Idle MBTA Plans

Everyone who has the slightest interest in planning has thought, "I would do this instead." Whether we are railfans, commuters, tourists who liked the trains they rode on holiday, trolley maniacs (sparkers), or professional planners we all have ideas, many of which are not bound by budgets of physics. Today's Boston Globe (17 May 13) has a front page about how the Fairmont Line isn't good enough. Of course it isn't finished, and a few months ago people in the same neighborhoods (the ass end of Dorchester) were grousing about how bad the buses are. So I looked up the background of the project, and decided I wouldn't have done anything different, considering the limitations the T has to work within.

 Then I thought, what would I do, money no object? Blue Hill Avenue subway- north from Mattapan, split at Warren St, Grove Hall, one line to Dudley and Roxbury Crossing, one to Andrew (Red Line). 
But why branch? Why not just go to Dudley and join the Future Urban Ring?

 Here is my rough Urban Ring route- starting under South Boston proper (maybe City Point) to Andrew, Dudley, Roxbury Crossing, somewhere in the Longwood Medical Area (not D branch Longwood), probably Kenmore (transfer to B, C, and D Green Line- don't see a better option), north to Central, Union Sq Somerville, Sullivan/Assembly/Wellington (can't decide), an Everett station, Chelsea,and Airport. The Silver Line South Sta. to Logan is good enough for now, which is why I wouldn't continue back to Southie.

 I see the long stretch of MIT, Longwood, and Dudley as growing or future employment centers. Union and Chelsea are ripe for development. Logan might get more passengers, but not many more jobs, and at some point it will have to close at high tide, making a new airport (cue Hanscom) inevitable.

 And I would extend the Blue Line to Lynn, as promised since the 1940s, probably by running next to the former Eastern RR main. And west- to a Charles/MGH under, an MIT station on Mass Ave, N. Harvard @ Western for Allston and the Harvard facilities, Arsenal near the mall, Watertown Sq, downtown Waltham, and since we love to extend subways out to 128, a relocated Brandeis/Roberts station with requisite massive parking garage tied into a rebuilt Route 20/Post Rd exit. A large, nearly empty tract of land exists there. I have no idea why, it could be a solid granite hill, conservation land, or Brandeis might own it for expansion.

 While I'm at it, tie Needham into the Green Line, run the Orange down through West Roxbury (not sure how to tie into 128), and I'd like to see Medford Sq get rails. No street running 'cars, better buses as in longer/more standing room, and trolleybuses on the busiest routes.

Teacher Seniority

There is a story in today's Globe  about teachers' unions disagreements about ending teacher seniority.  Since I cannot leave a comment on their website I'll put it here.

The three worst high school teachers I had, had the most seniority.  One was a not past-it, but never there former football coach.  I was his favorite because all we did was play trivia quizzes and I aced them.  His colleagues dipped into department funds to buy out his contract, just to get rid of him.  "Cut my budget and raise my teaching load?  Where do I sign?"

Then we had a French teacher who was a great years before, but lapsed into indifference.  He lived in Manchester and taped Hollywood movies dubbed into French from CKSH.  We watched "Shining: L'enfant lumière" complete with ads for the Sherbrooke Pontiac dealer on numerous occasions.


Then we had an English teacher who would pick out a few un-favorites and give them grief, always threatening to fail us (I was one victim) because 4 years of English is a requirement in New Hampshire.  One friend transferred out because there was another class in his period.  One day she sent me to the principal to have me kicked out.  I said no because I was goddamned if I was going to spend another year in school.  The principal called my father with the line "we've never had a complaint about this teacher" which I knew from older students was bullshit.  The principal, known for stern discipline, slowly slumped in his chair and turned ashen as my father reamed him out over the phone.  Result- I stayed, my grade went from 50 to 96; she stayed and pulled the same theatrics the next year.   


And don't forget the calculus teacher who was more concerned that we copy down what she wrote than understand it.  The guy with the best grade ignored her and read the textbook instead.  I never thought of a textbook as a cohesive text before.


All 30 year veterans.


On the other hand, we had a great English teacher who actually cared that we do well.  She got the sack after her first and only year because it was "last in, first out" for the pension patriots.  That was in 1991.  Who knows if this dedicated, caring woman ever taught again, public or private?   How many thousands more teaching graduates will never get the chance to shine, toiling in the drudgery of temping and waitressing while the hacks pack their pension.


Keeping seniority will doom whatever sprigs of hope pop up in public education, and forever engrave "Those who can, do,  Those who can't, teach" into America's future.