{"id":1760,"date":"2019-02-03T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-02-03T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1760"},"modified":"2019-02-01T16:39:54","modified_gmt":"2019-02-01T21:39:54","slug":"why-is-there-no-a-branch-on-bostons-green-line-subway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/03\/why-is-there-no-a-branch-on-bostons-green-line-subway\/","title":{"rendered":"“Why is there no ‘A’ Branch on Boston’s Green Line transit?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Boston’s street-level, light-rail, “Green Line” has B, C, D, and E Branches. Reader Kevin McCullough* asks: “Why is there no ‘A’ Branch,”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was, originally. It ran to Watertown and incorporated some of the oldest street-transit lines in Boston, dating back to pre-electric, horse-drawn streetcars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today’s B Branch split off from it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But the tracks were set right into the street surface; there was no island or curb or buffer to separate the tracks from traffic in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This made trolly service slow, unpredictable, and dangerous for everyone \u2014 for passengers getting on or off in traffic; for pedestrians slipping on wet or frosty rails; for motorcyclists and bicyclists getting wheels caught in the track recesses or losing traction on the steel; for cars and trucks sharing space with trolleys and vice versa\u2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebuilding the line to modern standards was deemed too expensive and difficult, so the line was shut down in the late 1960\u2019s; the tracks were removed and paved over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former A Line route is now mostly served by buses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green Line “A” Branch – Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TBT: When the T Was Color-Coded<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Permalink: https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1760<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

*Want to ask Fred a question? Have a comment? Click here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want free notification of new content like this? Click here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Boston’s street-level, light-rail, “Green Line” has B, C, D, and E Branches. Reader Kevin McCullough* asks: “Why is there no ‘A’ Branch,” There was, originally. It ran to Watertown and incorporated some of the oldest street-transit lines in Boston, dating back to pre-electric, horse-drawn streetcars. Today’s B Branch split off from it: But the tracks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-reader-asks","category-around-boston"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-so","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1568,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/06\/a-reader-asks-how-bad-is-the-traffic-in-boston-ma\/","url_meta":{"origin":1760,"position":0},"title":"A reader asks: “How bad is the traffic in Boston, MA?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-01-06","format":false,"excerpt":"As with any city, there are places and times when traffic is bad; and places and times when it's not. Without more specificity to your question, it's really not answerable. But here's how you can find out: Open Google Maps for Boston, and enable the traffic layer; Google Maps will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Boston-traffic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Boston-traffic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Boston-traffic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Boston-traffic.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1471,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/23\/a-reader-asks-why-are-the-squirrels-in-boston-common-so-fat\/","url_meta":{"origin":1760,"position":1},"title":"A reader asks: “Why are the squirrels in Boston Common so fat?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-23","format":false,"excerpt":"They are exceedingly well fed. Boston hosts something around 20 million visitors each year. About 3 million of them walk the Freedom Trail, which starts at Boston Common. There also are many public events in the Common \u2014 concerts, fireworks, festivals, political gatherings, celebrations, etc. \u2014 throughout the year, which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":762,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/20\/a-reader-asks-what-are-some-tips-and-tricks-for-getting-the-most-out-of-using-the-boston-t\/","url_meta":{"origin":1760,"position":2},"title":"A reader asks: What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of the Boston T?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-10-20","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of using the Boston T? (via Quora) A: Here are three things I've learned. Manage The Costs: Use a CharlieCard instead of paper tickets. The NFC-based CharlieCards are free (ask at any Info kiosk), speed your entry to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1195,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/01\/a-reader-asks-why-havent-chicago-new-york-and-boston-produced-tech-hubs-like-silicon-valley\/","url_meta":{"origin":1760,"position":3},"title":"A reader asks: Why haven’t Chicago, New York, and Boston produced tech hubs like Silicon Valley?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-01","format":false,"excerpt":"Q. Why haven't Chicago, New York, and Boston produced tech hubs like Silicon Valley? (via Quora) A: Ha! Boston has been and still is a major tech hub. In fact, Boston was the US's first, and thus is also its oldest high-tech hub, starting all the way back with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":945,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/04\/a-reader-asks-why-does-boston-have-so-many-universities-compared-to-other-cities\/","url_meta":{"origin":1760,"position":4},"title":"A reader asks: Why does Boston have so many universities compared to other cities?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-11-04","format":false,"excerpt":"A reader asks: \"Why does Boston have so many universities compared to other cities?\" Boston benefits from almost 400 years of continual investment in education. For example, Harvard University was founded in 1636, just six years after Boston itself. That wasn\u2019t an accident: From its founding, up to the American\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":942,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/24\/a-reader-asks-why-are-so-many-people-from-boston-so-quick-witted-and-quippy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1760,"position":5},"title":"A reader asks: Why are so many people from Boston so quick-witted and quippy?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-11-24","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: Why are so many people from Boston so quick-witted and quippy? A: Overlooking that you forgot to add \"handsome, intelligent, and saintly,\" I'll try to answer your question: I think it's the local emphasis on education. Boston's culture is in part the result of over 400 years of continual\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Around Boston..."","block_context":{"text":"Around Boston...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/around-boston\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1760"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1913,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760\/revisions\/1913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}