There are several of these on the Green Line, so let me focus on one:
Half way between Kenmore and Hynes (inbound), there is always a red light. It's been there for at least 55 years. The train comes to a stop and sits for 6-8 seconds. The light turns green and it's a clear shot to Hynes station. So I did my own timing study. Watching survey markers on the tunnel walls, I find that this signal typically adds 18 seconds to an inbound trip on the Green Line. If we assume 30,000 Green Line riders a day, that totals 150 man-hours per day wasted on this light. Even at a minimum wage of $8 per hour, that's $6000 per week.
So what's the point? If it's some sort of device to regulate speed, it's overkill. After all, once the train has come to a complete halt, it can't slow down any further, so why not turn the signal green right away. If the goal is (for example) to make sure that the train is going less than 12 MPH, surely something more sophisticated could be built in the 21st century.
Why does this exist at all? Was there some de-railment here and the MBTA, rather than correct the track, decided it was easier to consume the patron's time?
Sixty years ago, this was the only one. Now there's another as the B trains enter the subway. Talk about wasted inertia. The red light is at the bottom of a hill before the climb to Kenmore station. And there's another half way between Beacon Junction and Kenmore, inbound. And another outbound between Hynes and Kenmore. And another outbound between Boylston and Arlington. So what's changed in 60 years to require all these new timing signals.
And for those of you who say, "Stop your complaining. It's only 18 seconds per light", I invite you to try this experiment: On your way to work tomorrow, when the light turns green, don't move for 18 seconds. See if those people behind you mind waiting for "only" 18 seconds. And don't just do it once, do it twice on the way to work and twice on the way home, just like the Green line riders.
They don't call it "Rapid Transit" any more. If the MBTA wants to gain ridership, they've got to pay attention to speed. To me, it seems that the MBTA takes after a quote from The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, "Screw the goddamn [subway] passengers! What the hell did they expect for their lousy 35 cents ..."
Half way between Kenmore and Hynes (inbound), there is always a red light. It's been there for at least 55 years. The train comes to a stop and sits for 6-8 seconds. The light turns green and it's a clear shot to Hynes station. So I did my own timing study. Watching survey markers on the tunnel walls, I find that this signal typically adds 18 seconds to an inbound trip on the Green Line. If we assume 30,000 Green Line riders a day, that totals 150 man-hours per day wasted on this light. Even at a minimum wage of $8 per hour, that's $6000 per week.
So what's the point? If it's some sort of device to regulate speed, it's overkill. After all, once the train has come to a complete halt, it can't slow down any further, so why not turn the signal green right away. If the goal is (for example) to make sure that the train is going less than 12 MPH, surely something more sophisticated could be built in the 21st century.
Why does this exist at all? Was there some de-railment here and the MBTA, rather than correct the track, decided it was easier to consume the patron's time?
Sixty years ago, this was the only one. Now there's another as the B trains enter the subway. Talk about wasted inertia. The red light is at the bottom of a hill before the climb to Kenmore station. And there's another half way between Beacon Junction and Kenmore, inbound. And another outbound between Hynes and Kenmore. And another outbound between Boylston and Arlington. So what's changed in 60 years to require all these new timing signals.
And for those of you who say, "Stop your complaining. It's only 18 seconds per light", I invite you to try this experiment: On your way to work tomorrow, when the light turns green, don't move for 18 seconds. See if those people behind you mind waiting for "only" 18 seconds. And don't just do it once, do it twice on the way to work and twice on the way home, just like the Green line riders.
They don't call it "Rapid Transit" any more. If the MBTA wants to gain ridership, they've got to pay attention to speed. To me, it seems that the MBTA takes after a quote from The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, "Screw the goddamn [subway] passengers! What the hell did they expect for their lousy 35 cents ..."