MBTA Response to Petition

Back in December, I posted an entry about a Petition to the MBTA that was sent to the created by the author of The Importance of Dessert blog.

Yesterday, The Importance of Dessert blog featured a letter from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's GM Daniel A. Grabauskas written in response to the petition.

The letter acknowledges the petition, but it doesn't really provide any clear-cut ways that "service" will be improved. Since service thus far in 2008 has not been spectacular on the Worcester-Framingham line, I don't know what impact the five different action items bulleted in Grabauskas' letter are having on the commuter rail's performance.

I especially found the closing comment to be positively priceless:

Your concern about the lack fo shelter for passengers on the Worcester Line is also being reviewed. Commuter rain stations are designed with a base assumption that a passenger will be on a station platform for a minimum amount of time. This, of course, is based on the understanding that service will operate at a high level of on-time performance. Current efforts have been taken to improve the communication of expected service delays to passengers with the same goal of minimizing the amount of time spent waiting at a station platform. In addition, past experience at stations with enclosed shelters has resulted in a number of security and vandalism concerns from our passengers.

It makes me wonder - has Mr. Grabauskas ever ventured to any of the commuter rail stations on the Worcester-Framingham line. Honestly, with perhaps the exception of Worcester (which is affixed directly to Union Station) and Framingham, I don't think some of the stations on the early parts of the line (such as Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, or Ashland) are in areas that could attract criminals. In fact, the Grafton, Westborough, and Southborough stations, in particular, are located in pretty isolated parts of each town.


Yes, Mr. Grabauskas, I think we all agree that "Commuter rain stations are designed with a base assumption that a passenger will be on a station platform for a minimum amount of time." However, since our daily commutes seem to take more and more time, I think you need to work a bit harder to rectify the issues.

At least getting an answer (even if you don't agree with it), is better than not receiving an answer.