This Is What the Green Line’s New Train Arrival Signs Look Like
Photo by @MBTA
The Green Line has been behind the times in terms of updated technology, and it has been nearly impossible for riders to track where the next trolley is.
But on Thursday, with the Celtics’ first round draft pick, Kelly Olynyk, by his side, MassDOT Secretary Rich Davey unveiled “Next Train” signs that tell passengers when incoming trolleys are on the way.
While there is no estimated-countdown-until-arrival information displayed on the LED signs, which for now are only in Kenmore Station, Davey said in the next 12 to 14 months, that information would be integrated into the project.
He also said that other underground Green Line stations around the system would likely get the train arrival signs, and the countdown information.
The MBTA’s technology team is also working diligently in order to allow Green Line trolley passengers to check their phones for precise train-arrival times through the various phone apps that are available for download.
The Green Line signs at Kenmore display the next two incoming trolleys. There are signs both outside the kiosks, where customers can obtain tickets, as well as on the platforms at the station. Before taking a ride with Olynyk from Kenmore to North Station on Thursday, following the unveiling, Davey said he hopes riders use the train to get to and from Celtics and Red Sox games, and thinks the signs will help ease frustrations over guessing which trolley will be next to show up.
Right now, customers waiting at some underground Green Line stops have to standby for a train’s arrival before they know if it’s the one they want to take. He said the installation of the signs at Kenmore is a “first experiment” for a larger project.
The MBTA installed 51 of 53 total countdown clocks at various stations around the system in June. Those signs show riders the estimated time of arrival of incoming trains, and where the train is headed, using LED lights. The program first rolled out in August of 2012, at South Station.
The Green Line’s “Next Train” signs have abbreviated names for the destinations of the vehicles, much like New York Times‘ attempt to make “SoBo” a real world. Next stop, BosCol? Or perhaps RivSide?
