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Boston's Big Dig Delayed Because of Programmers?
dalewj writes "This article in the
Boston Globe explains that Boston's Big Dig will be ready to open on time, if the software developers and cable layers can get their act together." Turns out honeywell's software isn't quite ready.
hmm. you know your project's not going well when even your Minimal Operating Requirements list isnt finished.
So how much will it cost to drive on the highways in Boston after the Big Dig is completed? And why did everyone else in the country have to pay for something that will potentially not be free to drive on?
Impersonating Tycho from Penny Arcade since before there was a PA.
That mindset is part of the problem. Most likely what happened was they needed something done a different way than originally planned, and since they assume software is the easiest to change, they put the burden on them to conform to everything. My guess is they tried to separate the software from the rest of the system and just assume the software would be easily able to change and keep up with everything else as needed, when instead they should have been developed together and treated as parts of a whole.
What?
Most of us up here in Boston just want the damn thing to end. It's getting there -- they've finished the bridge and lots of ventilation buildings, and they are starting to close up some of the massive holes they've dug.
Mass transit in Boston is pretty good. you can go anywhere on the subway for $1, and the buses do a decent job of coverage too. The thing that sucks is that the subway turns into a pumpkin around 12:30am.
That's likely due to the fact that the road involved is Interstate 93, which is grossly incapable of handling the current traffic loads through downtown Boston. The fact that it's an Interstate means that the Federal Government funds a portion of the construction.
Err that well known "Democratic Party" Candidate and President Ronald Regan signed up to the funding of the Big Dig, funding was continued by another Democratic leader called George Bush.
See those things waving at you in the distance ? They are the Facts, wander over and see them some time.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
Congress controls the budget, not the president. Congress was mostly controlled by the Democrats at the time the dig was approved.
The President only gets to sign or veto whole spending bills. They have little control over the specifics. Presidents can send it back and say "you have spent too much" but it is politically impossible for him to say "take this out, put this in, take these 3 things out, put these two in". That is why I wish the President had a line-item budget veto. A Republican congress tried to give a Democrat president (Clinton) but was overturned on Constitutional grounds (probably for good technical reasons). But I wish they would amend the Constitution on this one.
Brian Ellenberger
I live in MA. I use to commute through that mess called downtown Boston (by car a number of years, and by train for many years). Imagine what could have been accomplished if the billions (or less) was invested in a well planned and efficient commuter train system. The subway is a piece of junk. You need a freakin' umbrella UNDERGROUND during a rainstorm. I wonder when the ceiling is going to collapse. Most stations are a total eyesore. DC's subway system is a dream in comparison. Ever try the commuter rail system? The thing runs infrequently at best, and is packed to the teeth. Just imagine.. a train with every seat full, and passengers standing in the isles like sardines. Its fun, especially when the guy you are sitting next to stinks to high heaven.
:)
I was in Japan a couple of times over the past few years. Now.. thats a well oiled commuter system. Their trains are clean, efficient, and more environmentally friendly than these loud diesel spewing smoke machine Amtrak monsters they use. Most of all, the trains are FAST and ON TIME. Their schedules are like clockwork, no and's or's or butt's. If it says it'll be there every 3 minutes.. a train is there every 3 minutes. Boston's train sytem sucks so bad, they had to put in a refund policy. If your train is 20.. yes thats TWENTY minutes late, you'll get your one way fare refuned. Whee. So generous.Did I mention? I was chronically late at least twice a month due to a broken down commuter train. That includes the other some thousands of other commuters that were delayed too. Every summer.. get a nice hot day, BLAM. Dead train. Ever sit in a train for 1 hour with no air condidioning? It gets up to like 100 degrees+. That consistently happens.
Now.. by the time they finish the Big Dig, the sprawl growing outside of the city will proportionately increase automobile traffic. By the time they are done, they'll need to expand once again. So when are we suppose to see any benefit?
OK.. one good thing. My company moved away from the city. About 1 hour west. I now live in the sticks and have a nice commute. The day I moved was the happiest day of my life.
Oh by the way.. my father worked for the MBTA for a number of years.. and my wife's cousin works for the rail lines in Japan around Kobe/Osaka. Ever hear of a train that senses the number of passengers onboard, and automatically adjusts the airconditioning systems appropriately? Well.. they have it in Japan.
Lots of cities have terrible traffic problems. I'm stuck halfway between Baltimore and D.C., both could use a new multi-billion dollar traffic infrastructure.
And when the Big Dig is finished, and Baltimore, D.C., Manhattan, Detroit, Chicago, London, Paris, Tokyo, etc. see how cool it is, they'll know how to do it because we'll show them how.
"The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance." -Thomas Jefferson