Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Lynn: how much, home, income)

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by bohemka

Where is "up there"? Lynn? I agree. Not many people wearing masks.

I think by "up there", the poster was referring to Massachusetts.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

The T had projected fare revenues to reach 60 percent of pre-COVID levels by mid-year 2021. Now that level will not be reached until the beginning of 2022 under the most optimistic scenario with relatively little telecommuting.

That ain't good. I'd say goodbye to South Coast rail, glx to rt. 16, and quite a few other projects they've been kicking around.

I haven't read the contracts to see if they can be delayed or canceled but the South Coast Rail contracts for the main line to New Bedford with all the track work and construction of Middleborough, East Taunton, and the two New Bedford stations, a layover area in New Bedford, along with the track work were awarded in August. The smaller Fall River branch line contract was awarded last June. This is state capital spending with a big chunk of Federal COVID-19 relief funds and not part of the MBTA operating budget.



I don't see how they can stop the project without giving back the Federal money. There will be lots of yellow construction equipment and guys in hard hats in New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and Middleborough.

[bohemka]

Originally Posted by porterhouse

Have you been spending time in Lynn? I was there the past 2 weekends, and everyone I saw was actually wearing a mask.

I spend a lot of time in Lynn. I don't see many masks other than at or around food establishments or shops. The folks otherwise walking around and hanging out are very often without masks. In my observations at least. It's not a knock on Lynn, if that's how it came across.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

I haven't read the contracts to see if they can be delayed or canceled but the South Coast Rail contracts for the main line to New Bedford with all the track work and construction of Middleborough, East Taunton, and the two New Bedford stations, a layover area in New Bedford, along with the track work were awarded in August. The smaller Fall River branch line contract was awarded last June. This is state capital spending with a big chunk of Federal COVID-19 relief funds and not part of the MBTA operating budget.



I don't see how they can stop the project without giving back the Federal money. There will be lots of yellow construction equipment and guys in hard hats in New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and Middleborough.

I hope there is a way out. It would take funds from a project that was of questionable need and put them towards life support measures. I can't imagine what updated ridership projections for this line would be at now. I'd say boondoggle on scale of 1 to 10.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

I hope there is a way out. It would take funds from a project that was of questionable need and put them towards life support measures. I can't imagine what updated ridership projections for this line would be at now. I'd say boondoggle on scale of 1 to 10.

It depends how much of this is grant funded vs operating. It's very hard to siphon off funding from grants. It's much easier if it's operating. In many cases spending takes awhile. ARRA (recovery act) funding took years before bidding and construction. To note CRRC's rail cars are delayed a year but the MBTA has not cancelled the order.

I've seen situations like this time and again where something grant based took awhile and then a recession hit but then others got confused as to what is the local or state government and what isn't.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

I haven't read the contracts to see if they can be delayed or canceled but the South Coast Rail contracts for the main line to New Bedford with all the track work and construction of Middleborough, East Taunton, and the two New Bedford stations, a layover area in New Bedford, along with the track work were awarded in August. The smaller Fall River branch line contract was awarded last June. This is state capital spending with a big chunk of Federal COVID-19 relief funds and not part of the MBTA operating budget.

I don't see how they can stop the project without giving back the Federal money. There will be lots of yellow construction equipment and guys in hard hats in New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and Middleborough.

South Coast Rail is in before the cuts. That funding has been issued and is unrelated to any of the budget shortfalls the MBTA is facing in the coming years. Is Phase II (which would electrify it and run it through Stoughton thus speeding up trip time and opening the door for more frequent trains) in jeopardy? Absolutely. But the pandemic and current MBTA shortfalls won't stop the South Coast Rail project at this point.

[msRB311]

827 new cases today. Highest number since the spring. Yesterday's number was in the 700s.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by msRB311

827 new cases today. Highest number since the spring. Yesterday's number was in the 700s.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-da...-2020/download

^The graph on page 5 says we had a 864 day on Sept 28th?

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by lrfox

South Coast Rail is in before the cuts. That funding has been issued and is unrelated to any of the budget shortfalls the MBTA is facing in the coming years. Is Phase II (which would electrify it and run it through Stoughton thus speeding up trip time and opening the door for more frequent trains) in jeopardy? Absolutely. But the pandemic and current MBTA shortfalls won't stop the South Coast Rail project at this point.

Electrification certainly can make things faster. CT put theirs all along the coast which wasn't a bright idea. Maybe they might be able to sell off parts if they switch. I'm not saying diesel is better but electric mixed with rising sea water isn't a good combination. Reminds me the planned idea of Pittsfield to Greenfield to Fitchburg might not be off the table either depending on the scheduling.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-da...-2020/download

^The graph on page 5 says we had a 864 day on Sept 28th?

hmm not sure. The source i got this number from says today is the highest day since spring. I dont recall a number in the 800s in september...

I had a conference call with a group from a large pharma company based in chicago and they were all in the office. They said it's pretty contained there.