*Ahem.* Case in point... |
A corner of the room. |
Another corner. |
The bathroom hallway. |
The outdoor area. |
The boarding area. |
That's a nice building! |
Ridership: Although lots of routes converge here, I've never seen the hub be all that busy. Maybe it's the fact that there are three different places to wait (the inside, the benches outside, and at the berths themselves), or maybe it's that the hub is just kind of a quiet place, but it never feels crowded at all.
Pros: The outdoor areas all look great. The inclusion of master schedules everywhere is helpful for knowing when departures are, and the screen inside, as ugly as it is, is even more helpful. There's plenty of seating inside the building, and it never gets too crowded.
Cons: Ugh, the decor on the inside is just...ech! The PVTA just doesn't seem to care all that much about this place - they didn't bother to replace the ticket inspector, they stuck a lone security guard in here with nothing to do (not that the PVTA doesn't do that in other places, too), and they close the bathrooms on weekends, even though that aforementioned security guard could literally make sure no one loiters in them!
Nearby and Noteworthy: Downtown Holyoke is a weird place. I don't think I've ever discussed it on this blog, but it's kinda like...Lawrence. Except weirder. And more abandoned-feeling. Uhh...okay, having taken a walk through the downtown, all I can say is that it's a hard place to describe.
Final Verdict: 5/10
The Holyoke Transportation Center is in a convenient location and it serves lots of bus routes, but it just offers a...subpar experience. I can't stand that the outdoor berths have no seating of any kind (people often just sit on the railings), and I simply refuse to believe that the inside wasn't designed 40 years ago! At least the outside looks good.
Latest MBTA News: Service Updates
Hey, I just wanna give a shout-out to my girlfriend Zofia, who's spent the last two weeks reading every single post on this blog. As someone who has no interest in transit at all, I can't express how thankful I am that she would show so much support for what I do. There are plenty of other people who have read all the posts, (I think?) and I thank each and every one of you, but I had to give special mention to Zofia for all the time she put in and the feedback she's given. I love you, Zof-Zof!! <3 p="">3>
Before 2010 there was no station at this bus hub in downtown Holyoke, so this is a huge improvement. Until then riders had to wait for buses & transfers outside always, even in the dark or on days with inclement weather. It would be nice to see the bathrooms open longer hours. Maybe the security guard could help with that as you suggest. Thanks for reviewing this station & the new Holyoke Amtrak station. I just shared both reviews with a friend who lives near Holyoke.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete