Public Transit – Page 25 – chelsea's corner

Bridgeport (Metro-North/GBT/Amtrak)

Oh boy. This one’s a biggie. So, we have an Amtrak station in the largest city in Connecticut, and it’s hardly used on that front. But on the Metro-North front, it’s very heavily used. So, let’s take a look. This one’s gonna be long.

Damn, that screen can take quite the beating!

So, let’s start things off with the GBT bus terminal. It’s well-lit, modern, and has a direct (albeit long) on-foot connection to the southbound platform. Furthermore, all the berths are clearly labelled so no guesswork has to be done. Would be nice if they had schedule info here, though.

The entrance to the bus terminal from the train station

The waiting area. Yes, that’s a Dunkin’!

From here, after burning my eyes out with the dots on the buses, I went back and into the station building. On the inbound side, you have the restrooms, an MTA Police booth, an MTA information booth (unstaffed), a Quik-Trak machine, a cafe, and access to the parking garage and Water Street. The station building itself is actually located directly above Water St., so that’s cool.

Access between the platforms is done via an underpass, which also provides more street access. Elevators are also found here, as well as solicitors.

On the other side, you have a much smaller waiting room, with another ticket machine and schedule info. Not much to say here aside from the views of the Pequonnock River (try saying that 5 times over quickly!) and the interstate. Now, the platforms. You’ve got a lot of benches here, and it’s all fully sheltered. Yay! Furthermore, it’s pretty good for railfanning as you have the sharp curve coming from Stratford to the north (it’s like that to avoid the hockey arena), and a significant amount of trains. I was here during rush hour and was taken aback at just the sheer amount of trains within a 10 minute span (at least 7-8!) You still have the view of the river, but with how things are you can’t get too many good shots of trains with the river. Street access to Water St. can also be had from here as well, by way of stairs.

The good: It’s got plenty of amenities! Restaurant on-site, ticket machines, the Quik-Trak, bathrooms, a fully sheltered platform, even direct sheltered access to the bus terminal! Furthermore, it’s an amazing station to foam at, with shots of the trains coming around the curve. Plus, the fact the inbound waiting area is above Water St. is a cool thing as well, along with the shots of the river and I-95.

The bad: Why isn’t there a layover track for Waterbury trains? That’s probably the worst thing about this station.

Nearby points of interest: Downtown Bridgeport and the hockey arena!

Transit connections:
Amtrak (Northeast Regional, Vermonter)
Metro-North (New Haven, Waterbury Lines)
Port Jefferson Ferry
GBT (all)
Coastal Link
Various intercity buses
Prison (via MTA police)

Overall, it’s not a bad station. Probably among the best I’ve checked out so far. It’s like someone took the foamability of Canton Junction and gave it the amenities of Route 128 and the transit accessibility of Forest Hills, and threw it into Connecticut. This is, quite possibly, among my favorite stations.

Rating: 8.5/10

South Norwalk (Metro-North)

So, from the middle of absolutely nowhere, to the heart of a small city (kinda). Let’s look at South Norwalk.

So, getting off the WHEELS bus (no entries on that yet!), I made my way up towards the station. Wait, oh crap I got off the wrong spot. Turns out, you don’t enter through the parking garage like at Wickford Junction. So, some more walking later, and finally I found the entrance to the platforms. And there’s a station building here, too! Sweet!

Of course, it’s your standard Metro-North affair, but the platforms are configured in a slightly more unusual way. With it being the terminal for the Danbury Line, the trains need somewhere to lay over. So, that’s where the extra tracks and the partial islands come in. Tracks 1 and 2 are your standard express tracks, mostly for Amtrak and express trains. Tracks 3 and 4 are used for trains to New Haven and Grand Central, while tracks 5 and 6 are used for Danbury trains. Here’s a visual from Wikipedia.

Aside from the Shore Line East (which doesn’t stop here), this is what each track is used for

So, how’s the station itself? Well, the platforms are your standard affair with benches, a Pepsi vending machine, ticket machines, and a parking machine to pay for parking. Inside the station, you have some vending machines, plus bathrooms which are only open during morning and evening rush hour periods. The inside of the station looks nice though, with waiting areas on either side, connected by an underpass.

The tracks towards Westport and Merritt 7

A long Danbury train. Long enough to not fit on the siding, I guess.

The good: It’s pretty much in downtown Norwalk! Furthermore, you also have Norwalk WHEELS deviating in here with every route that serves the station. Parking is (as far as I can tell) aplenty, and you even have two nice indoor waiting areas. Plus, it’s also the terminus for Danbury trains, so one could transfer between lines here.

The bad: That said, sometimes the platform listing is only a suggestion, as the Danbury train above was too long to fit on track 5. It’s also a bit of a ways away from the WHEELS Hub, and the locked bathroom is annoying.

Nearby points of interest: If you’re willing to walk a little, downtown Norwalk is nearby! You also have the Sono Collection shopping center and the aquarium nearby.

Transit connections:
Metro-North (Danbury, New Haven)
Norwalk WHEELS (9, 10, 11)

Overall, it’s a nice station. In a way, it reminds me of Wickford Junction, but with actual service. And, unlike some other stations, it’s properly set up to handle branch services. It’s also centrally located in Norwalk so one could get here without much hassle.

Rating: 7.5/10

Green’s Farms (Metro-North)

Hey kids! Ever wanted to be in what seemed like the middle of absolutely NOWHERE, but also with the sound of I-95 whirring about in the background?! Well now you can, at GREEN’S FARMS!!!

Alrighty, so first off, the platform situation is much the same as Stratford. You’ve got a mostly sheltered inbound side, and a bus shelter on the outbound side. Benches are everywhere, though! Plus, there’s what appears to be a cafe in the station building, but as far as I can tell it’s only open on weekday mornings during rush hour. Otherwise, all you get is a Pepsi vending machine. Ticket machines are also on the inbound platform.

As for parking, it’s obviously a park & ride, so it’s aplenty. Some spaces were left unused, but the vast majority of them were taken up. It’s also an alright spot for rail foaming, if you’re into that. However, I’d instead recommend another place, such as Bridgeport or South Norwalk, if the weather is bad.

The good: Well, it’s a decent enough spot for foaming! Plus, there’s plenty of parking and it’s pretty much right off I-95, so there’s that. Unfortunately…

The bad: If you want to get anywhere, you gotta go at least half a mile. By car it isn’t bad, as the interstate is only a mile and a half away. On foot, though, it’s a mile and a half to US-1. Yeah. This station’s pretty much in no man’s land. And, as for accessibility, it’s dubious at best. Yes, there’s level boarding, but good luck changing sides. Service here is also largely neutered vs. the rest of the New Haven Line, being a train an hour, vs. at least 2-3 on the rest of the line

Nearby points of interest: There’s a beach nearby if you’re willing to walk half a mile!

Transit connections:
Metro-North (New Haven Line)

Overall, it’s literally just a park & ride. I got nothing much to say about it. It’s also got neutered service, but given the fact ridership as-is is high enough, if service is to increase, there should be a shuttle that runs to here and times with trains. Or, just go to Westport if you need midday service.

Rating: 5.5/10

Stratford (Metro-North)

Oh boy, a Metro-North station! Yeah, the next several entries are going to be Metro-North. Anyways, let’s get into Stratford!

So, like the rest of Metro-North’s New Haven Line, Stratford is fully high-level. However, the platform’s a little short, as on the train ride here, the conductor came on and announced that doors would NOT open on the last two cars. Yikes.

Of course, what does the station have? It’s just your standard Metro-North affair with ticket machines, a vending machine, trash, and benches. Of course, the southbound platform is fully sheltered while the northbound one only has a small shelter. While annoying, this makes sense since most people here are going towards Grand Central, not New Haven. Fortunately, the station is technically accessible by way of ramps up to the platforms. However, crossing over isn’t really the most accessible, just like Milford. But, since the sidewalk is a little flatter, at least it’s easier.

And the station building, turned into a restaurant

The good: It’s quite close to where most of the things in Stratford are. It’s also close to the interstate as well, so one could theoretically use it as a park & ride. Furthermore, it’s your standard Metro-North affair of having garbage bins and benches on the entirety of the platform, along with a ticket machine. It’s also a transfer point with some Waterbury trains.

The bad: The lack of an inbound shelter, and the questionable accessibility. Hell, wouldn’t it be easier to just install an elevator to sidewalk level on both sides?

Nearby points of interest: The national helicopter museum on the outbound side! There’s also a bar on the inbound side, but I’m not sure how good their food is. The Docks is also nearby, along with a Dunkin’ and a Cumberland Farms.

Transit connections:
Metro-North (New Haven, Waterbury)
GBT (23)
Coastal Link

Overall, it’s an alright station. Worse than Milford? Not really. But, I wouldn’t say it’s much better either. In a sense, I guess it’s just a copy-paste and not much else.

Rating: 6/10

Norwalk WHEELS Hub

The WHEELS on the bus go round n’ rou- oh, not that kind of wheels? Oh, ok. 🙁

Whelp, that’s it. That’s literally all of the Wheels Hub. What ya see is what ya get. Now, it isn’t the worst thing in the world, but the biggest gripe is that the berths are haphazardly labelled with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Fortunately, however, you do get some seating and a little bit of shelter. But, as far as I can tell it isn’t heated. Also unfortunate, and I ain’t gonna sugarcoat it, there’s also a number of homeless people sleeping here. Make of that as you wish. Oh, there’s also a dot matrix sign that lists departures! Neat!

The good: It’s got labelled berths and countdown clocks! For a small-ish RTA like Norwalk WHEELS, I honestly would’ve expected less. But, hey, it’s a nice thing to have! Plus, the system operates on a pulse schedule (where all routes, excepting the Coastal Link, leave at the same time, guaranteeing connections with one another)

The bad: I mean, the lack of an information booth can be quite offputting. And, for an RTA’s central hub, I would’ve thought some kind of an indoor waiting area would’ve been halfway decent. Also, be ready to inhale the occasional diesel fume from the Danbury Branch’s diesel locomotives from time to time.

Nearby points of interest: Pretty much all of Norwalk! You also got CTtransit’s 341 to Stamford and the Coastal Link to Bridgeport and Milford. A short ride to South Norwalk’s Metro-North station can also get one to either New Haven, Grand Central, or Danbury.

Transit connections:
Norwalk Transit (most routes)
Coastal Link
CTtransit (341)

Overall, it’s a serviceable transfer point. It’s not the best, and quite truthfully I’m sure worse exists. It’s a central hub for a small RTA, and it also serves as an inter-system transfer between the Coastal Link, CTtransit, and Norwalk Transit. Just be ready for the occasional Brookville, EMD, or GE diesel locomotive to pass under the nearby overpass.

Rating: 4.5/10

BONUS:

Andrew (Red Line)

Who’s Andrew, anyways? I don’t know of anyone named Andrew. But, apparently they named a station after him.

So, the busway is brick, and you get six bus routes and the limited service 171 that comes twice at the crack of dawn. Plus, it’s sheltered, which is nice. Inside the mezzanines are wide open, with not much to ring home about. Just some CharlieCard machines and a bridge over the Red Line tracks for crossovers.

The platform itself is also nothing to ring home about, aside from it’s a hair bit dingy. Yeah, I don’t have much here.

The good: Well, you got bus connections! And the bus area is fully sheltered. Yeah, I can’t think of too much here.

The bad: It just seems kinda generic. Kinda dingy, not much to say about this place overall. It also feels a little dated.

Nearby points of interest: You’ve got the South Bay Center if you want to make a treacherous walk! If you’re a rail foamer, you’ve also got the Southampton St. yard here as well.

Transit connections:
Red Line (Ashmont, Braintree)
MBTA bus (9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 171, CT3)

Overall, it’s average. Meh.

Rating: 5/10

Charles/MGH (Red Line)

They say this station can get you a nice view of the Boston skyline. Well, not really, if it’s a rainy day. Oh well!

So, in contrast to most (all, to my awareness, actually) Red Line stations, Charles is elevated above a roundabout at the start of the Longfellow Bridge, which crosses, you guessed, the Charles River. Going inside, the mezzanine has stairs, an escalator (which is out of service), and an elevator for accessibility. Oh yeah, it’s pretty much all glass. Exits here go out towards Charles and Cambridge Streets, and the Esplanade. As for future plans with the station, there’s talks of extending the Blue Line out here and converting it into a transfer station with an underground platform, presumably with access within fare control.

The good: It’s cool to have an elevated station! You’ve also got Mass General Hospital nearby along with the parks along the Charles River. It also just looks cool.

The bad: It’s located in the middle of a damn intersection! Have fun hailing Mary and praying you don’t end up at MGH!

Nearby points of interest: MGH and the parks!

Transit connections: Red Line (Ashmont, Braintree)

Overall, it’s a nice station. Better that it’s elevated. However, the major problem with this are the lack of a Blue Line transfer and the fact it’s in the middle of an intersection.

Rating: 9/10

Nubian (Silver Line)

Alrighty, another “station”. But, fortunately, this one’s actually more of a proper station than a dinky lil’ bus shelter along a non-BRT route. So, how is Nubian?

So, it’s complex enough to where some of the berths aren’t exactly clearly labelled. Furthermore, this is the main bus station for central Roxbury. It also feels a bit dark, despite the absurd amounts of lighting, though that’s probably because it was a rainy day when I was here. So, what else is there? There’s a transit police kiosk here, and a “Dudley Station Bus Finder” from …2007?! Yikes.

The good: Well, it’s kinda cool they used parts of the old Orange Line station to build this. Furthermore, you can’t say ridership is bad because this place was CROWDED (even though the pictures don’t do it justice). It’s also centrally located in Roxbury.

The bad: It’s kinda dark with the lighting being useless during the day! I’m sure it’s there to discourage crime, since it’s not in the best of areas, but still it’s kinda useless. Furthermore, why isn’t the Silver Line in its own ROW outside mixed traffic here?! Now, I know, that’s a major complaint with the Silver Line as a whole but still. Also, why is the station map from 2007?! There’s also no amenities that I could find.

Nearby points of interest: Not much at first glance, but you have the Roxbury branch of the Boston Public Library, though!

Transit connections:
Silver Line (SL4, SL5)
MBTA bus (various)

Overall, I’d argue this place is pretty much Boston’s Kennedy Plaza. If you’re comfortable at Kennedy Plaza, you’ll likely be comfortable here. That said, unlike KP, there’s no bathrooms or, to my awareness, benches or seats.

Rating: 6.5/10

North Quincy (Red Line)

Ah, another Quincy station. At least, this one isn’t as large as the others, so it should be a quick one.

So, of course, the platform seems a bit small getting off the train, but that’s likely due to the simple fact it’s a relatively small island platform sandwiched in Quincy. Ridership isn’t high thankfully, so the station isn’t overkill. There’s also a small mezzanine area where fare control is, along with CharlieCard machines. There’s a shelter on the platform, along with a small busway serving four (relatively infrequent) routes. The mezzanine might also be an alright place if one wants to foam the Old Colony Lines while still being safe from the elements, but mileage may vary on that.

The Red Line, with Old Colony to the side

Towards Boston, from Braintree. And a parking garage.

The good: It’s got two entrances (the other of which I have reasons to believe is much of the same), one from the street and the other from the parking garage. Furthermore, it’s relatively walkable vs. Quincy Adams and Braintree. Being in a residential area, it’s largely got ridership locally rather than from afar.

The bad: The platforms can get a little tight. This place also feels like a time capsule in a not so good way. And lastly, it’s just so damn far from JFK/UMASS.

Nearby points of interest: There’s a Target here! If you’re willing to walk approx. half a mile, you can also get to the beach from here.

Transit connections:
Red Line (Braintree)
MBTA bus (210, 211, 215, 217)

Overall, it’s alright and functional, but it’s just so very dated. Just, please give this one a reskin.

Rating: 6/10

Alewife (Red Line)

I’m not exactly sure if what I said in the Quincy Adams entry about it being the largest park & ride on the system is true, as Alewife is a pretty good contender for 1st place in that regard. Nevertheless, here’s the northern terminus of the Red Line.

So the platform is, as with the other termini, double-tracked with both tracks being inbound towards Downtown Crossing and Park Street. It might be a little dingy, but it’s not really that bad, plus the station is well-lit. The ceilings are raised, with the mezzanine reminding me a little of Braintree’s and Quincy Adams’. But, that’s because this and the South Shore extension were built at the same time. There’s also plenty of parking in the garage, and a Dunkin’ as well. On top of all this there’s also a Pedal & Park and a busway for all of five routes. Better than Braintree’s 2 in that it’s at least built to size.

The stairs up to the various parking levels

A bit disorienting, but not as bad as Quincy Adams

The same dated train, from above this time

The good: It’s spurred some transit-oriented development! Plus, there’s Russell Field and some parks in the area. Plus, there’s a neat sculpture out by the Cambridgepark Drive entrance. I’m not too familiar with the area though, so nothing stands out at first glance to me. Sorry!

The bad: I mean, the bus service is a bit lackluster from what I can find, but that’s about it for the worst I can think of.

Nearby points of interest: Russell Field is the only standout. There’s also some transit-oriented development.

Transit connections:
Red Line (Ashmont, Braintree)
MBTA bus (62, 76, 62/76, 67, 350)

Overall, it’s alright as a park & ride. Plus, unlike Quincy Adams, it’s well-built in the area surrounding it as well, so in a sense it’s better.

Rating: 7.5/10