🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <l78j13INNa0j@news.bbn.com> rnewman@bbn.com (Ron Newman) writes:
<In article <1992Jul27.165021.26470@cbnewsl.cb.att.com>, jlacey@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (james.w.lacey) writes:
<|> While we're at it, does anyone know where the Green Line "A" branch
<|> went?  (We now have B/C/D/E branches.)  If there was an "A"
<|> branch, when was it discontinued?
<The "A" branch went to Watertown Square.
<Service on this branch ended in 1969.  I really don't know why.
<The tracks are still there.  Maybe someone else knows more?

        As I recall, the A line was shut down "temporarily" during a
budget crises and never re-opened.

The tracks are there because:

        a) They still use the yard at Watertown square for repairs and
           work by non-union contractors.
        b) It would cost 4-6 million to remove them.*

They don't re-open the line because:

        a) Some merchants are opposed to parking bans that would be
           needed in some places, like Brighton Center.
        b) Some Brighton residents are afraid it would cause Allston
           (the way of life, not the geographic area) to expand
           (further) into Brighton.
        c) It would cost about 55 million to "modernize"/refurbish the
           tracks.*
        
        *The cost figures come from a recent article in the Globe or
one of the Watertown papers (I don't remember).  It is a current issue
because the towns of Newtown and Watertown want the tracks removed
from Galin St., because of the high number of accidents the tracks
reportedly cause.

	Me, I'd like to see the street cars back.  I think they are
cool.  Other people argue the points of:

	* Cleaner.
	* Quieter.
	* More frequent (but you could just run more buses).
	* More convenient/Cheaper (no transfer at Kenmore).

->Spike