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— News by Quincy Quarry News – News, Opinion and Commentary
Riding the rails …
A file photo image
Just when one might at least hope that things could not become any worse at the MBTA, things went off the track.
Way off track
Specifically, the tracks for the relatively new Green Line extensions to Medford/Tufts and Union Square were built too narrowly for the safe operation of trains at their designed speeds.
Granted, such a screw-up, if not also one that is a City of Quincy grade inexcusable Q-up, is nothing new at the MBTA.
A $1,100 track gauge spreader in use
An Aldon® image
However, what sets a new low are the reports indicate when the track was laid during the construction of these Green Line extensions it was known by at least some at the MBTA that the track would be overly tight but T officials lets things slide.
The only good thing is that apparently the fix looks to probably be a relatively straightforward realignment jog as opposed to a complete reconstruction of the problematic track.
At this point anyway.
After all, we are talking the T and the MBTA happens as well as often.
Update: 2 senior leaders of MBTA Green Line extension project fired after rail gauge fiasco
Some old same old, different day …
; A Statco Communications image
There is some positive news: the contractor who laid the track and so screwed Green Line extension straphangers will not be charging the MBTA for the now-needed work.
Even so, the MBTA still owes the general public a comprehensive and accurate explanation as to how this inexcusable Charlie Foxtrot happened.
To this end, the Quarry is pleased to report that it has provided useful intel to a Boston broadsheet reporter who has been trying to score an interview with Quincy’s peerless mayor to discuss matters MBTA as well as that the working plan is to provide even more useful intel to this Boston broadsheet reporter.
MBTA Board of Directors inspecting MBTA tracks
An old Columbia Pictures image
After all, Quincy Mayor Koch has been the Chair of the MBTA Advisory Board for over a dozen years as well as has been an MBTA Board of Directors member for over two years and thus should have face at least some questioning.
That as well as is also more as well as even longer overdue questioning as his various kochings-up locally over the years he has been the mayor of Quincy.
Didn’t the MBTA just fix the Red Line?!
Big,
Yah, right.
Look at the bright side. At least Mayor Koch is being consistent. He has guided the MBTA off the rails and has been making false claims (just call them lies) to get re-elected for another term as the proud Mayor of Quincy so that he can continue to make Quincy an embarrassment at the cost of Quincy’s hard working tax payers.
But, but — just imagine the bounty of hack hirings and even more campaign fund “gratuities that Koch is scoring care of his two MBTA board gigs?