Thursday, February 24, 2011

Sorry You Were Stabbed, Where's My Train?

No sooner did my friend Meems assure me that my stretch of Red Line was the best ("You don't get any unwashed drunks falling in your lap on the Alewife to Downtown stretch"), then I read in the Boston Globe about a stabbing at Park Street. In true Boston fashion, the story mentioned the impact on the commute before reporting the condition of the victim:
"A male was stabbed aboard an MBTA Red Line train yesterday evening, causing delays during rush hour, officials said."
The good news is that he was close to Mass General. Unlike many Red Line commuters, he is expected to survive.

Friday, February 18, 2011

All Roads Lead to a Similar Misery

Today was a relatively good commute. I decided to drive to my parking spot via Route 2, as if I were going to Alewife. There was a bit of traffic at the series of lights on Park Avenue, prior to getting onto the Route 2 ramp. Also minor backup getting onto Route 16. But once I was through that last light, it was clear sailing. I actually got to my spot in about 25 minutes.

Add a five-minute walk to the Davis T station, with a train to Alewife coming in, and I was at work at 8:30.

So, now I've tried virtually every route I know to try, and it all comes out the same: One hour + to get from my house to job at Fort Point Channel.

I know, I know: Leave earlier. That's the key. Left the house at 7:30 this morning. Oh, but did I mention I got a seat both times?

Also got a "random search" on my way home tonight. They only looked in my bags. If I had been wired with explosives on my person, they would have totally missed it. Thank goodness I am a peaceful, law-abiding citizen, as my father used to say.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Pinch Me, I Must Be Dreaming

For the second day in a row the commute took only an hour and I got a seat both coming and going. This morning's ride was actually kind of hard to gauge, as I went to the gym first. Got out of the gym at around 7:20, moved the car, and was downtown by 8:09.

On the downside, I worked a long day. Left the office at 6 and was home around 7:05. Not bad, though obviously I'd like to be home earlier.

I don't know what's up with this week, but whatever it is, I hope it continues!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Why Can't Every Day Be Like Today?

I knew the minute my car hit the road that today was different. I'm not sure if it was because it was Valentine's Day, and maybe people took the day off to spend a romantic weekend with their respective honeys. But there were, simply, way fewer cars on the road--and people on the Red Line--than any day last week, by far.

Luck was with me from the start, when I made three green lights in a row. I had brought the GPS with me, because I was considering trying a new route. In the end, I faced a fairly tolerable backup on Mass Ave just before it crosses Route 16.

I even got a seat on the train! And not a cramped seat jammed between two large people in overstuffed coats, but a nice end seat, with room for my bag next to me. I sat and read the paper in peace.

Tonight I worked rather late, but for the first time, the first train into South Station was going my way. Again, a seat was to be had.

Today will be a tough day to beat.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Globe Editorial Stands Up for the T

Tap parking revenues at Logan to ease dire state of the MBTA - The Boston Globehttp://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2011/02/13/tap_parking_revenues_at_logan_to_ease_dire_state_of_the_mbta/

Wherein the Boston Globe argues that income from parking fees at Logan Airport should contribute to improvements in the MBTA.

Most memorable quote of the story:
Each year, the T pays more to service its debt than it takes in at the farebox.
Can that be true?

Saturday, February 12, 2011

I'll Get to Read on the Train

After eleven years working at a job seven miles from my home, I recently began a new position located in downtown Boston. I knew the new commute would be worse than my old commute, but I actually welcomed the time I'd be spending on the bus or train. I was reclaiming my "reading time," I told myself and anyone else who would listen.

Now, with one week's experience as my guide, I embark on this blog to share my angst about using the MBTA's Red Line. I don't intend this as criticism of the fine people who work at the T. They work hard and do their jobs well. Still, the frustration of the past week's travel requires an outlet, and this is it.

A lot of the frustration has nothing to do with the MBTA but rather with the difficulty of getting to the train. I live in Arlington, Mass., which has been described as "close to everything, convenient to nothing."
Friday, February 11, took the prize. I actually got to Davis Square early, just before 8, feeling like I had all the time in the world. No sooner did I enter the station than the dreaded announcement came: 
Attention passengers, we are experiencing significant delays due to a disabled car on the northbound side at Harvard. Expect twenty to twenty-five minute delays.
I was traveling south (or "inbound"), so I thought it shouldn't be so bad. But, of course, if the trains cannot go north (or "outbound"), then they cannot make it to the end of the line where they turn around a go south. As I descended the stairs to the platform, the reality became clear: A sea of humanity was waiting on the inbound side. Not only would I not be getting a seat, I'd be lucky to get on a train.

As is usually the case in these circumstances, the first three trains to arrive were on the northbound (read, troubled) side. I seriously considered going north to Alewife and then just sitting on the train until it came south. Next time, I might.