1928: Birmingham Serves on Special Panel to Investigate ‘L’ in Brighton

Center-entrance trams of the Boston Elevated Railway at Griggs Street and Long Avenue in Brighton, 1927 (Source: City of Boston Archives)

Rep. Birmingham served on a special committee that was set up to investigate car schedules, car stops, crowded conditions, and other issues with the Elevated Railway Company ('L'), the Boston Globe reported Jan. 4, 1928, p. 19.

Other members included City Councillor Edward M. Gallagher, Association President Thomas E. Kiley, Lewis L. Martinson, and Louis Sigismund.

The special committee was appointed by the Faneuil Improvement Association to investigate transit in the Brighton district.

The Faneuil Improvement Association held a meeting on Dec. 5, 1927, to discuss delays in trolley service between Park St. and Oak Sq., the Boston Globe reported Dec. 6, 1927, p. 16.

The Oak Square members said that the trolley running times between Park St. and Oak Sq. can run one hour and 10 minutes, while the trip should take around 35 minutes and can take as little as 25 minutes.

Some argued for an express service between the two stops during rush hours. They said that the delays can be caused by short-haul riders who take any trolley car from Park St.

In addition, the association was informed that the School Committee proposed to spend $1.25 million for construction of Brighton High School and $100,000 for equipment for the building after it is completed.

The associate held its regular meeting on Jan. 3 at the Faneuil Branch Public Library. There were 115 members present at the meeting.

At a previous association meeting, members of the public had complained about poor service, crowd conditions, and lack of car stops on the Elevated Railway transit system.

In response, the company acted to improve car stop facilities in the district and it assured the association that it planned other improvements suggested by the association.

The committee reported that it had studied conditions on various street corners and had made general observations, checking the crowds and counting the cars. The committee concluded that the situation was not as bad as it had been painted, the paper said.

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