MBTA Green Line Extension to Union Square - First Trip and Station Reviews!

[@jeffmpvd7689]

I moved to Union SQ in 1990, was told back then, the Green line was coming. Moved out in 2015, still no Green line, but it's almost under construction! Here we are 32 years after it was first announced and we have this slow train. I love public transit but we are so bad at it.

[@blackman7437]

Impressed, you were able to get this video out and edited just in time for GLX Opening Day Day

[@json8119]

The multi use path mentioned around 7:10 or so is on the other part of the GLX project. It'll be an extension of the Somerville Community Path which currently ends at Lowell St. Lowell St is where the Magoun SQ station will be located. The Community Path Extension will go all the way to Lechmere and connect to existing bike paths there. If you look just behind the new Cambridge REI (edit: spotted at 10:10) you'll actually see where the Community Path Extension will end. Some folks have already pirated the trail (it's kinda done already) but GLX construction vehicles and equipment are being stored on the path extension so it won't open until a month or two after the Medford Branch of the GLX project opens. This will be ~~sometime~~ this year if we're lucky. 🙃

[@moishglukovsky]

Well done. I regularly stayed at the Fairfield Inn on Msgr O’Brien Hwy for business and watched the line go from a gravel RoW to an elevated line. Nice to see it finally moving!

[@JasonBentrosnowqube]

I just returned from Norway yesterday and I found out that the new green line extension opened, so I had to go for a ride on it :D

[@Token_Nerd]

Miles Gigachad moment for getting the first train. Dude just fly next time. It's okay we won't hate you.

[@casmatt99]

As a Bostonian - "Mass Ave at 3:57 AM" is one of the most creepy sentences I've heard

[@Northeastbaseball]

He's a brave soul.

[@MBTA1234]

Yesterday I managed to ride the new glx and even tho the stations feel a but rushed for their completions the elevated junction makes for a bit a thrilling ride however the fare validation needs to be replaced with fare gates bc I managed to get in the train from both union Square and leachmere without needing to present validation

[@RichardChonak]

I knew we could count on you to provide a worthwhile report. Thanks!

[@AA_8184_1]

Another milestone documented well done as always!

[@mbtagooseman1571]

nice vid man was cool to see everyone there and get the first rides in!

[@matthewdezii]

The long platforms were the first thing I noticed about Lechmere from my ride yesterday. Aside from having to run for your train, I guess they'll come in handy when the "as yet unidentified longer Type 10 trains" arrive. Great video!

[@andrew_ray]

I seem to remember hearing in a board meeting that Lechmere uniquely was sized to accommodate three type 10 cars in case they ever decide to run triple consists. Other stations on the extension will be sized for two-car type 10 consists. The reason only Lechmere is that long is because it is elevated and therefore would be more difficult to extend later.

[@xianyuff8242]

Union square branch has a lot of speed restrictions, it should be 20mph at platform to diamond crossing, and 15mph east bound / 10mph west bound at the 5.75% / 6% grade on the flyover junction. Maybe that is the reason for the five minute trip from union square to lechmere.

[@edwardmiessner6502]

Another milestone for Boston. I hope sometime in the near future they decide to extend the GLX E Line out to Porter to connect to the Red Line with a free transfer

[@ianc435]

Too bad the 9s are garbage

[@AllTransitandAirplaneMedia1039]

I was there today and I think the 2 new stations are so cool

[@Molejules]

I guess I'll have to aim for getting the first Medford branch trip, huh.

[@casmatt99]

The lack of fare gates at these new stations is absurd. They chose to forego them because of the new project to update to an entirely new cashless payment system. Bizarre.

[@williamerazo3921]

You can still have faregates.

[@graffmixer]

Nice video…Ill have to check it out when I head to Cambridgeside Galleria tomorrow. As far as I heard, the fare validation is temporary until they have the fare transponders installed on the Green Line doorways of the trolley. Kinda like they do for other systems like San Fransisco MUNI

[@MilesinTransit]

Yeah, it's temporary until whenever AFC 2.0 arrives, which...keeps getting delayed.

[@andrew_ray]

@@MilesinTransit Allegedly because the same contactor got the OMNY contact in New York and decided we didn't matter anymore.

[@AmtrakProductions]

This was so fun ! So crazy that this happened

[@charlesbosselman8649]

The Dunkin donuts in Union Square is the pits. You cannot go to the bathroom there. Because it's broken. There are not enough benches at any of the station

[@chromebomb]

Boston is an interesting and confusing place but I'm happy you guys got new trains

[@JasonBentrosnowqube]

Do you think that there should be new commuter rails adjacent to some of the new green line stations like on the red line or orange line? I feel like a new station at union square will allow easily access between union square and porter

[@edwardmiessner6502]

Actually I think it would have been better if the T had built the extension out to Porter to connect to the Red Line without paying an additional fare or going into the city.

[@MilesinTransit]

Do you think there would be room? In a world of proper regional rail, though, it would be great!

[@matthewennis3591]

They considered going further but it would require land and property taking.

[@TheDylanJoyce]

As always, the Trains are Beautiful!!!

[@cedricye1767]

Good video, insane dedication! The speed to upload this video is really impressive, nice job! Could you have not used BlueBikes or something to get to Union?

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you! And yeah, good point, that...would've been a better idea...

[@mbtavideos]

The fare validation is ridiculous and can't go fast enough. I was there later in the day it was rather nice and quite - Union Square offers some great places for lunch.

[@kespeth2]

The trains pulling up as far away from the station exit as possible is even more of a problem...but will hopefully be addressed soon.

[@SnowyCountryChicken]

@@kespeth2 That’s the MBTA standard operating procedure, to stop as far away from the entrance/exit as possible. For example, Boylston, Kenmore, Government Center, etc.

[@01283]

3:47 I also like how it still says Arbor way instead of heath st

[@JacksonBetz]

is 0:30 a lost lyric from the chorus of Breakfast at Tiffany’s ~foreshadowing~

[@JacksonBetz]

4:12 well gosh darn, I always mentally pronounced the first syllable of “Lechmere” to rhyme with “deck” haha

[@danib62]

Couldn’t be there myself today but this is almost as good

[@PikalaxALT]

I think the new lechmere station platform is as long as it is to support union square and medford branch trains stopping in two different places along the platform, maybe?

[@MilesinTransit]

I guess that probably could be done with how the Green Line is signaled, but I don't know if that was intentional or not...

[@petecolombo]

I grew up right near here, by the old Lechmere station.

[@kespeth2]

Hmmm, if the longer trains effectively stop closer to the entrance/exit of the station, that could solve the problem I've been harping about...the almost mile walk people have to take to get betweent he trains and the street. No person with disabilities should have to walk that far.

[@qjtvaddict]

Like the NY G train

[@danmur15]

I rode up to Union Square a few weeks ago (I even went to that same dunks!) and the validation system made no sense. A worked just ended up letting me go anyway lmao

[@ClassyWhale]

Can't catch a break with New Haven, can you?

[@Madness832]

How many ticket machines are there? Could imagine that bein' a bottleneck if not enough.

[@MilesinTransit]

2 at Union and 4 at Lechmere - I could definitely see lines forming!

[@j7gy8b]

I did not know how to pronounce "Lechmere", apparently. Thanks for saving me some embarrassment when I visit next week.

[@kespeth2]

3:10 "no comment". I think he was probably winded out from the walk too. lol

[@kespeth2]

Also, I wonder if pass holders have to get a receipt too. I can see this as detrimental to the environment. That and the long walk are two strikes already.

[@kespeth2]

Ah, I didn't notice the second exit when I went there later that day. Of course, I went there from inbound so I never tried out the validation system... If the second exit saves any walking, that's a plus...but that exit looks like it's int he middle of nowhere lol. Sorry for so many comments, but I see a LOT wrong here.

[@kespeth2]

As I said a zillion times, I would personally raise the rating if they actually pulled the trains closer to the station exit. That's my biggest problem here. In fact, I give it one point less than you because of that. 5/10 for me. Everything else I agree with you totally.

[@MilesinTransit]

Fair enough re: your score! And everyone has to get a receipt, including pass holders - it's ridiculous.

[@NorEaster_Cyclone]

they used too much chain link fencing, one of the handicap door buttons was attached to chain link. also it's gotta be freezing, why not enclose the stations more

[@anthonycurioso9797]

Why is there so much squeaking on the new tracks? It's not quite as bad as the Park St/Boylston area, but it's still noticeable

[@ianc435]

They are new They’ll wear in. Also they are using flange lubricators on wheels made from graphite. It’ll take time. But hopefully it gets better.

[@brianreed31]

I heard that they want to extend it west from union square

[@MilesinTransit]

To Porter, yeah!

[@3506Dodge]

That is an extraordinarily complicated ticketing system.

[@casmatt99]

New stations are longer than existing because they are procuring a new fleet of green line trollies that will be a much longer, single car set.

[@anthonybanchero3072]

The Type 10s? I believe those will be 7 sections.

[@damiancooper3063]

I was on the first train that made the union sq announcements

[@damiancooper3063]

This was Saturday morning

[@soflaav8r]

NERDS!!!! Haha just kidding, great video. What is your opinion on extending commuter rail into NH? Think it will ever happen?

[@qjtvaddict]

Umm it already runs it’s called SLE and metro north

[@soflaav8r]

@@qjtvaddict The furthest north it goes is Lowell. That's not NH. There have been proposals to extend it as far north as Concord

[@MilesinTransit]

I'd love to see New Hampshire commuter rail, at least to Manchester. Concord feels like something that might be better served by a shuttle train to Manchester.

[@andrew_ray]

@@soflaav8r I believe qjtv misunderstood NH to refer to New Haven (as seen at the start of the video).

[@damiancooper3063]

RIP the Union Sq walkway March 21 2022 to April 20 2023

[@danib62]

At least the validation system is supposed to be temporary

[@AmtrakProductions]

@2:35 *jaywalking fines*

[@trainandmore]

OH SHIT I forget that's today, I know what I'm doing tomorrow! I do disagree with your union sq score, the validation system is stupid yes, should just be fare gates. You're building a new station from the ground up, why didn't you install gates properly, or tap on the train? But the fact that majority of the wheelchair/ disabled accessibility ( particularly the entrance at 7:25) is teetering on passing by the looks of it, I'd give it a 2/10 Lechmere seems to be a improvement over Union & the old Lechmere, but again why didn't they install gates, you're not remodeling and there's no space, you're building from the ground up. Why didn't you install gates?

[@large_bean]

I agree that gates would have been the logical option, but: 1. Tapping on the train isn't a great solution because GLX uses all island platforms, so the doors open on the left while the fareboxes in the open cabs are on the right (and up the stairs, so not accessible), and 2. GLX was designed without gates to work with AFC2.0, which would have made tapping on the train work (readers at all doors). but yes, since AFC2.0 is pretty far away and there is space for gates, especially at USq, they should just put some gates in. Or if they really had to do some kind of validator half-measure, at least use a standalone validator (a la SEPTA Regional Rail) rather than doing the whole complex thing with the FVMs. Heck, if you need a cheap temporary half-measure, even taking a bunch of fareboxes out of buses being retired and lining 'em up in a row would be an improvement - at least it'd avoid bottlenecking riders with the slow process and only two FVMs to use for it

[@andrew_ray]

Gates were removed to save costs. AFC2.0 was supposed to be done by now. Sometimes things don't work as planned.

[@damiancooper3063]

I got there before you did

[@charlesbosselman8649]

You can only go to Heath Street from Union Square

[@SnowyCountryChicken]

You can switch over trains once you’re at Government Center to Lines B, C, or D. You can switch over the trains before you passed Copley Square. You don’t have to stay on the same train all the way to Heath.

[@AIRRAZOR44]

Again, Boston & MA as a whole has a habit of not prioritizing key issues when it comes to safety, reliability. Light rail makes absolutely no sense for Boston & it’s metro area They should get rid of a bunch of stops on the B & C lines Ideally, the green line should have a 4 track local-express system in down town Boston similar to the system used in NYCT All trains should be heavy rail & allow bikes Restart the late night bus system as the population as the cities/towns around the City of Boston continue to grow in population & wealth. The rents, construction of new residential construction have shot up around the extension It would save a massive amount of time

[@Token_Nerd]

Dude just use the city share bikes

[@AmtrakProductions]

That’s what I told him ! 😂

[@MilesinTransit]

Hahaha, I know, it didn't even cross my mind!

[@Token_Nerd]

@@MilesinTransit too much Amtrak brain for you

[@charlesbosselman8649]

My rating is 4 very poor. To long between trains

[@joshgoldstein1568]

Not even a new train for the first run? Lame MBTA

[@qjtvaddict]

It will be gone soon thankfully

[@trainrover]

clearly shan't age well

[@charlesbosselman8649]

Why must we listen to this guy? Anyway the Green line extension is good. But needs improvement Union Station is too far from the street