Transit Tales: The Red Line Doldrums
Once, my father and I were taking the Red Line home. All was going fine, until we reached Central Square. There, the train just sat at the station with the doors open. One by one, people started getting off the train. I was trying to coax my father into getting off and taking the 83 home, but he wasn’t budging. He assumed it was some minor problem and we’d be moving soon. After about 10 minutes of just sitting there, the doors finally closed and the train started moving. We reached Harvard and again the train stopped and sat there. I was trying to tell my father that we could take the 77 home, but he didn’t want to do it. After another 10 minute wait, we left for Porter, where we – you guessed it – sat there for another 10 minutes. We could’ve taken the 77 from here as well, but I have no idea why we didn’t at this point. Of course the driver didn’t tell us what was going on over the speakers. None of us knew what was going on. Finally, we got to Alewife where we decided to have a word with the driver. We walked to the front of the train and asked him what was going on, and he told us there was a switch problem. Thanks, buddy! You could’ve told us all before over the speakers so we knew what was going on! Just saying!
SL1 (Logan Airport – South Station via Waterfront)
For a while, the only way you could get to the airport was the Blue Line to Airport Station, where you have to take a shuttle bus to actually get to the airport. Fairly recently, we got an alternative, the Silver Line SL1. Although it’s far from perfect, it’s COMPLETELY FREE when you’re coming back from the airport. No, that is not a typo. It is actually free, which makes it great in my book.
The bus starts out in South Station, in its underground transitway. Leaving here, the bus is already crowded with standees. Unfortunately, severe speed restrictions in the transitway force the bus to go only 10 miles per hour. Sitting near the front, I saw there was a machine that said how fast the bus was going (the driver was “going too fast,” apparently). The bus passes through the bells and whistles of Courthouse Station (the station with the second worst ridership on the system after Suffolk Downs) and World Trade Center Station. Heading toward the airport, one person got on at Courthouse and none at World Trade Center.
 |
| That’s my favorite price! |
The bus then exits the transitway into the open air and goes to Silver Line Way. The only real purpose of this “station” is for the bus to change from electric to diesel power (which is actually pretty interesting). No one got on or off here, either, and then the bus was off to I-90. Unfortunately, traffic was heavy. At this point, I feel it’s worth noting that my personal definition of rapid transit does not include being stuck in a crowded bus in heavy traffic on an interstate highway. It was made more annoying by the fact that the announcement system was glitching (sound familiar?) and rattling off every stop on the line repeatedly. Perhaps the Silver Line should have its own bus lane on I-90? I suppose it would require some tunnel construction, but it would be nice…
Finally, the bus pulled off the highway and entered the airport. It was slow-going, since there was absolute chaos at each terminal; things are not calm when there are five different buses trying to pull into the same area. At Terminal C, there was even some bunching with another bus. At Terminal E (where my father and I had to get off), the bus driver opened the doors, so we started to get off. But it turns out he only did it to yell at a bus driver in the Silver Line bus we were bunching with. Finally, we got off the bus into the pouring rain.
 |
| It’s hard to tell by looking at the picture, but it was pouring rain. |
Each Silver Line airport stop has a tiny shelter that’s hard to find and a very inaccurate countdown clock. That is, it said that a bus was coming in four minutes, but when I checked again two minutes later, it said there was an eleven minute wait for the next bus. They also only show the countdown clock for two seconds at a time, since the clock cycles through the following: “The time is now xx:xx/Board here for Silver Line/Free, courtesy of Massport.” After all of those, it tells you when the next bus is coming for about two seconds.
 |
| Yeah, right. |
On the way back, the bus takes a mostly similar route, but with one difference: after exiting off the highway in Boston, it makes a stop right outside World Trade Center Station. Then it loops around back to Silver Line Way, and then goes into the transitway. However, this interesting routing can’t be helped because of where the highway exit drops the bus off. Overall, it’s a much more direct route than the Blue Line, which is even advertised on a poster at the airport. Oh, and did I mention it’s free?
 |
| This is the SL1, I promise. This is at South Station. |
Route: SL1 (Logan Airport – South Station via Waterfront)
Ridership: People coming to and from the airport, obviously. Basically, everyone got on at South Station and then got off at various places in the airport. The bus was very crowded.
Pros: It provides a direct link from the airport to downtown Boston, unlike the Blue Line which required a shuttle bus ride. The route operates with nice articulated buses, and each one has a large luggage rack. Oh, yeah, it’s free, too.
Cons: The traffic on I-90 was absolute torture to sit (or stand) through. The countdown clocks are complete bogus. At Silver Line Way, the conversion malfunctions sometimes, forcing the bus driver to leave the bus to do it manually. This must be weird for tourists who have no idea what’s going on. There’s absolute madness at each terminal, as the Silver Line has to compete with other buses to navigate through the dense gridlock. The bus also doesn’t serve Airport Station for some reason. It might mess up the loop, but a connection to the Blue Line would be great. Also, if you have heavy luggage, you might have to perform the “Walk of Shame” (my mother’s term) from the train station. Or, if it’s pouring rain, that’s not pleasant, either. Although the walk could be eliminated by using a cab, the Silver Line is free!
Nearby and Noteworthy: The airport is really all there is on the solo portion of this route. But a free bus is pretty noteworthy, right?
Final Verdict: 8
Yes, I know I ranted about how bad the traffic is on this bus. Yes, I know I made fun of the countdown clocks. Yes, I know the cons section is much longer than the pros section. But it’s a free bus! What more do you need?
Latest MBTA News: The MBTA has officially approved the construction of a new Wachusett Commuter Rail Station that will expand the Fitchburg Line about 4.5 miles west of its current terminus. On May 28-29 and June 2-3, shuttle buses will replace the Blue Line between Suffolk Downs and Wonderland from 9 PM to the end of service. There’s also a diversion on the SL5 and many other buses on Sunday, May 26. On Memorial Day, there are a lot of bus diversions. Read about them here.
34/34E (Dedham Line or Walpole Center – Forest Hills Station via Washington Street)
When I first saw a map of this route, I thought it was absolutely hilarious. Why are there two routes that both have the same number, yet the 34E is 9 miles longer than the 34? Why is the 34E labeled “E” if it goes west? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do know that the 34E is a very interesting ride (I didn’t actually take the 34, but it’s basically a shorter version of the 34E).
The bus starts at Forest Hills and travels down the overcrowded Forest Hills-Roslindale corridor (seriously, nine bus routes on a single street?). After going through Roslindale, things get more residential. However, businesses start popping up again approaching Dedham. The 34 ends upon reaching “Dedham Line,” (which is little more than a bus sign) but the 34E continues, making two stops in the Dedham Mall, and then becoming the only transit option on Washington Street.
 |
| My rather squished picture at Dedham Mall of a bus going the wrong way. |
It then passes through the busy Dedham Square, but there are residences after that. It goes by Dedham Plaza and near Legacy Place (more on that later), but things are fairly quiet entering Westwood. There are mostly residences all through Westwood, with an occasional church or small business. It’s the same thing in Norwood until you reach Norwood Depot and Norwood Center stations where there’s a boom of businesses. The bus also travels very close to the Commuter Rail stations, about a block away from both Norwood Depot and Norwood Center. After that, there’s an elementary school and a middle school very close to each other, where I’m assuming there’s a lot of traffic on weekdays.
After entering Walpole, there are houses and a weird industrial building. Washington Street passes over a river, offering a nice view, and then the bus turns off onto High Plain Street. High Plain Street turns into East Street, and the bus passes another school. East Street then goes into Walpole Center, and the bus ends. This is only one variation of the bus, however; my father and I ended up on the route that goes via Walpole Street and Main Street. This route breaks off at Norwood Center onto Walpole Street. There are mostly houses along this stretch, although there is a baseball field and a small mall along the way. Once Walpole Street becomes Main Street, however, the businesses pick up and the bus goes by yet another school, a high school this time. You can catch a glimpse of Cobbs Pond through some trees as the bus passes by two other malls.
As our bus entered Walpole Center, however, my father and I were the only people on the bus besides two young women. The bus driver suddenly turned around and shouted “You’re gonna be going to the police station right now.” I was startled, so we instinctively got off the bus thinking the driver was talking to us. Turned out she was talking to the women: they wanted to get off at Legacy Place and the bus driver never told them when to get off. I don’t know what that has to do with the police, but we all got off anyway. Turns out there’s one more stop on the route, as the bus officially terminates at the Walpole Commuter Rail station. Not wanting to deal with the driver, though, we just crossed the street and waited for the bus to come back.
The women made it to Legacy Place, by the way.
 |
| A quaint little picture at Walpole Center. |
Route: 34/34E (Dedham Line or Walpole Center – Forest Hills Station via Washington Street)
Ridership: If you analyze the route, it seems it would be students and shoppers (the bus passes or comes close to 7 malls if you go via Walpole Street). On our ride, however, it just seemed like people were using it to get where they needed to go; there would never be a huge crowd at any particular stop, although that’s not to say the bus wasn’t crowded. About 40-50 people on a weekday isn’t bad at all (especially for half-hour headways). The 34, on the other hand, is a bus that I believe people mostly use as a Washington Street shuttle, based on its length. We saw 34 buses that were absolutely packed to the gills.
Pros: For the 34E, half-hour headways on weekdays and Saturdays is great considering how suburban it is. The 34 is even better, running every 8-10 minutes during rush hour (although it has the same schedule as the 34E at most other times). The 34E serves a massive area without adequate transit. Sure, there’s the Commuter Rail, but the 34E runs more often and is way cheaper. The Commuter Rail from Walpole to Boston is $7.25, while if you have a CharlieCard, the 34E is only $2.00 with a subway transfer. If this is your daily commute, the 34E can save you a lot of money (but it takes longer).
Cons: They both have pretty bad service on Sundays: every 50 minutes for the 34, and every hour for the 34E. But the real problem is the fact that we even have two buses with the same number on Washington Street. I understand that the MBTA wants to eliminate crowds by having separate bus routes, but here are my possible solutions to what I think is a rather annoying problem:
1. Change the number of one of the buses
This is the easiest solution: I don’t think two completely different bus routes should have the same number. Why not change one of them and make things a lot easier?
2. Extend the 34
“Dedham Line” is really not much of a terminus. Couldn’t the MBTA extend the 34 the extra half-mile to Dedham Mall or even Dedham Square? All I’m saying is that the 34 should have an actual terminus.
3. Merge the routes full-time to Walpole
This is the hardest, but it might work. If the MBTA just increased the schedule, they would probably be using the same amount of buses as they do now. The crowds might be a bit large, though.
Nearby and Noteworthy: I’ve already talked about the Dedham Mall in my 52 post, but this is the only bus that goes by a very nice mall: Legacy Place is an amazing outdoor mall (which is a rare thing nowadays) that feels like downtown in a small city. The problem is that you have to traverse some difficult crosswalks to get to it from Washington Street, although it’s worth it. The Showcase Cinema de Lux theater inside the mall is very luxurious. My father and I saw Jurassic Park 3-D there, and it was a great experience. Good movie, too.
Final Verdict: 8 (applies for both buses)
I personally prefer the 34E, but both buses are very good. The 34 serves as a (sort of) frequent shuttle along Washington Street, while the 34E goes way out into the suburbs and is much cheaper than the Commuter Rail. I do wish the buses had better service on Sundays, and it would be great if the MBTA went through with one of the solutions offered under “cons,” but it’s a very good bus route (sorry, two bus routes) overall.
Latest MBTA News: The state voted unanimously to add a new “Boston Landing” Commuter Rail Station in Brighton on the Framingham/Worcester Line. Read this article for more information. Ridership on the Fairmount Commuter Rail line is terrible, despite new stations, according to this article. Don’t forget, there are shuttle buses between JFK/UMASS and North Quincy stations on the Red Line this weekend. Some buses to the City Point area including the SL2 are experiencing diversions on Sunday (May 19). Read about them here. Finally, some buses in the Mattapan area are experiencing diversions on Sunday due to the Haitian Unity Parade and Festival. Read about the diversions here.
Wellington
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)
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
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.
 |
| 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:
- Much slower than the train
- Really crowded
- 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
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.
Miles on the MBTA is now on Facebook!
Miles on the MBTA now has a Facebook page! It reports on new posts, as well as behind the scenes information on the blog. Click here to visit the page, and don’t forget to like!
Limited MBTA Service Has Resumed
There is now limited service on all MBTA modes except the Commuter Rail. THE RIDE, Commuter Rail, and ferry service will resume tomorrow (April 20).
439 (Bass Point, Nahant – Central Square, Lynn)
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS BUS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!
 |
| 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. |
 |
| This picture doesn’t do justice to the view, but it looks much better if you click on 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!
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!
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
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
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)
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.