boblothrope wrote:jamesinclair wrote:The very same MBTA that said no to free signal priority in Brookline?
Cite?
All I heard was that the T and Brookline each blamed the other for not cooperating. I didn't see any explicit refusal by the T.
Brookline redid all the intersections, and set it up so the trolley could be recognized and given priority.
MBTA had to spend some money (very little) so that the signal box could receive indication that a trolley was coming. They said "it wasn't worth it".
A simple induction loop, which are about as common as lane stripes, would have done the trick, reduced trip times, and potentially saved the MBTA millions of dollars AND increased ridership. They "opted out". The globe article that reported this did ask for comment from the MBTA, and they said it wasnt worth it.
Naturally, it's the same MBTA that forces the silver line to wait for extended periods of time at a traffic light in south Boston, when theres not a car in sight using the crossing road.
And it's the same state government that forces the silver line to not use the ramp onto the highway thats RIGHT THERE but instead taken an extended detour around the waterfront district....just because.
Sometimes, it's almost like they consciously aim to lower ridership.