How tall do you have to be to ride the Red Line again? Because you'll feel some thrills riding this particular MBTA line in the next few weeks.

The Longfellow Bridge has been in a state of disrepair for some time, and authorities are considering closing the bridge during the 4th of July to prevent the teeming hordes from plunging into the water.

Now, according to the Cambridge Chronicle, the Red Line trains are going at a turtle's pace to avoid a similar incident. They have good reason to worry. MBTA ridership is up. The trains are heavier, and a few more people might strain the already wimpy railroad ties.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo, who truly has the toughest job in the universe, said that the MBTA will replace ties sooner rather than later. Buses will replace Red Line service June 14-15 and June 21-22 so they can get the work done.

Wouldn't it be better for trains to just go faster and get it over with? Or is it like the bandage conundrum, in which peeling off the bandage slowly or just tearing it off are equally bad options?

Image of a Red Line train on the Longfellow Bridge from Wikipedia.