While many people may say riding the T can be as agonizing as a root canal or as tedious as waiting in line at the registry of motor vehicles office, MBTA officials say much of the transit system’s problems will be smoothed out by January 2007 — a claim the editor of a transportation blog says is highly unlikely.
Mark Richards, editor of the popular blog BadTransit.com, has made a mission of exposing flaws in the T through his website, which he said publicizes the general frustration and dissatisfaction of riders across the city.
Richards said he is frustrated by the recently enacted random bag searches, extensive construction that has caused delays, the new automated ticket machines and the MBTA’s new fare increases, which will be unveiled Thursday.
“I honestly find little to like about the MBTA, and this has been the case for all my life here in Boston,” said Richards, a commuter since the 1970s. “Compared to just about any other transit system in the U.S., and particularly stacked against those in Europe and Asia, our system is a total joke.”
Richards said riding the T is often a hit-or-miss experience.
“Taking the T anywhere is often a gamble,” Richards said. “I really don’t like gambling all that much, particularly with my precious time.”
Richards criticized the MBTA’s plan to replace station attendants with automated ticket machines, which are slated to be installed and problem-free by January 2007.
“[The new machines] are a blatant investment in the elimination of jobs,” he said. “However, this will fail because the T’s unions still wield extraordinary political power, and thanks to the MBTA’s collective incompetence with technology . . . the [automated] system is already failing and expensively.”
He added that he has heard numerous riders grumbling about the machines.
“The dispensing machines, in several complaints we’ve read, are frequently out of service and those that work often reject bills,” he said.
But Paul Regan, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, refuted this claim, saying unions were told the new ticketing system will not result in layoffs.
“[Employees] will have a more visible presence outside of the booth,” Regan said, adding that attendants standing near booths will reduce fare evasion and provide a stronger sense of security for T riders, especially at night.
Although Richards disapproved of the new system, Regan applauded it, saying the old “token vending machines had dubious dependability at best.”
Still, Regan acknowledged some of the recent backlash the MBTA has received.
“In a perfect world, you wouldn’t be changing technology at the same time as a fare increase,” he said.
Regan added that the implementation of the ticketing system is “surprisingly” on schedule for its Jan. 1 completion goal.
But Richards remains skeptical.
“The MBTA is best approached by any commuter with an attitude that is often expressed in the T’s own words: ‘Expect Delays,'” Richards said.