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— Quincy Massachusetts News by Quincy Quarry News – News, Opinion and Commentary
Well-worn Red Line track at North Quincy station slated for replacement
A Quincy Quarry News file photo
Quincy Quarry News hit the ever-increasingly mean and now also even more congested streets of Quincy on Saturday to see how the replacement of the Braintree Red Line track was progressing on Saturday, the second day of the line’s shutdown to replace worn-out track.
The Quarry’s finding was a mixed bag.
A very mixed bag.
Positives first.
Substitute shuttle bus service was found to be effective given short wait times and at least a few open seats available on buses.
Private bus company buses in action
Image via YouTube
Even better, most of the buses seen by Quarry personnel were newer as well as better private bus company buses.
Also, the MBTA personnel assigned to help people deal with the disruption were found to be both helpful and pleasant.
At the same time as well as in all fairness, it was a perfectly lovely pleasant day as well as a low-key Saturday.
Repair equipment, left center; holding bay, center.
A Quincy Quarry News exclusive image
The Quarry can also only properly note that all manner of pre-positioning of repair equipment and materials looked to be at least sufficiently done.
After all, pre-positioning of resources matters as COVID-caused supply chain shortfalls still linger.
Actual track replacement work in action, however, was hard to find by Quincy Quarry News personnel.
At best, it found one construction crew standing along the track.
Emphasis on standing along the track.
Surely expensive piece of equipment not in use and workers standing around it.
A Quincy Quarry News exclusive image
During Quincy Quarry’s monitoring of the crew they were basically standing around an at most idling specialized piece of equipment rail car until the the boom on the rail car was raised and then the car slowly rolled away.
At the same time, those standing around continued to stand around such that the Quarry reporter on the scene was reminded of City of Quincy Department of Public Works workers assigned to the pothole patrol.
In fairness, it was only the second day on the job and thus why not milk weekend premium pay scales.
Plus, tomorrow will be the acid test as it will be the first Monday commute after most everyone is back at the grind after Labor Day and students off all ages back in school.
Wow, I was thinking about dropping a dime, but you’re already on it! On 9/7, I drove along Bergin Parkway and Newport Ave, and the vast majority of crew members were standing and talking. One guy was reading a hardback book! It looked like he was on about page 10 of 500. I’ll bet the book wasn’t “Federal and State Regulations for Train Track Maintenace.” I guess he thinks he’ll have plenty of reading time to finish a 500-page book.
As my car bumped and vibrated violently along the potholed washboards that are Bergin and Newport, I thought that it might be a good idea for Mr. Eng to make surprise visits to the worksites in an unmarked car. After all, he wears a hard hat in some of his interviews.
A track repair opening review finds… meso meso? Honestly, not sure what that means, but it sounds about right for the MBTA—somewhere between “meh” and “more of the same.” If the goal was mediocrity, mission accomplished. But hey, maybe next time they can aim for “adequate” or, dare I say, “actually functioning.” Until then, Red Line commuters, enjoy your daily game of “Will I make it on time or should I start walking?