T plans to cut stops to speed Green Line
The MBTA wants to close five stops on the Green Line branch that carries riders on the slow and screeching journey from Boston College to downtown.
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The six-month pilot program, designed to speed up the 45-minute trip from Chestnut Hill to Government Center, would cut one-sixth of the stops along the B branch, mostly in Allston-Brighton. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority estimates the closings would save between three and four minutes per trip.
"If you looked at a Green Line map, you'd see how close these stations are to one another," MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said. "This is something we frequently hear from riders on the B branch. They'll ask us, `Why do you have so many stops on that line?' "
Although the T could change its mind before it implements the test program later this fall, Pesaturo named five stops slated to close until spring, if not longer: Greycliff Road, Chiswick Road, Mt. Hood Road, Summit Avenue, and Fordham Road.
Together, those stops account for about 2,500 daily riders, a fraction of the 30,000 people who use the B branch daily. The T picked them based on low ridership and proximity to other stations, Pesaturo said.
Some passengers greeted the news with cheers yesterday, saying they invite any change that could accelerate the slow crawl downtown. Others doubted the changes would make a difference.
In all, the B branch stops 22 times to cover less than 4 miles before it goes underground, a commute that takes so long that many residents rely on other ways to get downtown.
City Councilor Jerry McDermott, whose district includes most of the B branch, said he frequently takes the bus to City Hall downtown because the Green Line takes too long.
"I've agonized over how slow it is," said McDermott, who supports the changes. "It's notorious for stopping every two blocks. I just don't see it as a major inconvenience to commuters if a few stops are taken out."
Others disagree. Craig Bryant, a 22-year-old Boston University student, carries his trombone and his heavy backpack to the Summit Avenue T stop several times each week. When the stop closes, he said, his 20-minute commute to school will become much more painful.
"It's not worth it," he said. "I've invested my money in a system that's supposed to be easy and convenient to use, and it's not."
The Green Line closures are part of a larger MBTA effort to improve service on the route, which features sections along Commonwealth Avenue that date back to 1903. The T has recently implemented a system that allows riders with monthly passes to board at the back doors, which reduces the waiting time at each stop. The T has also added a third car on some trains to pack in more riders, especially at rush hour.
Before picking a date to close the stops, the MBTA plans to hold a public meeting and consult with elected officials. The MBTA will not decide whether to keep the stops closed permanently until next spring or summer.
The Mt. Hood Road stop, which serves about 280 people daily, is less than two-tenths of a mile from Washington Street, where about 1,300 riders embark. Some riders who live near the Mt. Hood stop said it would be easy for them to walk to another station, especially if it meant a faster ride.
"I think they should remove the stops," said Lisa Senay, a 25-year-old law student at Boston College. "This might be one step in a positive direction."
Sasha Talcott can be reached at stalcott@globe.com.
© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.
