Trees Avenue Subway & The New Boga Island Bridge Moving Along

Metropolis, BR. May 1th 2016.

A Train tests the Clearance The Trees Ave Subway.

Hard to believe the Trees Avenue Subway construction has reached 3 years old since the first pile was driven into the ground. The tunnel were dug in the controversial cut-and-cover method which lead to reroute of cars, buses and trolleys along Midtown Metropolis's second busiest street. At Central Station, the former Amtrak coach yard was hollowed out and the new subway platforms were constructed. The platforms at Interfair and Blue Beach have been done for a while and now getting their fixtures while the ramps to the 22 Line & future new Bay Bridge for the 26 have been completed. The bridging over the bay waters and south shores of Boga Island are also completed with station shells already being erected. The wire poles are being shipped to the bay bridge construction site while MT tests the electricity inside the main Trees Avenue Subway Tunnel. Clearance trains have already penetrated the tracks of the tunnel 3 times with no issues other than dealing with diesel fumes that can not escape. Metropolis Transit is expected to ban diesel trains from the tunnel after the clearance trains have finished their job.

New Elevated Rails over the South Shore of Boga Island

The Boga Island Bay Bridge Upgrade and the new elevated track over the South Shore of Boga Island will speed up service on the 26 line 2%. A small but noticeable percentage since trains are no longer on the surface at risk of hitting a beach-goer. The current 26 "Elevated" Line runs completely on rebuilt trolley tracks who originally date back from the 1920s. While it was easier to run a trolley along the beach side, a full blown Elevated Train cannot stop on a dime like the trolleys did so many people have been killed or injured by the 26 train since it conversion from trolley in 1986. The section between Lizzy's Shops & Boga Beach Hotels was the most notorious. Train now must run at 20 MPH and blow their horn every 100 feet. While this method did help reduce the amount of train related accidents to almost none, it didn't help the line for it's second threat, hurricane surge. Sandy almost ate the 26 when it hit in October, 2012. The South Shore Elevated will now take tracks away from storm surge and potential ice hazards in the winter from ocean spray. The South Shore Elevated will open BEFORE the new Bay Bridge and Trees Avenue Subway, most likely around December of this year.

Interfair Convention Center Station on the Trees Ave Subway in May 2016.

Construction on the actual Trees Avenue Subway is also building up. The 22 & 26 line will benefit from a new structurally sound cut and cover tunnel under Trees Avenue taking them directly into the heart of Metropolis. With Central Station being in the Central Business District and Interfair Convention Center Station being in heart of Midtown Metropolis, this subway line is going to see high ridership from locals and tourist alike. Aside from the fact the 22 will actually go somewhere now, this now opens the door for more business growth to both the city and Boga Island. The tunnels were inspected as of April 27th, 2016 by the city and deem structurally sound to run train traffic. Since then, 3 clearance trains have used the line and all came back with positive feedback. The testing phase is set to being in October 2016, first with slow-speed signal tests, then with normal passenger service patterns. Metropolis Transit hopes to have the subway tunnel in service by New Year's Day 2018 thus relieving the 65 Line of it's heavy passenger traffic.

65 Riders, You Are Now Screwed. No El Service To Blue Beach Til' June.

April 23th, 2016. Metropolis, BR.

65 Trains Will Be Stopping Short For 2 Months at Bay of Silence Instead of Blue Beach.

In almost the same level of the botched Lindsay Blitz Project which forced riders of Metropolis's third busiest elevated rapid transit line on buses for half the route just to reconfigure the tracks and platform at one station, the 65 Elevated Line is now about to drop the ball for 2 months while they tear down and rebuild Blue Beach Terminal into a new Multi-modal transit center and a connection to the Trees Avenue Subway. Passnegers will be forced onto buses and the 36 Bus Line most likely will feel the brunt of this closure.

Blue Beach Transfer Will Never Look Like This Again.

The current station, know as Blue Beach Transfer, will be completely torn down. First the 65 elevated section will be the first to be torn down, followed by the 22 & 26 Platforms. The 65 will terminate short at Bay of Silence while a shuttle bus runs in a giant loop around Bay of Silence, Ran Mourie Plaza and Blue Beach and back to Bay of Silence in that order. Passengers wishing to go to Blue Beach must alight at Ran Mourie Plaza since the next station following is Blue Beach. This move is already criticized due to the launch failure of The Linday Blitz. MT was in bus shortage at the time and they tried to pull off the shuttle busing with limited service. It failed so bad, Great Grundolf Transportation lent Metropolis Transit buses for the duration of the "Blitz". Blue Beach Terminal would be different, buses running more frequently due to the importance of this project.

Borrowing Buses Isn't Happening This Time. 

Since The Lindsay Blitz in in November-December 2014, Metropolis Transit has received 25 new Hybrid Electric Articulated Buses which will be used for the The Blue Beach Blitz. 100 new Clean Diesel Articulated Buses and 40 Trackless Trolley Articulated Buses are also now part of the fleet giving Metropolis Transit more options for shuttle busing. While there was no bill to run the Great Grundolf Tranportation buses, MT is pay off insurance for a tornado damaged GGT bus from the January 2015 Southwest Tornado who destroyed the bus. The Blue Beach Blitz will not effect the 22 & 26 Line.

Trees Avenue Residents and Business Owner Sound Off About Subway

Metropolis, BR. January 26th 2015.

Trees Aveue Subway Construction At Waves-Meadow Loop. 

Months after the first tunnel shaft was dug under Waves-Meadow Loop, residents and business owners are sounding off about the proposed cut and cover construction of the Trees Avenue Subway. Plans to add a station at Trees & Interfair are making business owners nervous.

"Barriers, walls, gates, and anything you can name," said the owner of DeLavia's Pizza. They see it in New York City they claim. "2nd Avenue Subway, a mess! They want to do the same thing here."

Proposals of a Trees Avenue Subway was planned since 1982 but was never carried out due to budget constrains. Under the current plan, the 22 & 26 are planned to be sent into a tunnel under Waves-Meadow Loop and sidewander into Trees Avenue where trains will stop at The Interfair then continues into a new set a platforms adjecent to the Bridgerissa Commuter/Amtrak tracks at Metropolis Central Station. The proposal includes opening the street, digging the tunnel while the street is on wooden planks, the covering it up when the hole is dug and lined. It already causing protesst from the businesses.

The city council of Metropolis granted these business will get some sort of reperation for allowing the constuction in front of their store but for some stores it's not going to change the fact they will be losing business.

"We can't be sitting on our thumbs doing nothing," Frank Eglestien, GM of the 38c Clothing Store in front of The Interfair. "Fashion Week is set to begin in March and that's our cash cow. There is no way the money the city is paying us will cover any loses from Fashion Week."

Fashion Week is the biggest fashion convention held at The Interfair.

The 79 Is Now Free....Until January

Christine Beach, BR.

Both 79 Shuttle El Trains & Shuttle Buses are now free.

The 79 Elevated's "Lindsay Blitz" construction called for half of the elevated subway line to be shuttle buses at all times during the removal of tracks for new platforms. The shuttle buses ran on a schedule similar to trains but it was costing them time and often late due to rush hour traffic along Ocean & Christine Avenues. To add, the bus shortage of spare buses for shuttle buses called for 25 buses to be borrowed from Great Grundolf Transit for shuttle work. As of Monday morning, it was announced all shuttles will be free as well as the in service portion of the el. The wish has now been granted. The 79 from South Clubs to Exhibition Hall is now FREE from now until January 1st in order to help customer satisfaction.

The Lindsay Blitz Isn't Going Well

North Christine, BR.

Packed and often slow shuttle buses are infuriating riders.

The 79's Lindsay-Ocean Station prior to being torn down this week was the oldest elevated in Metropolis dating back to 1959 when the elevated bridge and station was built to bring trolleys over into Downtown instead of using the Christine Bridge that at time was planned on being tied into the I-626 construction. The station was later upgraded to a rapid transit (elevated subway) station in 1991 but kept the same structure while the rest of the line was built using a more effective three track method to run express service during the peak periods. Now at capacity, the two tracked 1959/1991 rebuilt station was torn down to make way for the new three track express station that will increase the amount of trains the line can run.

The catch? No elevated service for a week and only four days into the shut down people are speaking up and are not happy with the way Metropolis Transit is handling the shut down which also put the 3 trolley out of commission for it's last 3/4 mile of it's journey. Shuttle buses are criticized as packed, slow and ineffective for this type of shut down despite Metropolis Transit using all 60 foot articulated buses which hold more passengers.

Shuttle bus leaves Angelia-Ocean after carrying on load from a 79 train that just pulled in. 

"Keeping the El closed during rush hour is a big mistake, especially with all the congestion caused on the route, nobody is getting anywhere because the buses are on the street", one resident said. 

"It took me 2 and a half hours to get to work today, and it usually takes me a 5 minute bus ride and a 15 minute train ride," said another person who lives in Christine Beach. Traffic was the blame for that delay because of a accident  but still caused a backlashed. 

Crowding a rush hour 79 shuttle bus. 

Others also criticized the fact that running one 60 foot bus in the place of six 53 foot subway cars is not a proper way of moving a crowd at rush hour. Metropolis Transit officials had this statement to say:
"In order to make a bus bridge, buses have to be taken off other in-service bus routes to run for that bus bridge. We're short on buses, articulated buses to be exact. The New Flyer order for 40 new Artics is late and we're trying to make do with what we got. We recently launched a program where we're running normal transit length buses behind the articulated buses on certain rush hours runs to try to ease the congestion. Until, a better solution is found within the next 48 hours, the bus bridge runs will remain with same number of equipment we're currently running."

Metropolis Transit's President Nikki Casey Talks 47, 22/26 Extension & Other Plans

Metropolis, BR. Nov 14th 2014

Nicholette Casey has been the president of Metropolis Transit since 2008.

In a recent interview with Metropolis Transit's President & General Manager, Nicholette Casey, a lot of light was drawn on the future of the transit system that's currently in the mist of two major expansion project after recently completing another that was called a "boondoggle". The 2012 opening of the 47 elevated was a bittersweet victory for Casey's early career at MT. 

"I got death threats," she said, "as well as lot of insults such as one telling me to go back to the girl's bathroom of the high school I came from."

The hate came from a lot of property owners along Ballerman Blvd's main trunk who felt the elevated tracks over the street would cause a change in how people would see the community. The line, like all other Metropolis Elevated Railway Lines, was originally a streetcar/trolley line that ran from Uptown to Morrisville. 

"One thing I possibly till this day regret is not sending the line to Morrisville like the trolley did," Casey explained. She originally faced a lot of lawsuits for putting the elevated over the Bayway part of the line. "Nobody wanted an el over Bayway. Hell even I didn't want it. I even came up with the compromise for a terminal at Southside & Bayway but the lawsuits kept pouring in. Had one pillar went up in that intersection, I would've still been sitting in court now trying to clear this up."

Casey also went on to describe the current westward leg of the 47 as "The Grand Compromise" since the tracks the elevated was put on were dormant for eight years prior when the N trolley was cutback from 19th Street to Freehold in 2004 due to deteriorating track conditions. Today, this leg of the 47 see the most ridership with Multilevel parking garages at Morganville, 35th-Hamilton & Freehold. 

Currently, Metropolis Transit is working on two major extensions. The first being the long-awaited 22 & 26 extension that will bring the two short elevated lines into Downtown via a new subway tunnel under Trees Avenue. The other is the 67 trolley extension into Metropolis International Airport. Both extensions were mapped out and executed on Casey's order. 

"Randall Mourie for years before he converted the 22 & 26 into Els wanted to build a Rapid Transit link from Boga Island to Downtown, he didn't want to bore through Mount Lover to build a ramp on the 65 line, this is why Blue Beach Transfer exists today. Why he never though of tunneling downtown is beyond me," she explained. "The reason why I wanted to do this was because I personally hear from the Boga Islanders about how annoying the transfer is. Tourist also do not understand or get why the 22 doesn't go into Downtown. Some even feel that 45 second ride is pointless until they walk that mountain by foot then are grateful it's there. Probably why nobody can pull the plug on it, it makes a great funicular railroad. Now think of it like this, unlike a funicular, my trains have the ability to run right to Downtown. Why give them the cake and not let them eat it too?"

When all said and done, the new 22 & 26 extension will run from their respective endpoints to a new terminal downtown near either Colette Street or Downtown Square with stops at Metropolis Central & The Interfair. The first phase to Metropolis Central is fully funded and under construction.

The future of Metropolis Transit is questionable for now according to Casey.  She current has no other long term plans other then expanding the DARK Bus network. There was a lot of mention of further partnerships with DashTransit Service like the current CERT Bus the M30 & M34 line that use to be Metropolis Transit lines. There's a possible expansion in the CERT Network as well but under DashTransit's control.

"I want us to move forward in our city. We have the nation's biggest trolley system, the third biggest elevated subway in the county next to NYC & Chicago and we can have the greatest transit system in the county if we put our minds to it. Certain transit companies rather spend millions abandoning trolley tracks and yanking them out while we're spending millions to keep our running in the grade A shape they are. I'm confident Metropolis Transit will be a remember name in the transit community for being a leader in change," she closes. Nicholette Casey currently is 22 Years Old, unmarried, and plans on staying with the company long term.

The 22 & 26 El Extension Begins It's Constuction

Metropolis, BR. August 12th 2014.

The 26 Will No Long End In The Middle Of The Street At Blue Beach

The long awaited expansion on the 22 & 26 Line has begun construction. The extension will run underground going from Blue Beach Terminal to Metropolis Central and than a small terminal near Hilly-South Bread Station. This will end over 30 years of ending short at Blue Beach Terminal where riders have to transfer to the 65 Elevated or 36 Bus to continue their trip into downtown.
The construction will bring the line down the busy Trees Avenue to Metropolis Central, this mean a possible disruption to life above.

Tunnel Boring Machines or TBMs will dill the tunnels and the stations will be built using the "cut and cover" method, where the street will be opened up and cover with a temporary wooden surface while workers carve out a station under the wood. There will be possible disruptions to the 67 Trolley service as well. Back in 2008 during a track renewal project, the entire 67 Line was bussed and trolleys sat quietly at the depot dominant. This might happen again. Trains are set to roll into Metropolis Central starting 2018.

Metropolis Connector To Begin July 4th, SPL BRT To Begin July 20th

Metropolis, BR

Metropolis Connector's Trolley on Display At The Interfair During The Auto Show.

DashTransit Service has a lot for the Metropolis Commuter to be happy about this summer. Fast new bus service directly from Metropolis to South Portland Airport and the upgraded 61 line now known as Metropolis Connector are set to begin really soon and contract positions are filling. July 4th is currently the aim for Metropolis Connector, July 20th for SPL. All in all both line expected to be in service by end of the July month.

New BRT service will start from Bay of Silence Bus Terminal.

The New Old Gardens Curve Is Now Open

Metropolis, BR March 13th 2014

A 56 Trolley enters Old Garden Stn at 20 MPH, double the speed of the old curve. 

After two crippling weekend closures of the Trees Avenue Elevated, the new Old Gardens Curve is finally open to trolleys. The 7, 16 & 56 have been impacted greatly by the amount of construction and reroutes trolley had to face the past few weekends but it's not over yet! More construction is set this weekend to add a solid support and remove the remains of the old curve. This construction will once again divert Route 56 over Central Avenue and the 7 trolley to Waves Loop but the kicker this time is Route 16 service will run to Waves - Bl of Bays instead of Parkside Loop. The past two weekends, conflicts has arisen abot the 16 & 5 sharing the underground loop. The station can only hold one trolley at a time due to how small the platform and signal block before it is.

The new curve as seen from the parking lot of Central Stn.

 The new curve is larger, nicer, easier to maintain and now letting trolley pass a double the speed then before. The old curve was built in a S formation due to Eastwick Avenue's dramatic change in width before Trees Avenue. This meant all trolley has to slow down to 10 MPH to clear the curve with almost no space for trolleys to swing without dangling dangerously over the intersection. The new curve is a much more opened J formation allowing a wider base to turn at faster speeds. Trolley can now swing around at 20 MPH and quickly jump to 27 MPH between the Old Gardens Curve and the Central Ave Curve & Interlocking. While time impact is only reduced 1 minute it still play a vital part in making the trolleys in Metropolis run better and faster.

Faster trolleys mean less of a wait. 

Proposal For Trees Avenue Subway Met With Criticism

Metropolis, BR. April 30th 2013.

Current Terminal For El Routes 22 & 26 in Blue Beach.

Metropolis Transit has express the need to build a subway tunnel under Trees Avenue to bring the 22 & 26 "Elevated" Railway lines in Downtown Metropolis. Currently, both train lines end at the makeshift Blue Beach Terminal. Built in 1983 and renovated in 2009, the terminal sit on what use to be the westbound lanes of Waves Avenue. The traffic current only goes east and north up what it now called Lover's Circle. Residents from Boga Island & visitors of Lover's Lookout current have to transfer to either a 65 el train or a 36 bus if they want to go into the city. The proposed tunnel to Metropolis Central would eliminate the need to transfer and walk up stairs and gives passengers a one-seat ride into Downtown.

67 Trolley Service maybe disrupted if tunnels are built.

Midtown Realtors and residents are voicing their concerns about potential tunnel building being a problem. If anybody remembers the Broadway Trolley Subway, many businesses closed due to lack to access to stores from Cut & Cover construction.  There is worry that property value would also shoot down during the construction.  The tunnel would have a station at Sandbar Street, an area of high density buildings. This would bring construction to the delay prone Central Station where the terminal of tunnel will be until a terminal outside of Isle Glass Tower will be built for the 22 & 26.
This battle might delay construction that is set to being later this year.  

This Upcoming Weekend's Trolley Service Changes, Old Garden Curve Construction

Metropolis, BR. April 28th.

A Messy Commute Is Ahead For Next Weekend

The curve outside of Old Gardens-Eastwick Station on the Trees Avenue Trolley Elevated has been prompting a slow zone along the 7,16 & 56 trolley lines. The construction planned for this weekend will hell "ease" the curve and allow a fast swing around. This will bring the speeds up from 10 to 15 miles-per-hour. Though a slight jump in the speed, it still enough to help ease faster operation. This work will continue each weekend until June when the new curve is expected to open. The 67 is not affect this week by the service change but will be during the follow weeks.

The service changes are:
Route 7- Rerouted via Corlesen Avenue to Waves-Meadow Loop stopping at all 67 stops after the trolley subway.

Route 16- All trolleys will be cut at Broadway-Parkside Stn on the Upper Level. Passengers will have to go to the Lower Level to catch the 7 or 56 trolleys to Exhibition Hall.

Route 56- Rerouted via Central Avenue and Metropolis Central Stn. to Broadway Stn. Trolleys will end at normal end points. All Isle Glass Tower Loop cutbacks will be extended to Verizon Tower Loop for the weekend.

Be alert to where your trolley is going this weekend!

DashTransit's Christine-SPL Airport BRT To Start In Late July

Alexandra, BR. April 27th 2014.

DashTrasnit To Start BRT Service Using These Buses.

DashTransit and the State of Bridgerissa has been in talks for the longest for a BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line utilizing the Christine Bay Bridge to connect Downtown Metropolis to South Portland International Airport. The BRT Line will run from the brand new Bay of Silence Bus Terminal through Downtown Metropolis then using Ballerman Blvd and Lindsay Avenue to reach the Christine Expressway where it use it private lane at each major exit to stop right on the off-ramp. In Port County, there is space to add a two new private bus lanes to run BRT down the median of the highway where buses will have their own dedicate stations that passenger can walk up and wait for the bus.

There is no talk of how the line is going to be named, what the finally paint job would look like or where the buses will even stop, but it's clear what buses are going to use the line. DashTransit ordered 50 New Flyer Industries Xselsior Buses that run on both electric and diesel power. 40 of these buses will be dedicated to the service with the last 10 being use for the branch-line service that will connect Hook Beach and Pier Village to the BRT Line in Port County. 

Drawings of the Xselsior Buses being use for SPL BRT.

Currently only Metropolis Buses 17 & E buses connect to the Airport and both do not touch Downtown Metropolis forcing passengers to transfer to either the 47 Elevated or Woodland Subway with heavy loads of luggage. The transfer between the Rt 17 bus and the Woodland Subway requires a block long walk to the 36th Street subway station that is NOT wheelchair accessible nor has an elevator. When the SPL BRT opens, passengers can have a one seat right to Downtown & Midtown Metropolis without the need to lug heavy belongings down or up long flights of stairs. The service is expected to go live late July-early August. No word on how fares will be collected but we can expect something similar to the DARK Busway in Glittertown.