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All the D trolleys are fine; it's the tree on the wires messing up the line

By adamg on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 8:39am
Removing the branch on an overhead wire on the Green Line.

Branch removal on the D Line. Photo by MBTA.

A tree limb that obeyed the law of gravity right onto the overhead power lines at Brookline Hills is causing all sorts of grief on the Riverside Line this morning.

Deirdre reports that her trolley stopped at Beaconsfield and the driver urged people to walk over to the C Line.

Neighborhoods: 
Brookline
Topics: 
The T
Free tagging: 
Riverside Line
D Line


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Comments

By lbb on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 9:20am.

...but I see National Grid (or their contractors, rather) all the time, trimming back trees near power lines. They're really proactive. Compared to what they have to manage, the D line is just not that big a deal. I know that the answer is "the same reason the MBTA can't do anything", but why can't this be dealt with?

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By Realist on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 10:31am.

every year, the MBTA tries to cut back trees and tree limbs that may pose a hazard...and every year, residents in Brookline complain to elected officials that the MBTA is engaged in a military-like 'scorched earth' program. so every year, the T is stopped from doing any meaningful work to keep the trees and limbs clear from the tracks and wires

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By lbb on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 1:16pm.

That's unfortunate, if true. Got a cite for that?

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By anon on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 2:38pm.

The T has done a thorough job of clearing the right of way but trees from abutters overhang, sometimes well beyond the wires..

Many seem to be ash, which is common. But it has this troublesome habit of dropping large limbs as it ages. This led medieval Brits to call it 'the widow maker'.

And now may are at risk from the Emerald Ash Borer.

Beyond that particular species issue is the broader realm of tree encroachment law.

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By issacg on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 10:25am.

If you haven't heard about it, USDOT is doing something that I think is remarkable in general, and remarkably smart given the current environment.

The have "turned over" their Instagram account to the public to post pictures of our crumbling infrastructure during the congressional recess in an effort to get those obstinate fools to pay attention.

I expect UHubbers to lead the pack!

Details here:
https://www.transportation.gov/fastlane/show-us-your-infrawear

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By anon on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 12:26pm.

Am I missing something, or is that photo of an ETS bus on the US DOT instagram account actually from the Edmonton Transit System... in CANADA?

You heard it here first. This could become a big scandal.

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By anon on Fri, 08/07/2015 - 8:36am.

Yep; here's an Edmonton bus from Wikipedia.

It's not like they couldn't find an out-of-service bus around here, for example.

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