tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post6101577658941975537..comments2024-03-27T09:13:58.922-07:00Comments on The Amateur Planner: The Track 61 High Speed Line (and new trains for Mattapan)Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06058285362842737187noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post-63475218383893717352017-03-03T13:48:41.419-08:002017-03-03T13:48:41.419-08:00Would the Track 61 trolley line have a joint stati...Would the Track 61 trolley line have a joint station with the Fairmount Line? I'm not clear on that from the map or the post, but if it's possible it seems to me like a good idea. I just discovered your blog, so I'm a little late with this question.Steve Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970801099772755392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post-22841186263157019732017-02-16T07:31:30.323-08:002017-02-16T07:31:30.323-08:00Hi Ari - If we're talking about re-using exist...Hi Ari - If we're talking about re-using existing infrastructure to serve the Seaport, how about the underutilized eastbound Pike HOV lane? It's separated from the rest of the pike, and points directly at the remainder of Track 61 in the Seaport. On what I'll call the "Ink Block" side of the tunnel, look at the geometry - the existing tracks along the Pike point directly into its mouth. Let's say hypothetically the OL (or, perhaps, even the GL) could be branched/extended along or under those tracks. Then it's simply about ducking under the (already mostly elevated) ramp spaghetti and into that tunnel and out into the Seaport. There it is: the Back Bay - Seaport connection everyone dreams about. <br /><br />Using the OL has some drawbacks of course, with the frequency impact from branching, but perhaps a wye can be constructed to allow for re-balancing those frequencies.<br /><br />Illustrated: http://i.imgur.com/iMo9lgF.pngShepardhttp://archboston.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post-28625755831117392992016-12-05T03:21:12.808-08:002016-12-05T03:21:12.808-08:00This might actually work, and might even be useful...This might actually work, and might even be useful. It might require a bit of land taking at the Andrew end, but it shouldn't be a problem to bring a streetcar line into the Andrew station busway, and this might be able to relieve both the Silver Line and one of the busiest segments of the Red Line (Broadway to South Station). One downside is that this will create yet another light rail line that is isolated from the main network, meaning it will have to have its own maintenance facility, snow-removal equipment, and so on. Of course, it could eventually be linked to the rest of the Green Line network if they ever convert the Silver Line to light rail and extend it west to Boylston St but that's a separate and rather more expensive project.crzwdjkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394805356595604336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post-82003744308792630982016-12-02T16:10:10.950-08:002016-12-02T16:10:10.950-08:00There is a lot of bus ridership in the area; at ru...There is a lot of bus ridership in the area; at rush hours the 7 bus runs ever 4 minutes and can't satisfy demand. The SL1, 2 and W combine for service every 2 minutes or better and can't handle the loads from South Station to the Seaport, so pulling some ridership off of that would be helpful. It would likely never demand more than 8 or 10 minute headways (and likely couldn't support that with single track anyway) but that still might be quite helpful. The line has 600v power available at both ends, so really the only cost would be a couple of stations, grade crossings and the overhead. Using old PCCs might be quaint, but it might be more sensible to build a small storage facility adjacent to some of the highways (say, <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/7SyXLhDBDUJ2" rel="nofollow">here</a> and have a small Boston transit museum and build the line to allow trolley pole operation for off-peak use. As for the cars, it would probably make sense to run it with modern equipment.Arihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058285362842737187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post-545208313287745782016-12-02T16:05:05.088-08:002016-12-02T16:05:05.088-08:00Time sharing agreements (like this) can be put in ...Time sharing agreements (like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Line_(NJ_Transit)#Ownership_and_time_sharing_agreement" rel="nofollow">this</a>) can be put in to place to allow freight moves overnight if necessary. Whatever track connection would probably need a derail to keep things separate. Considering freight hasn't run there in decades, it's unlikely it would any time soon.Arihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058285362842737187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post-5508073444975894932016-12-02T13:46:56.290-08:002016-12-02T13:46:56.290-08:00Track 61 is still connected to the rail network, s...Track 61 is still connected to the rail network, so you would have to sever that connection, which would require giving up any rights to future freight access to the marine facilities.<br />Where would you put storage and maintenance facilities, which would probably cost more than any of the track work or vehicles?Ed Despardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293100068373105830.post-6756432246284234702016-12-02T13:46:15.920-08:002016-12-02T13:46:15.920-08:00Is there high enough bus ridership on that corrido...Is there high enough bus ridership on that corridor to justify a streetcar? SL2 is not one of the busiest corridors in the city. Nor are the streetcars so expensive relative to infrastructure construction costs (even in an existing ROW) that it's a useful question "what to do with old streetcars?". Retire them early, and if there's money for tramway tracks, spend it on Washington Street, where there's actual demand for it.Alonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267294744186811858noreply@blogger.com