Though the Weather is Frigid, the P508 Was Nearly On Time

Good morning!

I was tied up yesterday. Commute-a-holic is still caught up in a bunch of projects at work. Yesterday's commute was fine.

Boy is it frigid outside. To think - by tomorrow we'll think today's temperatures are warm. It looks like all the warm weather is caught in a January heatwave out west. Even Northern California is seeing some pretty nice temperatures.

The P508 was about 5 minutes late pulling into Grafton this morning, but we arrived at South Station for 8:24 a.m., so we weren't too late. The train was right on time yesterday morning, which was so nice because we didn't have to stand around on the cold concrete platform. Anyho, we made up time during this morning's trip. Luckily it was quite warm on the train as well.

Unfortunately, not all this morning's commutes were as smooth as the P508. One of my coworkers, who takes the Providence line into Boston, wasn't so lucky. He tried taking the #800, which departs Providence at 5:07 a.m., but waited on the platform for 45 minutes and ended up getting on the #802 instead. Once the train reached the Route 128 Station, all the lights and heat shut off and they rode the rest of the way into Boston in the dark and cold.

The big news this morning, well it was announced yesterday, is Mass Trans. Massachusetts State Senators want to make sure we first focus on some of the structural/system issues plaguing transportation in Massachusetts before determining revenue adjustments (i.e., toll increases). The Senate proposes creating a new entity called MassTrans (Massachusetts Surface Transportation Authority). This bipartisan Senate proposal, which basically emanated from other ideas floated over the last few years, would eliminate the MBTA and the Mass Pike. So, along with the functions and services of the MBTA and the Mass Pike, MassTrans would also absorb all state roads and bridges, meaning Massport would relinquish control of the Tobin Bridge. I heard on WBZ-Radio last night that MassTrans could save the state $6 billion or so over a twenty year period. You can read all about it here:

• Boston Globe
• Boston Herald
• WBUR
• Boston Metro

Manners seem to be all the rage. Check out this article posted yesterday to the Bostonist. AJ and Framingham Rider both made really great comments about manners on Tuesday. I couldn't agree more. Simple acts of consideration can go a long way towards making everyone's easier, smoother and faster.

Stay warm Boston!!

Zippy Wednesday Morning Commute

Good morning. What a lovely, sunny day. Albeit, for those of us from the Worcester area, today will always be a sad day. This is the 9th anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage fire. We will always remember the Worcester 6.

My commute this morning on the P508 train was zippy. We arrived to South Station at 8:21 a.m. It seemed crowded on the train, although I still think the parking lots themselves are not as crowded as they used to be. I know I would love to have an extra $10 in my wallet instead of paying to let my car sit in the Grafton lot all day long.

The Salem News reported that the Salem Parking Board voted to increase parking from $2 to $4, just like the T decided to do. Commuters are not happy.

The main story today is the Mass Pike. The Stop the Pike Hike rally is this afternoon. WHDH-TV Channel 7 aired a story about the Pike debate today, while The Boston Globe published an article about how lawmakers may consider leasing the Pike to a private entity. WBUR aired a similar report.

While it could make sense to lease something like the commuter rail system or the subway, I'm really not sure if leasing a highway makes a whole lot of sense. It seems like everyone is just running around like crazy because we are running out of money. I'm concerned a lot of bad decisions are going to be made to cover short-term budgets.

WBUR also aired an analysis of the future of the Mass Pike.

Cell Phones for Soliders and Other News

Hello Train Stopping readers! I know I haven't posted anything over the past few days. Unfortunately, my uncle passed away so I've been honoring his life.


Since my uncle was a veteran, he would be 100% behind the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. The MBCR and the Boston Fire Department will be collecting cell phones in South Station today and tomorrow in honor of Veteran's Day.

Cell phones will be collected today (November 12th) and tomorrow (November 13th) from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Commuter Rail Platform at South Station. The founders of this program, teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, will be at South station today from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This is a great, nonprofit founded by the siblings from Norwell. The collected cell phones are recycled and the reimbursed funds are used to purchase calling cards for Massachusetts soldiers overseas. Each phone provides about an hour of talk time, totaling 700+ hours. This 501(c)3 nonprofit has raised over $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 prepaid calling to American soldiers serving overseas.

If you have an old cell phone lying around at home or in your office, consider dropping it off at the drive in South Station.

There is so much news, where to begin, where to begin? I'll start with the train news first and then segue into the Mass Pike.

WBZ-TV Channel 4 ran a follow-up to their I-Team investigation about elaborate catered lunches at MBTA board meetings (which aired on November 10th). The T spends a small amount of money on its lunches, but in the scheme of budget issues, every penny counts. Lawmakers would like to see the T cut out the free lunches, as the lunches do represent those things that make people cringe the most when it comes to government. This also makes lawmakers call for more oversight of the T. As David Tuereck of the Beacon Hill Institute said:

"The fact that they hang onto these perks, even when they are suffering huge embarrassments about financial losses such as the T is experiencing, is an indication of how far a road we need to travel in order to start cutting costs in this state."

The "Starts & Stops" column in this past Sunday Boston Globe focused on different tactics commuters are taking in regards to this coming Saturday's parking rate increase. Michael Quinn is one rider activist who is trying to take some action. He asks that interested commuters contact him at derail.quinn AT gmail.com.

Parking wasn't the only topic discussed in "Starts & Stops." Some insight into the T's board and last week's fatality in Salem was also provided. I'm sure the T read this column and thought "ouch, ouch and ouch."

A touching article about commuters who ride the Downeaster from Maine to Boston ran in Saturday's Boston Globe. Operated by Amtrak, ridership on this train increased 36.7% in the operational year that ended on September 30, 2008. A one-way trip from Portland to Boston takes 2 1/2 hours and costs $24. However, discounts are available for advanced purchases and monthly pass holders. Earlier this month, The Boston Herald reported that fares on this train will be increasing.

Without a doubt, the biggest transportation story this week in Massachusetts is the Governor's request to dismantle the Mass Pike. Tolls would remain at the New York border in Stockbridge, at the I-84 exit in Sturbridge, and the Weston tolls. The Route 16 tollboth would be restored and tolls would be increased. I'm not clear if tolls would be increased just at Weston or at the Weston-128 exit. I wonder if this means if James Taylor would have to rewrite "Sweet Baby James"?

Now the first of december was covered with snow
And so was the turnpike from stockbridge to boston
Lord, the berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

The Mass Highway Department would become responsible for the Pike from 128 West, with everything from East of 128 operated by Massport. An article from today's Boston Globe focuses on some of the issues that Massport faces.

The Worcester Line is Running Late

According to the SmarTraveler report on WCVB-TV this morning, the Worcester-Framingham line is running 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule "due to police action."

WBUR is airing a report this morning about transportation options beyond public transportation. The report focuses on the Route 128 Corridor, which apparently has the largest vehicle usage in the state. Every day, 250,000 vehicles use 128.

According to a piece that ran yesterday on Itemlive.com, the MBTA has scheduled a public meeting for September 22 in Lynn to discuss possible changes to the service schedule.

Yesterday The Boston Herald wrote an article about potential changes to the MBTA bus routes. The MBTA Service Plan details the bus routes that could be eliminated due to ridership.

calls for eliminating four bus routes - the 6, 48, 500 and Silver Line 3 - due to low ridership. Route 48, for example, recently had only 85 boardings during the course of 25 weekday, one-way trips.

The plan also entails scaling back on more than a dozen other bus and ferry routes in order to increase service where it’s needed most without raising fares, T officials said.

“We want to put the service where people want to travel,” T General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said. “But this is a draft plan, and if we’re missing something about a special need, we would want to take that into account.”

State Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch is running for re-election against Dr. Larry Kaplan for the 14th Norfolk District seat in the House. The Boston Sunday Globe published an article this past Sunday about both Rep. Hanlon Peisch and Dr. Kaplan. Rep. Hanlon Peisch has been mentioned on Train Stopping in the past, due to her ongoing support of commuter rail and mass transit issues.

In the transportation arena, Peisch said she would like to see the state dedicate more funds to improving bridges, roads, and public transit.

"We have not invested in it over the past 15 years to the extent that we should have," she said. "It's become painfully obvious over the last few years."

Peisch also supports the state taking responsibility for some or all of the MBTA's debt, allowing more of its revenue from ridership fees and a state sales tax subsidy to go toward its operations. If reelected, Peisch said, she hopes to work with the MBTA to decrease delays on the local commuter-rail line, which runs through Wellesley and Natick.

"If you can't be assured the 8:15 train will show up at 8:15, then you're going to stop taking it," Peisch said. "The quality of the experience could be improved, but I think the first thing you do is improve the reliability."

She supports raising the state gasoline tax to help fund transportation projects, Peisch said, and also believes the state should consider raising additional revenue through creative ways of collecting tolls on highways that would not require building toll booths but could use roadway sensors.

"If we're going to do tolls they should be distributed equitably and not just where we happen to have tolls at the moment," she said.

Monday Morning Commute

My first commute of the week was find this morning. The P508 was actually a busy train, not packed like it has been, but not empty either. We arrived to South Station at around 8:20 a.m.

On the news round-up, WBUR is the latest to get into the "MBTA moved the most people" reports game. They aired a report this morning.

WickedLocal Somerville published an editorial on Friday about the Green Line extension.

Comments on WBUR webcast "Is the T on Track?"

Readers - you can access the webcast of the radio show w/Dan Grabauskas on WBUR from Friday by going to the following URL and choose the "Is the T on Track" link.

Most of the show focused on buses and the T. Only about 4 minutes actually related to the commuter rail and the issues that were raised were relatively dismissed by Dan Grabauskas. When he did have to account for the poor performance in 2007, he blamed the work stoppage by the conductors/engineers. Nice way to pass the buck yet again!

Here are my observations from the webcast:

- When a question was posed by a caller in relation to what could be done about bus overcrowding, Dan Grabauskas said that "well, some routes are more popular than others." Nice response Dan, so basically what you're saying is too bad if you take the #1 or the #86, it's popular therefore you have to deal with the crowds! In addition, Dan Grabauskas mentioned that the well documented financial constraints of the MBTA will make it difficult to add additional resources to address overcrowding issues.

- A question from another caller related to being able to use their collegiate ID as their T pass. Dan Grabauskas actually seemed amenable to this idea, especially since the chip technology that drives the Charlie Card can be used in other technology. This would actually be great in commuter rail parking lots, your monthly pass would not only serve as your fare, but also as your parking lot fee. I hope this initiative gets off of the ground sooner or later.

- Fares only account for 1/3 of the T revenue. The majority of their revenue comes from the % allocation from the Massachusetts state sales tax. Poor sales tax revenue growth has contributed to the debt load of the MBTA. So, even though fares are only a small portion of revenues, expect more fare increases over the next few years ... seemingly to deal with higher fuel costs and maintenance.

- MassPIRG reported that there would need to be 40% increase in fares over the next 5 years to even begin to address the issues the MBTA faces. If that were the case, my monthly pass would go from $250 to $350. For crappy service! Hmmm ... I don't think so.

- 27 cents of every dollar goes to provide debt relief to the MBTA. That is outrageous.

- WBUR sent a rider on the Worcester/Framingham line to report back for the show. Although the train ran on time, the rider noted cold/dark cars and lack of fare collection from the conductors. In typical MBTA response, Dan Grabuauskas said that the commuter rail really falls under the umbrella of the MBCR, so they're responsible for ensuring maintenance and fare collection.

- WBUR asked Dan Grabuaskas to address 2007 worst performance on the commuter rail (across all lines), which incidentally was the worst performance in the history of the commuter rail. Dan Grabauskas replied that there was a pushback from the unions which resulted in a purposeful slowdown/working delays.

I agree that the work slowdown happened, but I do not think you can explain the poor on time performance across the entire system on this reason alone. It just goes to show that they're not really interested in solving problems, just blaming someone else for what happened.

- In relation to the concerns of commuter rail riders, Dan Grabauskas said he though it was "not quite as severe problems as people make them out to be." Oh please. Ride the Worcester/Framingham, Franklin or Middleborough lines. Those are the worst performing lines on the commuter rail. I know for a fact that the Franklin line is consistently 20 minutes late EVERY DAY due to a bridge problem whereby the train has to sit and wait in order to cross, adding to their delays.

It's an attitude like that which will mean the problems that we commuters encounter will never get addressed. I am so irritated that Dan Grabauskas was so flippant about legitimate concerns that commuters are posting.

If anyone listens to the show, let me know your thoughts and comments.

MBTA GM Daniel Grabauskas Will Be Interviewed on Radio Boston on Leap Day

Thanks to Anonymous for this tip.

MBTA GM Daniel Grabauskas will be interviewed this Friday, February 29th (Leap Day) at 1 p.m. on RadioBoston. The segment is called "Is the T on Track?"

You can listen to RadioBoston on WBUR 90.9 FM

Here is the abstract about Friday's RadioBoston show:

The litany of woes is as long, and as old, as the MBTA itself: An $8 billion debt. Aging trains and buses. Maintenance backlogs. Fare increases. And now, the admission from MBTA general manager Daniel Grabauskas that the T has been secretly cutting trips from its published schedules.

The hope, Grabausaks says, was that cutting trips would cut costs.

That hasn’t happened. The MBTA is still saddled with a debt load among the largest in the nation for a public transit system. Riders say service has been declining for years. And this is one of the few issues where everyone on Beacon Hill seems to be in agreement: the T is in trouble.

But what to do about it?

This week, get on board as we search for the answer to that question. And another, one of Boston’s most famous: “Should we walk, or do we have time to take the T?”

RadioBoston is looking for personal comments from MBTA riders and bloggers on "how's your ride?" Posts can be made directly to the "comments" section on this RadioBoston page. Note: You must be logged in to post a comment.