BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority says the rapid transit Green Line’s B Branch is now free of speed restrictions as a result of a maintenance shutdown Aug. 2-11, the latest major project under the agency’s effort to eliminate a backlog of slow orders.
The suspension of operations between Boston College and Babcock Street eliminated eight speed restrictions. Overall, as of Aug. 12, the Green Line as a whole now has just four speed restrictions, while the entire MBTA rail network has 68. As of Jan. 1 this year, there were 38 restrictions on the Green Line and 143 overall, according to the MBTA’s Speed Restriction dashboard.
“The critical infrastructure work our contractors and MBTA crews accomplished, including intersection enhancements and accessibility upgrades, allows us to make meaningful travel improvements for Green Line riders and countless members of the public who traverse Comm Ave. in these areas,” MBTA CEO Phillip Eng said in a press release. “… I’m proud that, as a result of this work, the B Branch is now completely restriction-free as we reverse years of underinvestment and deliver the safe, reliable, and more frequent trip that our riders deserve.”
The latest project included more than 4,100 feet of full-depth track reconstruction, including new rail, ties, and ballast; more than 5,400 feet of track resurfacing and tamping; replacement of more than 4,200 feet of restraining rail and more than 13,000 feet of overhead wire; and installation of nearly 800 tons of pavement at intersections, pedestrian crossings, curb ramps, and platforms at Griggs, Allston, and Warren streets.
This web site keeps me signed out! MBTA IMO is going about these restorations in the correct way. 10 days with complete shutdowns lets replacement bus schedules be understood. As well riders probably like one week’s worth of inconvenience VS. many weekends. As well less cost for maintenance persons who do not have to move parts and equipment off and on. .
Green Line
B Boston College
C Cleveland Circle
D Riverside
E Heath
My (limited) understanding was that “A” was Watertown. The Watertown branch shut down many decades ago, but apparently was still in operation recently enough for the A/B/C/D/E nomenclature. So as a wild guess Watertown shut down some time around 1960 to 1963. I can’t be sure of any of this because I never lived in Middlesex County.
Middlesex County native George H. Drury would have known, but, sadly, he’s no longer with us.
For those of you who haven’t ridden the Green Line, it’s an experience. It goes a lot of important places and it’s extremely popular. Popular enough that its trains are unbelievably crush-loaded.
??
“says the rapid transit Green Line’s B Branch is now free of speed restrictions”
vs
“now has just four speed restrictions”
??
That’s the difference between the B Branch and the entire Green Line. I have added the phrase “as a whole” to make that explict.