Even Bostonians who embrace the idea of mass transit for its environmental benefits are reluctant to take the T because of its sloppy service. To make the T a viable option for commuters and environmentalists, the MBTA must address service problems that keep people in their cars and off the subways and buses.
Residents of other major cities do not use public transportation exclusively because it is environmentally friendly. Commuters in other cities use the subways and buses because they are reliable. Some cities have notoriously dirty subways, but commuters continue to use them, because they work and run on time.
The golden days of trolley travel long ago passed, but a few modern improvements could make the Green Line that runs through the Boston University campus and into student neighborhoods more convenient, at minimum cost. Students and professionals who live near the Green Line, probably the least efficient or reliable of the MBTA’s train lines, might be more inclined to ride the T if a simple mechanism could be set up at each station to inform riders when the next trolley was to arrive. The Washington, D.C., metro system uses such a tool.
The Green Line could also afford to ditch a few stops for the sake of efficiency. T stops located every other block of Commonwealth Avenue on the BU campus might be great for students who want door-to-door service, but the delays caused by such frequent stopping reduce the convenience of mass transit.
While the MBTA may not be able to reduce fares, they can maintain some of the customer-loyalty perks that kept riders on board in the past. The Sunday buddy promotion, by which monthly pass holders could bring along a friend to use the services covered by the pass for free, should be reinstated. Free outbound trips may never return to aboveground stops, but the MBTA should find other creative incentives for riders. Even the outlandish — such as a free ride for every 500th rider — should be considered. The MBTA is short on liquid capital, but it also lacks an eye for inexpensive innovation. Financial burdens shouldn’t stop the MBTA from exploring many avenues for improved and more efficient service.
Experimenting with improvement plans couldn’t hurt the T. Short of ceasing service altogether, it’s hard to envision less reliable or erratic operation.
Many Bostonians are inclined to ride the T when it works. Driving downtown and then finding an affordable parking spot is inconvenient, especially with the perpetual Boston construction season. Riding the T is economical. It’s convenient and environmentally friendly. Bostonians would have few reasons not to use the T — if it worked reliably and the MBTA had a greater concern for efficiency.
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