Unnecessary Stops
Why does everyone complain that the B line is the slowest of all the green line branches? Why is it that it takes 40 minutes to travel 8 stops? After all, it isn't as if the B line trains are slower than any of the rest.
Maybe it's because the B line has a stop every friggin' five feet. Well, I exaggerate, its plenty more feet than five. But still, there is a noted difference between a trip on the B line and a trip on the C line. The C line has comfortable distances between stops. They are close enought to give convenience to the residents of the C line, but distant enough to give the T some breathing room. There's room to actually accelerate the speed of the train to a speed of more than 6 miles per hour. The B line stops are so close, that the train never gets a chance to reach its full potential. It speeds up, but then by the time its going at a decent clip, its time to stop again.
Also, the B train has to contend with traffic lights as well as frequent stops. This is perhaps the most frustrating aspect of riding on the B train. In between every single stop, there is usually a traffic light impeding the train's movement. If you're lucky enough to catch a green light and proceed to the next stop without interruption, a quaint smile of satisfaction is bound to spread across your face. This is especially true when going from the Babcock St. stop to the Packard's Corner stop. Since there is an intersection of about 5 busy roads between these stops, the T must wait in line with every other car for its light to change. Sometimes this can take upwards of 7 minutes. Yes, seven. Not six.
Four stops were closed temporarily for 6-8 months starting on April 20, 2005 as part of a stop elimination pilot program to speed up service; these were all close to other stops. Almost 73% of the 1142 riders surveyed wanted those four stops gone.
Indeed, we all want many of the stops gone. Of course, this is hard to say considering the fact that if the MBTA were to ever take away my particular stop, I'd be pissed.
posted by Tyler @ 7:53 PM
2 Comments:
I lived off South St. on the B line for two years. I think it's less the number of stops and more the traffic lights.
I've been writing once or twice a year to the MBTA to suggest they implement some kind of traffic light override on Commonwealth Avenue so that any approaching trolley will automatically get an immediate green light and the auto traffic just have to wait a little extra time.
Will it hose up traffic? Damn right it will, but hey...traffic's already hosed beyond repair on Comm. Ave anyway. And to hell with those schmucks for not taking the T instead of driving! :-)
The B line is a prime candidate for conversion to an "express and local" service. Most sections of Comm. Ave. are plenty wide enough to accomodate a four-track system whereby not all trains stop at EVERY freakin' station. But as for a less costly change, automatic traffic light activation would be nice on the B, C and E lines.
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