MBTA SHUTTING DOWN at 3:30 PM tomorrow (Friday)

[ron_newman]

The T is shutting down all service tomorrow (Friday) at 3:30 pm, according to its web site.

(I don't understand why they need to do this. I was here during the Blizzard of '78, and the T kept at least all of the underground system running throughout. I think that even included the Red Line across the Longfellow Bridge.)

Comments

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

The state is worried about people getting killed by being dragged to work by soulless idiots?

[ron_newman]

At the moment, I want to know how my friends who work for Harvard and MIT are going to get home, since neither school has (yet, at least) announced a shutdown for tomorrow.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Therein lies my point: Force businesses that aren't being reasonable to BE reasonable.

[delahk.livejournal.com]

Worked for my job. About an hour after the MBTA announcement, my office told people to stay home.

Of course, Harvard and MIT are stubborn about this kind of thing, so we will see how that goes.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

MIT has now announced a closure.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I suspect the T's management would also be concerned about their employees being able to make it home safely at the conclusion of their shifts.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Sure, that too, but considering the worst of the storm is apparently going to strike RIGHT at rush hour, I'll bet "Goddamnit people we will MAKE YOU BE SAFE" plays a part.

[smammy]

T employees are "soulless idiots" now? Classy!

Oh wait, maybe you are referring to the trains themselves? IN THAT CASE I TOTALLY AGREE! Last time I rode the train it was all like HURR DURR I HAVE NO SOUL.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I'm referring to businesses that are treating tomorrow like a normal work-day. Traffic is going to be snarled thanks to plows and people looking to park somewhere they won't get towed, the schools are all closed complicating matters for parents, and currently storm timing would indicate shit's really going to get started right around 4-5pm.

That is a prime situation for somebody to get killed. I mean, I get it, some people have to work, but really anybody who isn't essential should be told to go home and stay there.

[smammy]

Ohhhhhhh ok that makes a lot more sense.

[teko.livejournal.com]

So the Mayor is asking anyone who works in Boston to please take public transportation tomorrow rather than drive... but public transportation is shutting down mid-afternoon.

The city doesn't mind stranding residents in town? Well, bully for the hotels!

[lady-ceylonna.livejournal.com]

The storm brings with it a reasonable chance of power outages. Having been on the redline when central square lost power, I have no desire to experience that again. There is also a strong storm surge expected (compounded by high tide), so some flooding is a possibility.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

the mbta has its own power supply

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

I would not be surprised if the T was in worse shape than it was in '78.

[rozasharn.livejournal.com]

This. Not enough repairs and maintenance done. In the last few years I have seen far too many storms cause power outages that shouldn't have been able to. Also, power outages last a lot longer than they should. "Should" here is calibrated to 'based on how much damage a similar storm could do fifteen or twenty years ago'.

[antimony.livejournal.com]

I find it weird, too, since in the past few big snowstorms, I've been one of the few at my office with an undisrupted commute. And while I bet my workplace will shut down early to let people get home before it gets bad, they won't do so in time for me to be done needing the T by 3:30, because that's not rush hour yet and thus things I need aren't running. I could take my bike, but planning to try outriding a blizzard is a stupid idea.

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

Harvard's as of now shutting down all non-essential operations as of noon tomorrow. Haven't heard about MIT yet.

I'm quite sure that the T and its related infrastructure are in a lot worse shape than they were in 1978.

[redbird]

Does anyone know whether "shutting down at 3:30" means something like "last trains in each direction start their runs at 3:30," "last outbound trains leave Park Street at 3:30," or at 3:30 all drivers are to proceed to the next station and take their trains out of service? Whoever runs mbta.com apparently assumes we already know that.

[gee-tar.livejournal.com]

I believe (according to the press conference I saw), that the last trains/buses will leave at 3:30 PM, implying that if you were heading towards Alewife on the red line, you would probably be safe until 4:15 PM or so. But you shouldn't take my word for it and get confirmation from somewhere.

[ron_newman]

Leave terminal points (Alewife, Ashmont, Braintree) or leave Park Street?

The T is always quite good at making sure that people who need to connect with 'last trains' downtown are able to do so.

[gee-tar.livejournal.com]

I believe it's leaving the terminal points.

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

This is such a crappy birthday :(

[tywysoges]

Awww :( As another winter child, I empathise. Happy birthday! I hope you can make the most of it, weather be damned.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

*hands you lots of hot chocolate and a nice fireplace to drink it by*

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

Internet hot cooca is lovely!

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

The blizzard of '88 (1888, that is) was one of the motivations for building the Tremont Street Subway.