May 2022 – chelsea's corner

29 (Conimicut)

So, you might’ve seen the 58 and thought “Gee, I wish RIPTA had actual crosstown routes!”, and maybe the 35 wasn’t good enough. Perhaps you live in Kent County, in Warwick or West Warwick. Okay, fair enough. Meet the 29.

After getting off the bus to Cowesset, I walked around Stop & Shop while I was there. At the end, I bought a Fuji apple and ate it for breakfast. Must admit, it tasted pretty good.

So, once it was time, I boarded the bus and paid my fare. And, we were off to the races. Deviation #1, here we come. Or, 2, rather, as I’m counting Cowessett Corners as #1. The Kent County Courthouse is an eastbound-only deviation, and is used as the turnaround point for the 29. From here, we went back up Quaker Lane and took a right down Cowessett Avenue.

As the bus went down Cowessett Ave., the surroundings were largely what you’d expect in a suburban neighborhood. Houses, with some businesses mixed in. It remained for this for pretty much the entire way down to Main St., in West Warwick. However, there was also a memorial, built in memory of the tragic Station Nightclub incident in 2003. If you’re curious on what happened, here’s the Wikipedia article. (warning: it really is quite tragic)

From here, we took a right down New London Turnpike, or Main Street as the announcements on the bus called it. It was still largely residential, with some businesses lining the road, as well as Roch’s Supermarket. On the left was the Pawtuxet River.

We then went up Main St., entering Arctic Village for a bit. It was here that one can transfer to the 12X and 13 if necessary. Businesses lined the streets for a bit until Providence Street. It was here, though, that the bus went left down Main St., passing a Dollar Tree and public housing. There’d then be a right down East Main, and a roundabout going down Providence Street. We’d then cross the Pawtuxet River again.

We then kept going down and went down Toll Gate Road. From here, we took a left down Bald Hill Road then deviated into Rhode Island Mall (or what remains). After this, we went back up and powered up the hill to CCRI’s Warwick campus, which has a reputation for being very, very ugly-looking.

An empty building along the needlessly wide road

From here, we went out of CCRI via the back entrance and we were back at Toll Gate Road. We went past the hospital, and entered Apponaug Village. A couple of people got on at this stretch of otherwise woodlands. Pressing on, we went under the Northeast Corridor, and the intersection of West Shore and Long Street. Short 29 trips normally instead go down Long Street and Strawberry Field Road, both of which were formerly served by the 8X. From here, we kept going down West Shore Road, passing by Buttonwoods Ave. Eventually, we made it to Strawberry Field Road, and turned down Sandy Lane.

Disappointingly, it looks like there were no strawberry fields to be seen down Strawberry Field Road. However, there was the city pool, ice rink, and the Warwick Public Library’s main branch on Sandy Lane! And a transfer point with the 3! Yes, we turned down Warwick Avenue to meet up with the 3 for a bit. However, instead of doing what would seem like a sensible thing (at face value) and go down Warwick Ave. and turn down West Shore Road, we instead went down Church Ave. (a side street!) and got to West Shore from there. Yeah, don’t ask me about that one. From here, it was largely a straight shot, as the bus went down West Shore. Then, it turned down Beach Ave. and stopped at a church as the terminus. I, however, got off at the 2nd to last stop, as I wanted to transfer to the 4.

A vape shop and Picasso’s (they got some decent food)

The good: This route serves a lot. Like, you have Conimicut, West Shore Road, Cowesset, and the southern areas of West Warwick. It also serves Kent Hospital and the county courthouse, as well as municipal facilities for both Warwick and West Warwick. Short trips also go down Long St. and Strawberry Field Ave. It also sees a decent amount of usage for a crosstown, at 443 people daily on average.

The bad: The headways are kinda annoying, being every 1hr15. Also, no Sunday service, and it’s very long.
*gets phone call*

Wait, what? Oh crap! Looks like RIPTA has plans to address the 29’s major shortcomings! That’s right! With the summer service changes slated to go into effect in 2 and a half(!!) weeks, the 29 is receiving the following changes
– Hourly headways
– Sunday service
– Runs both earlier and later into the day
– Interlines with the 13(!!!)

However, that means the section from CCRI to Cowessett is being replaced. The sections in West Warwick along Main St. and New London Tpke. are being replaced with the 23, while the Bald Hill section, including the courthouse and Cowessett Corners deviations, are being replaced with the 16.

I still stand by that the section east of CCRI is kinda long. And it doesn’t help that Apponaug can become clogged with cars quite easily.

Nearby points of interest: A lot! You got Conimicut Point in walking distance! There’s the Warwick Public Library, as well as Thayer Arena and McDermott Pool! Apponaug exists too, as does CCRI. In the areas axed as of 6/18/22, you have the RI Mall, Arctic Village, and Cowessett Corners.

Overall, it’s quite the route to ride, however the fact that RIPTA is addressing its shortcomings makes it easier to stomach. And, this would be the second time they’ve done so. The first time, with the fall ’21 service changes, they axed the Warwick Mall deviation and gave Phenix Hotel to the 13, and brought headways to 75 minutes instead of 90. And, in a system that has practically zero crosstown routes, this is a prime example of what a crosstown route should look like.

Rating: 7/10
Original rating: 6.5/10 (revised due to service changes)

QX (Quonset Express)

So you know how most express routes that involve Providence (as in, all of them) has Providence at the end of the route in the morning and the beginning in the afternoon, usually? Of course, the 24L and reverse commute trips of the 9X, 61X, and 95X all exist too, but that’s beside the point here. Point is, none of them make Kennedy Plaza a deviation.

Meet the QX. An express route designed to get people from Cranston, Providence, and Pawtucket to their workplaces in Quonset in the (very early) morning, and back home in the late afternoon, the QX links people with a major employment center. So, what did I do? I rode the route, of course!

So, the route officially begins all the way at Cargill, a food plant, at Compass Circle. However, since getting there is too far out of the way for me, I got on at the Gate Road stop by the Marriott. From here, we went straight through the roundabout onto Davisville Road. Soon enough, we reached the first timepoint, corresponding with Norad, an auto importer. We turned down a street and another. Next stop? Ocean State Job Lot’s distribution center. Once at the traffic light, we turned left down Roger Williams Way and deviated down a street. Down here were places like Fujifilm and the next timepoint, Hexagon Manufacturing, or Keifer Park as the timepoint is called. Lastly, we went right and served the last timepoint in the area, Electric Boat. Anyone in the know about the local economy will know that General Dynamics Electric Boat is a major player with the Department of Defense.

I can’t help but feel like I’m not supposed to be here

One of the signs for this building said “DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH”

I really don’t feel like I’m supposed to be here

From here, we turned back down Roger Williams Way and HOLY CRAP WE’RE EXPRES- oh god traffic OH GOD IT’S BAD. So, yes the route goes express, and it turns out today was the exception rather than reality. Traffic set us back by about 30+ minutes. For some, it was further behind schedule than the headway for that route! See!

Oh no. This was how bad traffic was. The 66 has 30 minute headways, by the way.

Yeah. From here, though, we were on RI-403 the whole length. Eventually, through the snail-pace traffic, we crossed over the Northeast Corridor and Frenchtown Road, where traffic was also bad. We eventually made it to RI-4 northbound, where it was also bad.

Eventually, after the pain and suffering in traffic, and the 30+ minute setback, we made it to I-95. From here it was a straight shot to …exit 14B???? Yeah, that’s a weird one. We then got off of THAT at Reservoir Ave., joining up with the 21 for a bit.

From here, we went through Garden City and down Reservoir Ave. However, unlike the 21, we actually turned onto Park Ave. From here, we went down Park Ave. and Gansett Ave., meeting up with Cranston Street. Soon enough, we reached Carolina Street, made a right turn down it, and stopped at Brewery Parkade. Another seemingly weird choice, but whatever. Going further down, WE’RE EXPRESS AGAIN!

Yeah, traffic was pretty bad again. From here, the route deviates into Kennedy Plaza. Yeah, that feels weird to type. But, it gets off at Memorial Boulevard, deviates into Kennedy Plaza, then gets back on the highway. From here, it’s a clean shot up to Pawtucket. It gets off at Broadway, serves a park and ride lot, and ends at the Pawtucket Visitors Center.

The good: It links where people are with a major employment center, that’s otherwise car-required! Imagine being able to take a bus to Electric Boat. It’s also the only express route into Pawtucket, so there’s that too. Now, I don’t know if this one holds true either, but I’d imagine the timing of the bus would correspond with shift changes, I presume.

The bad: It only runs at normal commute hours. Now, I get it, it’s one of the longest routes by run time, but would it kill to have options for people who work nights, or pretty much anything other than a normal 7-3 shift?

Nearby points of interest: Quonset, Garden City, Brewery Parkade, and downtown Providence. But like, just use local routes for most of those. Garden City has the 21, Brewery Parkade has the 31, and downtown Providence has lord knows how many routes. It can also become very bad with on-time performance with any amount of traffic issues. Yikes. It’s also very not straightforward in Quonset, due to needing to serve pretty much everything at the front door.

Overall, conceptually it’s a great route. 10/10, even. However, with the limiting commute schedules, while I’ll have to give RIPTA an A for even considering this route, it’s still limiting with its two trips each way. But, I get it. It’s one of the longest routes by run time. Also, I will say that I find it weird that it doesn’t stop at any actual park and ride lots, like Wickford Junction. Now that I think of it, this would probably be a great route to have serving Wickford Junction, though it’s probably too far out of the way.

Rating: 6.5/10

32 (Wolcott Sq./Cleary Sq.-Forest Hills)

Alright, my first MBTA bus review! Let’s get into this route. So, what is it that I’m working with? I’ll be working with the 32 today.

A few CNG Xcelsiors laying over at Forest Hills Station

So, once my friend and I got on the bus, it was off to the races. The route is largely straightforward, being a clean shot down Hyde Park Ave. to Wolcott Square, Readville. The neighborhoods the route went through, or at least the sections of which, were largely residential in nature. Many businesses lined Washington St. in the Jamaica Plains section of the route. However, once we entered Roslindale, it was a different story with it being largely residential. I wouldn’t even describe the neighborhood as bad, or Olneyville-level, by any stretch of the imagination. At least, not at face value. I’m not a native Bostonian, so I’m very much unaware as to where to and to not go (beyond the very obvious).

As we went down Hyde Park Ave., it was sorta urban in nature with the buildings. Like, it’s not very urban, but I’d describe it in nature similar to North Main Street in Providence. It was largely the same things. At one point, we passed by Hyde Park’s Commuter Rail station, where Stoughton-bound trains stop, along with Franklin and Foxboro trains. Eventually, though, after going under a stone arch bridge, we made it to Wolcott Square and Readville Station.

Some businesses! I wonder if that pizzeria is worth trying out some time.

The bus leaving us as we were walking to Readville Station

The good: It’s a direct link between Wolcott Square, Readville Station, and the Orange Line via Forest Hills, going through Roslindale, Hyde Park, and the Forest Hills section of Jamaica Plain. It also gets some decent enough ridership, as far as I can tell, between my own trip being decently full. If Miles’ (of Miles in Transit) post on this route is to go by, this route happens to get slightly higher ridership than the R Line (in excess of 11000!) If anyone can double check this with the Blue Book (I can’t decipher it to save my life as I’m an idiot), please let me know.

The bad: Given the frequency, I’d imagine bunching up is bad with traffic. I mean, this route has R Line levels of frequency, being 10 minute headways. Which sounds nice until you realize it’s in mixed traffic.

Nearby points of interest: The Arbortorium at Forest Hills! There’s also Hyde Park and Readville Stations if you’re into railfanning. Also, the Orange Line’s southern terminus is at Forest Hills.

Overall, it’s not a bad route. It’s a clean shot from Forest Hills to Wolcott and Readville Station via Hyde Park Avenue. Could it be a little better in the frequency (i.e. being slightly less frequent to avoid bunching) department? Probably. But, it’s buses we’re talking. High frequency, higher than the R Line, is inevitably going to lead to bunching. It’s still not a bad route though.

Rating: 7.5/10

Forest Hills (Orange Line)

Ah, the southern terminus of the Orange Line, at the heart of Jamaica Plain. Oh, there’s also a Commuter Rail platform here, sweet! Let’s look at this station a little further.

Wow, now we’re REALLY in the past! Oh look, Helvetica Bold in the background!

So, the Orange Line platform is your standard Southwest Corridor affair. It’s primarily enclosed with concrete, though, unlike most of the other Southwest Corridor subway stops. It does tell you which platform the next inbound train is departing on, though, which is nice. Despite this, it still screams ’80s MBTA.

The station lobby itself is pretty nice. There’s an information booth at the center of the station, and the ceiling and roof is all glass, which lets in a lot of sunlight. Access to the Commuter Rail platform can also be had here.

Oh boy. Why did it feel like Back Bay again? Fortunately, because most trains express through here with only Needham line trains stopping (UPDATE 9/24/22: the MBTA has changed the schedule so that Franklin trains and a midday Providence train stop here), diesel fumes aren’t an issue unlike in Back Bay. The platform itself, however, was quite bare, aside from the odd cute railfan girl.

The headhouse from the Commuter Rail platform

There’s two busways here, too. They’re either on the western or eastern side of the station, with a number of bus routes leaving here, such as the 32 to Wolcott and Readville. It felt a little dingy, but it wasn’t too unbearable as it was all outdoor otherwise.

The good: It gives the locals an intermodal transit center! The Orange Line to Downtown Crossing is about 20 minutes (once you’re on the train). The station is also in fare zone 1A, meaning that Commuter Rail fares are the same as the subway heading into South Station and Back Bay. Heading outbound, the rail line ends at Needham, although it costs $7 rather than $2.40.

The bad: Not much. It’s a little dingy, and the Orange Line platform is definitely showing its age, but aside from that I don’t have many complaints. The tunnel with the Needham line would be problematic if all trains stopped here, but fortunately that isn’t the case. Also, what’s with the last Providence train stopping here?

Nearby points of interest: Forest Hills, the neighborhood! There’s also the Arbortorium nearby, along with the Franklin Park Zoo. Maybe a cute sapphic couple.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Needham, limited Franklin, Foxboro, Providence)
Orange Line
MBTA bus (16, 21, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 34E, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, 40, 42, 50, 51)

Overall, it’s a nice station. Sure, the platform is dingy, and there’s not much in extra amenities, but you don’t always need that when you have local businesses nearby. The building itself is quite nice, and there’s several things to do nearby.

Rating: 7/10

Quincy Center (Red Line)

Welcome to Quincy! Since I’m here reviewing MBTA stations, that means I have to go out to Quincy as well. Fortunately, Quincy Center has things to do unlike the next two stations down the line (Quincy Adams & Braintree). Now, let’s get into this.

For one, the poles at the Red Line platform is shiny. And, it’s a weird mix of being sorta underground but not really. Sometimes it can smell funky down here as well. But come on, we’re not here for just the Red Line platform. Up the stairs outside of fare control, we go!

Fare control and the CharlieCard machines

The lobby at Quincy Center is small but simple. You have CharlieCard machines, fare control going to the Red Line platforms, and bus schedules. There’s also an associate here if anyone needs assistance. There’s also a sandwich shop outside the station, along with a busway. The roofing used to be a parking lot, but it’s since been closed a long time ago.

The busway, served by various bus routes

After a quick trip to a nearby convenience store, I returned to the station and headed to the Commuter Rail platform. This…..has got to be among the most “out of the way” Commuter Rail platforms I’ve ever seen. To even get there, you have to go to the back of the station and go down a corridor. At least it’s open, unlike Back Bay.

The Commuter Rail concourse and some art!

The Commuter Rail platform is mostly dark, but at least there was seating in the open area. Plus, at least the train engines stop in the open area, unlike in Back Bay. This means, fortunately, diesel fumes aren’t a major issue! YAY! So, what trains DO stop here? Well, how about the Old Colony and Greenbush lines? I’ll also ask, why is it just a single track? Like, this feel kinda hackjobbed in at the last minute, if anything. How many people use this place, anyways? Oh, 773 as of 2018, and 7120 on the Red Line as of 2019. Nice.

The other side, towards a parking garage. Not Quincy Adams, though.

The good: It’s an important link and largely straightforward (save for the Commuter Rail platform) intermodal hub! How about, a bus-subway, subway-CR, or bus-CR transfer? It’s also close to a few tourist attractions, like the Adams statue, the Adams house, and the church where they’re buried.

The bad: …why would you take the Commuter Rail from here to downtown, when the Red Line also stops here? One’s $2.40 and lets you use day/monthly CharlieCard passes, while the Commuter Rail is $6.50 (zone 1 fare) to fare zone 1A. Also, it can feel a little creepy and dingy at times. Still not as bad as Back Bay, though!

Nearby points of interest: Quincy Center! Plus, the places accessible by the various bus routes, the Red Line, the Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Greenbush, Kingston, Middleborough)
Red Line (Braintree)
MBTA bus (210, 211, 215, 216, 217, 220, 222, 225, 230, 236, 238, 245)

Overall, it’s certainly not the worst. Questionable decisions can be made here, but maybe that’s fitting for Quincy, given that sometimes there’s some interesting people around. But, c’mon man, just use the Red Line or the bus to get into downtown from here instead.

Rating: 6.5/10

Readville (MBTA)

Readville Station. I’ve seen some interesting things about it, but what mostly got my eyes was the relatively unusual track configuration. What does this Commuter Rail station have in store? Let’s find out.

The many bridges and ramps linking the platforms

My friend and I took the 32 from Forest Hills to Wolcott Square, which was right outside the station. From here, it was quite evident that Readville was a wide open train station with four platforms. From west to east, they are the Franklin/Foxboro platform, the unused Providence/Stoughton platforms, and the Fairmount platform at the flyover track. In terms of amenities, it’s pretty barebones, but given the sizable parking lot they probably intend on this being a park & ride station. While there’s no bathrooms here, there are some businesses nearby, including a Dunkin’, which may or may not let you use the bathroom.

Now, for accessibility. The low platforms, at first glance, may scream “I AM NOT AN ACCESSIBLE STATION!!!”, and that’s technically true. However, unlike Westerly, there’s two major differences:
1. there’s ramps and bridges that aren’t in as bad shape as South Attleboro (because they used concrete instead of all metal) and
2. there’s a mini-high at each platform!

Now that I think of it, it feels kinda like a time capsule. Like, how long has it been since the Providence/Stoughton Line ended at Attleboro? Has to be before I was born, if anything (for context, I was born in ’01).

Now, most stations are straightforward and usually safe with getting to the platforms. However, the Franklin Line platform is a bit sketchy. Take a look.

Why they couldn’t put everything on the other side, is beyond me. But, whatever. At least it’s better than Back Bay’s ventilation issue. At least for railfanning, it’s also a pretty good spot. There’s the Acela and Regional for one. This station’s also the terminus of the Fairmount line and pretty much every Franklin/Foxboro train stops here, too. Providence/Stoughton trains also express through here unless a train evacuation is necessary for any reason (e.g. mechanical failiure)

The Fairmount train pictured earlier, laying over

Looking up the Northeast Corridor mainline

Train from Providence passing through, in reverse!

The good: It’s a nice little train station. It serves as a decent park and ride lot as well, with access to two train lines (Franklin and Fairmount), and a third (Providence) and Amtrak service expressing through here. It’s also a good railfanning spot.

The bad: It’s a bit of a maze, and can be a “screw you” station at times, especially if you’re unfamiliar. Also, the fact it’s only mini-highs instead of full highs. Also, what’s with the Franklin Line crossing?

Nearby points of interest: Not much. I mean, there’s a pizzeria nearby, along with the Fairmount layover yard (don’t trespass!).

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Franklin, Foxboro, Fairmount)
MBTA bus (32, 33)

Overall, for what it is, I’ve certainly seen worse. It’s not bad, but not too good either. Average, if anything. It’s still better than South Attleboro and the sorry state that station is in currently, though. Also, the arch bridge the Fairmount line goes over is kinda nice. There’s also a decent amount of parking, should anyone want to use it as a park and ride. 426 people use this station each day on average, as of 2018, which while it’s nothing to laugh at, is nowhere near the ridership numbers for stops like Forge Park or Norwood. For Fairmount trains, though, it’s among the most used stops outside of downtown.

Rating: 6/10

Back Bay (MBTA/Amtrak)

Oh lordy, I don’t even know where to start with this. For one, it’s my first non-RI post (proper, not the half-assed River Works post that I did without visiting!). Actually, the next five or so posts I do will all be from my trip to Boston (5/26/22), so strap in!

Now, I can’t say much about the exterior as I wasn’t outside, however it’s definitely on the more “upscale” side, to fit with the rest of Back Bay. The station lobby matched. The train platforms, however….. Oh boy. So, getting off the train from T.F. Green Airport, it immediately hit me as to why this station has a bad reputation. The diesel fumes could be smelled all over the platform, and it was bad enough to where one would need a military-grade gas mask if they had breathing issues. I genuinely wish I was exaggerating, but I’m not. So, booking it up the stairs so as to not inhale too many diesel fumes (which I completely disregarded later). I’ll also add as a tidbit, my friend could even smell the fumes in the mid-section of an Acela car at rush hour.

Fortunately, the lobby is much different. After going up a dingy staircase, the air was considerably cleaner. At least one could buy MBTA tickets here, along with Amtrak tickets due to a Quik-Trak machine being present. ~~However, because of the aforementioned air quality issue, Amtrak doesn’t staff the station. As such, it also happens it’s the most used Amtrak station that’s unstaffed, to my awareness.~~ (EDIT: I was wrong. Amtrak staffs the station now.) It’s also up here that the bathrooms can be found. Just remember to flush the toilet, or you might be stabbed numerous times. The building itself feels a lot more “open” than down below, to say the least. There’s also a Dunkin’ (two!) and a CharlieCard vending machine here, as well as fare control for the Orange Line. Further back, by the Dunkin’ is where the stairs to tracks 5 and 7 are. This is where the Worcester-bound trains, being the Framingham/Worcester lines and the Lake Shore Limited all board.

The other area of the main lobby, by the CharlieCard machines

The underpass to Copley Place! Kinda easy to miss if you’re not actively looking for it.

And now, to address the elephant in the room: the island platform for tracks 5 and 7. Oh boy. Let’s just say this is easily the worst part of the station (as if the platforms for tracks 1-3 are bad enough!). So, one end we have a pair of tracks that don’t even run with the rest of the Southwest Corridor but rather run with the Mass Pike. On the other…..just take a look.

Oh dear god please no, NOT A TUNNEL WITH DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES!!!

Yup. There’s a long tunnel, I don’t know how long but it’s long enough to reach all the way past Hynes Convention Center at least. Is Lansdowne like this? I hope not, but I’ll find out when I review that station. It’s also very dark to where it feels like the lighting doesn’t do much, despite being bright. Like, could they have chosen any color other than black? Overall, while the smell of diesel fumes permeated through everything, the worst was yet to come. I notice the countdown clock, and oh god. There was a train scheduled to come in any minute now from Worcester.

QUIZ TIME!!!!!!

What did my friend and I decide to do, knowing there was an inbound train coming in?
A: Get the hell out, not wanting black lung
B: Film the train, knowing one/both of us could pass out from the diesel fumes being too much
C: Nothing.

If you chose option B, you win ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!

So, we sat there and filmed the train (of course, it was an HSP engine), and I started feeling dizzy and we were like “yeah, let’s get outta here.” From there, we got up, exited via the stairs we came down on, and got our day passed on our CharlieCards. From here, we went to the Orange Line platform. Now, there was a train ready to depart so I couldn’t get a good look at it, but it was hella better than the Commuter Rail platforms!

The good: It serves a major link between Boston and points south, as well as serving to the closest thing to the southern end of a North/South link, due to the Orange Line serving both here and BON (North Station). It’s also nice that Back Bay is relatively very walkable in nature.

The bad: However…..the fact that they tell people with breathing issues not to use this station, is problem enough. It was bad enough that I, someone WITHOUT known breathing issues, almost fainted from a lone HSP46 locomotive pulling in from Worcester. This enough is a major strike against an otherwise perfect station. If the MBTA electrified their Commuter Rail lines (or at least, used dual-mode locomotives that switch to diesel outside here), then the pollution wouldn’t be as big an issue. But, until then, don’t come here if you have respiratory issues.

Nearby points of interest: Back Bay, the neighborhood! You have Hynes, which hosts conventions like Anime Boston. Copley Place and the Prudential Center are also nearby, if you’re rich enough to afford anything from either. There’s also the Orange Line to points north and south from here, too.

Transit connections:
Amtrak (Northeast Regional, Acela, Lake Shore Limited)
Commuter Rail (Franklin, Foxboro, Needham, Providence, Stoughton, Worcester)
Orange Line
MBTA bus (10, 39)
Logan Express
Green Line (at Copley and Prudential)

Overall, if you forget the Commuter Rail platforms exist, Back Bay would quite truthfully be a 9 or 10. However, the fact that the air quality is bad enough to where Amtrak removed staff from here for health reasons is a big yikes. Yes, it’s improved, but the train platforms are in serious need of ventilation. And until either that happens or the Lake Shore Limited and the Commuter Rail get dual-mode locomotives, I can’t put this station too high up. The Orange Line platforms are leagues better, though. And yet, despite the major health risk, it still has over 15600 Orange Line passengers as of 2019, 8100 Commuter Rail passengers (being #3!), and just under 2000 Amtrak passengers a day in 2019.

Rating: 5/10

The Walmart Shuttle (RIPTA)

Alright, so a route I can’t really ride. Since I can’t actually ride this route (because, ya know, I don’t live at one of the served housing projects), I’ll have to rely on Street View and Wikipedia again. So, what does this route serve? Let’s see.

This is what we’re working with for scheduling. Credits: RIPTA

So, as the picture above describes, it stops at several housing complexes around western Cranston, ultimately terminating at Walmart. That is, the same Walmart that the 19 terminates at. So, what do we have? Two whole hours of Walmart shopping! Now, maybe there’s some people that are more avid Walmart shoppers than I am, but I can’t shop for two hours straight anywhere, not even at a Micro Center.

The shuttle itself isn’t even something like a RIde or Flex bus, but rather a full-on 40ft bus. Now, let’s look at the various stops this route stops at.

Arlington Manor….which is across the parking lot from Jennings Manor

Harris House, in low-grade JPEG quality!

Devan Manor, with a proper bus stop outside it!

The route, according to PantographApp. Red stops are inbound (to Walmart), blue outbound.

A bus stop sign for the route. Credits to this person on Twitter for making me aware of the fact these signs exist.

Ridership, I cannot say as I’ve only ever seen three old people total get off one bus one Thursday. But, I’m sure it’d be similar in number to the 10X given the fact it’s a Thursday-only route that runs once each way. I’m also sure if it ran 7 days, or at least Monday-Friday, more residents at these places would take advantage of it.

The good: It’s probably a lifeline to the outside world for the people who do take this route. Yeah, they could take the 30, which runs more often and has weekend service, but if you’re a frail old person, would you want to run the risk of slipping and getting injured on, say, a snowy day when the Walmart express bus stops at the front door of your apartment complex instead? Would you rather risk heat stroke waiting forever and the risk of the bus missing your stop?

The bad: I guess, it’s the limited scheduling. But, for something like this you probably don’t even need more than one bus trip a day. Would the people appreciate more options? Probably. But is it necessary? I can’t speak for them on that. Although, if I were in their shoes, I’d appreciate additional options for Walmart trips, along with something timed to connect with the 19.

Nearby points of interest: A bunch of housing developments and Walmart, really.

Overall, the concept of the route is a good one. It’s important, and for those who use it, is probably a lifeline. I can’t really fault it for anything since I’m not even in the target demographic. Although, I can’t help but think that sometimes, maybe the route would be better utilized if there were more round-trip options. Perhaps, a morning trip that arrives at Walmart at 9am and leaves at 11, an afternoon trip that arrives at 1 and leaves at 3, and an evening trip that arrives at 5 and leaves at 7? Just a thought. But please though, could the city of Cranston take this thing off RIPTA’s hands? From a financial perspective, they have little reason to keep this thing, and I’m sure it’d be in better hands with the city’s housing authority providing shuttles to places.

Rating: 3/10, but 9/10 for the idea.

18 (Union Ave.)

If you read the 40’s post, I mention how it interlines with the 18 and how the two neighborhoods they primarily serve (the East Side for the 40, Silver Lake and Arlington for the 18) are very different. Don’t get me wrong, the neighborhoods the 18 serves aren’t terrible by any means, but it’s still quite evident there’s major differences between the two. Let’s get into it, shall we?

To even get here, I took the 17 all the way up to Dyer Ave. and Chestnut Hill Ave., which is the 18’s terminus. Not too annoying, but certainly could be worse. (I’m looking at you, 10X and 59X!!!) So, we’re working with a route that’s called “Union Ave.”, so why doesn’t it start at Union Ave.? Well, I don’t know. Oh, the bus is here, time to get on it!

The route begins with a right turn down Chestnut Hill Avenue. Now, from here it’s largely all residential. There’s some businesses mixed in (like the florist and barber shop on Dyer Ave.) but not much else. There’s the occasional business down Laurel Hill Ave., but again it’s mostly residential. Eventually, though, we made it to Union Ave.

Eventually, we took a right down Union Ave. And down, I mean quite literally. We were at the top of a hill, and there was only one way to go. As we progressed down Union Ave., more and more businesses started coming up, mostly locally-owned. There was also a Shell, before the interchange with RI-10.

Of course, we ended up taking …a left turn down Ellery Street? Yeah, I’m confused on that one too. It’s largely houses yet again, and …another right turn down Chapin Ave.??? Okay? Eventually, though, and thankfully, we made it to Cranston Street. It was home stretch as from here, it was largely a straight shot through here, Westminster Street, and Washington Street to Kennedy Plaza, largely replicating the 31‘s routing.

Providence Castle- wait, oh, it’s the Cranston St. Armory.

From here, the bus would continue its journey as the 40 through the East Side.

The good: It’s a more direct connection to Providence for those that live along the route, without needing to walk as far. The terrain certainly wouldn’t help, especially during the winter months. The 492 people who use it on weekdays (as of 2019) probably appreciate the fact the route exists, although I don’t know stats on how many use the shared section with the 31, verseus the sections along Union and Laurel Hill Avenues.

The bad: The route doesn’t need to exist, given its location close to the 17 and 31. But, the ridership does show there is demand for such a route. It’s also weirdly indirect, being my biggest complaint about the route. Plus, there’s no Sunday service for some reason.

Nearby points of interest: A couple of parks at Dyer Ave., a few businesses along Laurel Hill and Union Ave’s., plus the Cranston St. Armory.

Overall, it’s not a bad route. It doesn’t need to exist, but the existence is still justified by the fact just under 500 people use it each day. And, I’m sure for many during the winter, when the hills are slippery, this route is more of a lifeline than ever to save them from walking as far. Plus, unlike the 40, it runs on weekends….though on Saturdays only.

Rating: 7/10

40 (Butler/Elmgrove)

Alright, say you had to visit someone at Butler. How would you get there? Drive? Well, what if you didn’t have a car? In that case, the 40 would be the route you’d take.

Now, this route actually interlines with the 18, meaning one can get a one-seat ride from Union Ave. to Butler, and the other way around, which might feel weird given they’re drastically different neighborhoods. That’s how I did both this and the 18. However, for the purpose of both posts, I’ll be doing them separately. The 40 begins at Kennedy Plaza at bus stop I, and goes straight once the light turns green. From here, we enter the East Side tunnel and pop out at Thayer Street.

When we popped out, we took a right down Thayer Street (one-way!) and a left down Waterman Street. From here, we kept going until we reached Wayland Square, then took a left onto Wayland Street and a right onto Elmgrove Avenue. As we went down Elmgrove Ave., it was primarily McMansions and houses that are way too expensive for me to afford in a lifetime. We did pass Brown Stadium, though! Eventually, though, we took a right down Rochambeau Avenue and reached Blackstone Boulevard.

From here, it was a straight shot into Butler’s campus, as we were let off at one of the buildings. And, I must admit it’s quite a nice campus. Certainly a nice place to take a walk at. Certainly a stark contrast to the route it interlines with (the 18)!

The good: It serves the East Side! It’s also pretty much the only way into and out of Butler by transit. There’s also direct access to Brown’s football stadium, and it’s largely scenic (if you count historic McMansions as such).

The bad: I guess the biggest negative I can think of for this route is that it doesn’t run on weekends. There’s also the hourly schedule, which during the winter months can be a bit of an issue depending on how cold it is.

Nearby points of interest: The East Side! Thayer Street and Wayland Square for sure. There’s also Brown Stadium if you’re into college sports. And of course, Butler Hospital and Blackstone Boulevard.

Overall, this route isn’t all that terrible. The real drawback is the fact it doesn’t run on weekends. It’s also hourly, but the 235 weekday passengers that ride the route probably isn’t enough to justify higher frequency, and probably not enough to justify weekend service either. Although, given that Brown Stadium is along the route, I do wonder if there could be a shuttle program between Brown and Kennedy Plaza for sporting events, presumably ran by Brown solo or under a joint agreement with RIPTA. Only downside, though, is if you miss the bus at Butler, you’re going to be waiting a while.

Rating: 6.5/10