🚀 go-pugleaf

>Does anyone know why, at Harvard Square, Outbound is up and Inbound is
>down, but at Porter Square, Outbound is down and Inbound is up?

   Well, I can surmise about Porter Square.  That great escalator leaves
you on the inbound (Mass Ave. and aboveground station) side of the tracks.
In order to get at both platforms, there would (among other options)
have to be a bridge over the nearer tracks to get at the farther
tracks.  Thus, you walk in on the second level, walk over the outbound
tracks, and now have access to both directions.
   I believe construction-wise this is much cheaper than having a
complete bridge-and-stair setup in the middle (like Davis), or trying
to cut through the top with the main escalator or another stair.  Plus,
aesthetically (those architects!) it's more pleasant to have the
boring tube broken up by the stepped platforms.

						Michael

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Michael J. Saletnik, Tufts University E'91 G'93  / I reserve the right
Department of Civil Engineering Computer Lab TA / to be utterly and
michael@binkley.ext.tufts.edu (daily uucp)     / completely wrong.