The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority witnessed increased ridership on trains in September, averaging 1.35 million trips per weekday, according to MBTA statistics released exclusively to The Boston Globe last week.
MBTA spokesperson Lydia Rivera said this is thanks to a number of factors.
“We attribute it to a spike in gas prices, more people taking an interest in mass transit and a general turn in the economy with more people getting back to work,” Rivera said in a phone interview.
The brunt of ridership increases occurred on the Green Line, where the MBTA is “at capacity,” Rivera said.
Despite the record ridership, Rivera said there have not been concerns from customers regarding packed trains or especially long wait times.
“Our adjustments are based on the needs of the customers,” she said. “We tend to study the habits of the customers, so people aren’t feeling a delay or spike of crowding. We try to spread service out better.”
Boston University School of Medicine freshman Austin Soplata said he thought the T’s greatest congestion was not during September, but over the summer.
“I thought it was way worse in the summer, with students from [Boston College] riding all the way up the Green Line to the beaches,” Soplata said.
As for September, Soplata said he rode the trains during off-times, where he could still comfortably fit on the trains.
“I usually go on weekends – going to [Quincy] Market, I’ve never had a negative experience,” he said.
College of Arts and Sciences senior Sarah Merriman said the T was incredibly crowded when she rode it during October.
“I read they’re going to release fewer trains in severe weather,” Merriman said, “which is unbelievable.”
Rivera said the high ridership numbers will not have much bearing on the MBTA winter weather plan.
“With regards to the winter weather plan, people need to get from A to B. We reduce service to get the most out of the service we’re going to provide,” Rivera said.
“The cuts are made with thought and don’t serve as impacting customers in a negative way.”
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