MBTA entirely shut down tomorrow (Tuesday, January 27)

[ron_newman]

The entire MBTA system is shutting down all day tomorrow.

I don't understand this decision. During the Blizzard of '78, at least the underground parts of the T were kept open throughout the storm, as was the Longfellow Bridge crossing. If the state wants people not to travel on the roads tomorrow, shouldn't the T be kept open?

Comments

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

I will always side with safety and caution when it comes to extreme weather and "events" such as this- but I agree with you fully Ron. I would not want anyone to get hurt or stuck in there car somewhere on the road but as time passes it seems the "freak" out factor of weather increases.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

My guess is the idea is to close everything down on Tuesday in the hopes that most things can be up and running again on Wednesday. Certainly that seems to be the plan at Logan.

I also think that the infrastructure of the MBTA is not as robust as it was in '78, but I could be wrong. Also my vague recollection of '78 was that there were days and days of no travel, and I'm sure everyone wants to avoid that this blizzard.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

There was a travel ban for many days as part of the state of emergency in 1978.

[ron_newman]

True, but that was only for cars, not the MBTA rail lines.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Sorry, yeah, I was talking about general travel ban, not just mbta.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

MBTA was shut down two years ago:
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/02/09/behemoth-storm-barrels-through-new-england/

http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2013/02/09/mbta-shutdown-saturday-blizzard-massachusetts-nemo/

Employees have to get to work somehow.

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

The decision makes sense if you travel the T most days and have realized in the past five years or so that the whole thing is falling apart.

We actually have a new bus deployed on the 96 bus line. I was told it cost $699,000. Still not as roomy or well-equipped as the bus I rode on my last trip to Ottawa last October.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

Seems pretty clear -- they want people to stay home. If the T is running, some enterprising idiot will force his employees to come in during the blizzard, then they will be stranded and have to stay there (or waste emergency services' time in rescuing them).

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

One thing to consider is T employees would need to get to work too if the T we're running. That means more people on the roads.

I really hope employers take the hint and don't force anyone to come into work tomorrow, it's going to be dangerous out there.

[rose_garden.livejournal.com]

That's a good point.

NYC

[el-cubano-15.livejournal.com]

For reference, the New York subway shuts down tonight at 11PM this evening.

RE: NYC

[ron_newman]

That surprises me, since much more of their system is fully underground.

RE: NYC

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

?! wow. that (almost) never happens.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

I've been on the fence about this. My first thought was, well that really sucks for the people who really have to get to work (my housemate is camping out at the hospital where she works, rather than travel, but if she had kids that might not be possible). But then on the other hand, I see so many bars and restaurants open in storms. It cascades, if the T workers have to get to work, they need to also get meals and the people who prep that food need their essentials, etc... I wonder if shutting down the T results in *fewer* cars on the road because once the T is closed more businesses close and more people stay home? But, still, how do you safely drive a plow all night without a Dunkies stop? (seriously-- I'm not being sarcastic).

Then, too, there are the very good points that others here make about the lack of robustness of the MBTA infrastructure. Whether is *should* stay open or not is one question, but also there is whether it *could* keep functioning, or whether practically speaking the trains were going to stop running anyway and this just means they don't have any passengers on them when they do. (see Red Line, today).

[sairaali.livejournal.com]

I've seen a few restaurants in my neighborhood (union sq) post that they're open today, but in all cases, the owner lives just above the restaurant or only a few short blocks away. I have really mixed feelings about that, because on one hand, the people who *have* to be out need meals etc, but on the other hand, I dislike even the perception of pressure on neighboring businesses to haul their employees in in such unsafe conditions.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I worry about everyone else who works in that restaurant where the owner lives near by. How far do the dishwashers, cooks, and waitstaff travel?

I have those same fixed feelings as you describe.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

On another social platform someone mentioned that their girlfriend was told she had better come in for her shift starting at 4 am Tuesday Morning at Dunkin Donuts "Or Else". Either the police have decided that Dunkin Donuts is an essential locale to keep open, or this woman's boss is a dolt.

[ron_newman]

Which DD?

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

They didn't specify which DD. I don't even know which part of the greater Boston area was being discussed.