different signage. However, it’s also a bit blander, since the walls and pillars are just pure concrete here. That said, aside from a small open-air section on the north side, the platforms are entirely underground, which means they’re entirely sheltered. I would say that overall, they’re a mixed bag – and nowhere near as disgusting as Back Bay.
 |
| An Amtrak train leaving the station. |
 |
| A Commuter Rail train laying over. |
 |
| I’ll admit, I only took this one as an excuse to feature the State House in the background. |
Station: Providence
Ridership: Well, this is actually the busiest Commuter Rail station outside of the downtown Boston terminals, with 2,325 riders per weekday! Also, this is Amtrak’s 14th busiest station in the country, with 660,267 riders annually (over 1800 per day). This place must get awfully crowded during rush hour…
Pros: Everything about the waiting area is absolutely fantastic. I mean, there are ticket offices, shops, amenities, a destination board, and of course, that distinctive dome. There’s nothing about that area I don’t like. The station also has a fair amount of parking and some decent bus connections (with Kennedy Plaza only a few minutes’ walk away), plus the platforms aren’t as bad as…certain other stations. *cough* Back Bay.
Cons: That said, the platforms here can be a bit bland and you do see a few Back Bay-esque elements at times (i.e. graffiti). But there’s nothing too bad, especially considering you don’t actually have to wait on the platforms. I also think the station building is somewhat stark, though I can see how people would like it. It does have a certain charm, and you can’t go wrong with a clock tower.
Nearby and Noteworthy: You know, Providence is often overshadowed by Boston, but seriously, it’s a great city. I wish I could give some specific businesses or attractions, but I just walked around when I was there. But considering that you can just grab the Commuter Rail from South Station and get here in an hour, I really recommend checking Providence out for the day.
Final Verdict: 9/10
It’s weird, I had fully expected that I would hate this place. This was based on short glimpses of the platform and a view of the building, both of which could be better. But the waiting area – it’s just amazing! And honestly, I don’t even mind the building or the platforms too much, since they’re really just a bit bland. Yeah, this station is great, and a fantastic gateway into a fantastic city. Thanks for everything, Providence.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
Service Change: RIPTA, Part 3 – Kennedy Plaza (and a few random Providence pictures)
The RIPTA is a big system, but most of its routes come out of three focal points. There’s the Pawtucket Transit Center, the Newport Gateway Center, and the biggest one of the bunch, Providence’s Kennedy Plaza. Serving most of RIPTA’s routes, the Kennedy Plaza can be a little difficult to navigate, but its amenities are top notch.
 |
| Part of the plaza. |
 |
| One of the shelters (Berth G, in this case). |
Outside, there’s quite a lot of seating space to wait for buses. Each berth has its own modern glass shelter with more benches under those. And speaking of berths, the hub has fifteen of them. Plus, some of them are on side streets, which can make them even harder to find.
 |
| Looking toward the main building and Providence City Hall behind it. |
 |
| Two ticket machines. |
On the way to the main building, there’s another shelter in the middle of the plaza. Aside from offering a bit more seating, it also has some bright blue ticket machines! I think these are here so people can buy tickets in advance to speed up bus boarding, but I’m not sure how many riders actually do that.
 |
| The main building from the City Hall side. |
Kennedy Plaza also has a main building that serves a variety of purposes. On the outside, it’s quite nice, with concrete pillars and some lovely green windows and a green roof. There are a few architectural garnishes on certain parts of the building, which are a nice touch.
 |
| The interior of the building. |
Inside, the building has quite a few amenities. Its main atrium has a big domed glass ceiling, sending lots of natural light into the room. In fact, it gets so bright that other lights aren’t even necessary in the daytime! There’s a ticket/information booth, as well as a bench with an excellent mosaic behind it.
 |
| The bench with its mosaic. |
The building has a few other features, as well. For one thing, it has paper schedules of every RIPTA route, all in a big rack. There are also screens with countdown clocks for every bus that stops at Kennedy Plaza! The building has bathrooms and water fountains, too, which are certainly good additions to an already fantastic system hub.
 |
| A couple of countdown screens. |
 |
| That’s a lot of schedules… |
 |
| The sun is starting to set over the plaza… |
 |
| Here’s another view of the Providence skyline. |
 |
| Can I just say that the Providence State House is amazing, even if this is a terrible, blurry picture? |
Service Change: RIPTA, Part 2 – 3 (Warwick Ave)
When my friend Michael and I arrived in Providence on the 35, we weren’t really sure what to do. But Michael’s always liked walking, and since I had just dragged him on a bus, we decided to take a stroll. And take a stroll we did…all the way down to Warwick! Indeed, after walking 7.5 miles from Providence, it was kind of a relief to catch the 3 back to the city.
 |
| Not the 3, but the same road. |
The bus we rode on the 3 was different from the one on the 35, mainly in that the seats had a great pattern on them. I think the bus might’ve been more modern, but I can’t be sure about that. I believe the bus also ran on clean energy, which is fantastic.
 |
| There’s a picture of the bus exterior later on, in case any RIPTA riders out there can identify it. |
We got on the bus on Warwick Ave, a wide road lined with businesses and auto shops, all with big parking lots. However, we soon turned onto Narragansett Parkway, which was much nicer. The street was narrower and went through a leafy residential neighborhood.
 |
| By the way, most of these pictures will be from the walk, since a lot of it followed the 3. |
The street continued mostly straight for a while, then curved north near Passeonkquis Cove (good luck pronouncing that). We were running parallel with the Providence River, with a park on the side of the latter. On occasion, there would be some nice views across the water, as well. Eventually, it went back to houses, including a riverside residential development.
 |
| Some industrial vats loom on the other side of the river. |
 |
| Looking across the marshes. |
Eventually, we crossed the Pawtuxet River (entering Cranston), and came into the beautiful Pawtuxet Village. The street, now called Broad Street, became lined with small businesses, and there was a nice church further down the road. Aside from a few gas stations, this felt like the quintessential New England downtown, and it was great.
 |
| The leafy road from which we came. |
 |
| Why, thank you! |
 |
| Oh my gosh, this little river is beautiful! |
 |
| Looking down Broad Street into the village. |
The houses returned once we left Pawtuxet, but there was still the occasional business block. Eventually, though, we reached a major intersection, where there was quite a lot of retail. I’m not sure why this area developed so much, but I do know that it had a really impressive cathedral (which for some reason, I didn’t get a picture of). We turned onto Norwood Ave here, which was lined with dense houses.
We then turned onto Narragansett Boulevard, which was mostly residential, with a few businesses. But when we entered Providence, the street became Allens Ave, and it got industrial. No, I mean industrial. As in “giant vats lining the road with freight train crossings” industrial.
 |
| Looking across a parking lot…or maybe just asphalt. The pictures were taken from the bus from here on out. |
An interesting quirk about this area happened just after an interchange with I-95. A single train track actually merged into the middle of the road, with occasional spurs into industrial complexes. I assume the track isn’t used anymore, but imagine a huge freight train just running down the middle of a busy street!
 |
| Going by…something. |
Eventually, the railroad track ended abruptly and we passed under another highway interchange. We turned onto Blackstone Street, and then Eddy Street, going by the tall buildings of the Rhode Island Hospital complex. The road became Dyer Street, and we passed a lot of parking lots, abandoned buildings, and even some undeveloped plots of land.
 |
| Speaking of undeveloped land… |
Eventually we reached the Providence River and merged into Memorial Boulevard. Now in downtown Providence, we were surrounded by tall buildings. Turning onto Westminster Street, we made a stop where everyone on the bus got off. The driver was laying over for a bit because we were early, so I asked if I could run out and get a quick picture of the vehicle. After getting back on, we made the final stretch to Kennedy Plaza.
 |
| Looking across the river. |
 |
| Making the turn onto Westminster Street. |
 |
| The bus on Westminster Street… |
 |
| …and at Kennedy Plaza. |