General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

If I lived in Roslindale I'd feel a bit slighted by this map. A huge number of bus routes run from Forest Hills to Rozzie Square (where they then branch out in many directions), but they are not shown here at all. Roslindale also has a commuter rail stop (or maybe two, depending on where you think the Rozzie/Westie line is).

Also notably missing is the 31 bus from Forest Hills to Mattapan, a pretty important crosstown link.

The lines chosen were those with the highest ridership (and thus the best service).

While that part of town may have a huge number of buses....none of them are as busy as the ones shown.

It makes sense to show the service that is most popular, because that means it's the most useful. You cant show everything, because then the map becomes unreadable (go check out the system maps found in most bus shelters)
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

From the T's website

Crime on MBTA at Lowest Level in 30 Years
Incidents Down 21% last year

Start Date: 1/25/2010
Email: jpesaturo@mbta.com

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Releasing 2009 crime statistics today, MBTA Transit Police Chief Paul MacMillan said the total number of serious crimes, also known as Part I crimes, dropped to their lowest levels since 1980, when 3,304 serious crimes were recorded. A total of 827 Part 1 crimes were reported last year? 21% fewer than 2008. More than 360 million passenger trips were made on MBTA services last year. The number of aggravated assaults fell from 103 to 88. There were no homicides.

"Our mission at MassDOT is to run a safe, customer-focused transportation system," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan. "I want to thank Chief MacMillan and all his dedicated officers for making public safety a top priority at the MBTA.

The most significant decrease was in the category of larceny or theft. The theft of property dropped 26 %, from 701 to 522. Robberies decreased 9 %, from 208 to 189. Chief MacMillan attributed the decrease to a number of factors but suggested the public awareness campaigns that the Transit Police have launched have had an undeniable impact. One third of all larcenies involve the theft of electronic items such as iPods, iPhones, Sidekicks, and cell phones. ?We continue to stress the importance of being aware of your surroundings, especially if you are texting or using any hand-held electronic device?, Chief MacMillan stated.

Chief MacMillan also credited the dedicated work of his officers in working closely with MBTA personnel and community partners. ?Our Officers continue to work closely with fellow MBTA employees and our community partners,? said Chief MacMillan. ?They all deserve recognition for this reduction in crime.?

?Our point-of-entry policing strategy has had an impact and continues to pay dividends as we conduct fare evasion initiatives and make ourselves highly visible to customers entering the transit system,? said Chief MacMillan. Fare evasion citations increased from 1,267 in 2008 to 2,864 in 2009.

Vehicle theft decreased from 27 in 2008 to 17 last year. More than nine million motor vehicles a year are parked in MBTA lots and garages.

Acting MBTA General Manager William Mitchell said the 30-year low in crimes is a testament to Chief MacMillan and his well-trained police force, and cited the collaborative efforts of MBTA personnel and Transit Police working together to make the MBTA as safe as possible. ?The hard work of our transportation personnel combined with the dedicated and professional work of our Transit Police makes every passenger?s ride as safe and as comfortable as possible,? said Mitchell.

Although listed by the FBI Uniformed Crime Reporting system as a Part II crime, the incidents of people being indecently assaulted on the MBTA decreased slightly from a high in 2008 of 69 to 60 reported assaults. In April 2008 the MBTA and the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center sponsored a joint campaign that empowered its passengers to do something when inappropriately touched while riding the T. That campaign was renewed in October of 2009 and has been highly effective in alerting passengers to this crime and empowering them to take some action. Arrests have been made in 38% of the incidents reported last year.

More information on crime statistics can be found at www.transitpolice.us.

This is good news.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Hey! We have a hard and fast rule here at ArchBoston: No posting positive things about the T! It ruins the narrative.


I'm kidding, of course, that is good news. As is the bus tracking.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

hahaha i know! we all have such high standards nothign good is ever said... hence the two good posts.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

It makes sense to show the service that is most popular, because that means it's the most useful. You cant show everything, because then the map becomes unreadable (go check out the system maps found in most bus shelters)

Not necessarily true that most popular = most useful. Plenty of routes would probably be more popular if they weren't somewhat duplicated or if there weren't alternatives to them, even though the route(s) these lines cover might be pretty critical. And how do you measure usefulness? The "most popular" metric assumes that someone who needs to see these bus lines will probably need the same buses as the majority of people who already commute on them daily, which may not be likely...people who need to look at the bus map are probably going to a different type of destination, like a tourist or recreational site.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

The point is that if a dozen bus routes go to Rozzie then it's easy to see why each route may not meet the ridership threshold for "important." But cumulatively the 12 routes may carry just as many people between Forest Hills and Rozzie as the #1 or #66. That segment should be marked.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

^ Exactly
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Not necessarily true that most popular = most useful.

Why are so many people riding it if its not useful?

Also, more riders = more frequency = more useful.

The 15 lines shown all operate 7 days a week from opening to closing at 20 minutes or less.

The point is that if a dozen bus routes go to Rozzie then it's easy to see why each route may not meet the ridership threshold for "important." But cumulatively the 12 routes may carry just as many people between Forest Hills and Rozzie as the #1 or #66. That segment should be marked.
And how do you show a segment with 12 lines?
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Why are so many people riding it if its not useful?

Also, more riders = more frequency = more useful.

I thought I explained this. We're not talking about the people who would naturally stuff the bus day in and day out. We're talking about people who would be consulting the transit map - occasional visitors to the neighborhood. Of course they're going to have a different conception of what's useful, based on different needs.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I thought I explained this. We're not talking about the people who would naturally stuff the bus day in and day out. We're talking about people who would be consulting the transit map - occasional visitors to the neighborhood. Of course they're going to have a different conception of what's useful, based on different needs.

Tourists dont go to dorchester, roxbury etc. Whats there to see?

They wont be on any of those 12 bus lines you mentioned.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Tourists dont go to dorchester, roxbury etc. Whats there to see?

Discover Roxbury

but the T map does in fact show bus routes through Roxbury. I was complaining that it did not show them to Roslindale.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Tourists dont go to dorchester, roxbury etc. Whats there to see?
Decades ago when I first visited Roxbury, it was frighteningly run-down but filled with historic architectural relics. It's now a bit less run-down and a bit less filled with architectural relics. And consequently, it's gone from fairly noteworthy to a tourist with an interest in urban archaeology to mildly boring to the same person.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

I got this one the other morning while waiting at Copley. I am sure many of you have seen it. Looks like it was covered up by more recent maps.

Anyone have any idea how old this is?

It has the old orange line alignment and is before the Braintree extension of the red line.

IMG00038-20100202-0816.jpg
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

That's from before 1969, as it has the Watertown A Line on it.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Yes but it does not run as frequently as a Green Line branch, and doesn't provide a one-seat ride to Back Bay and Downtown Boston.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

^ That's true after 1030pm, but from the start of the service day until then the 57 provides service just as frequently as a Green Line branch.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Mmm. I've been up to N. Beacon and St Elizabeth's so many times these past several years; it would be great to have a subway. Just for me, of course.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Mmm. I've been up to N. Beacon and St Elizabeth's so many times these past several years; it would be great to have a subway. Just for me, of course.

Brighton Center actually wouldn't be the worst place for a subway stop.
 
Re: Driven By Customer 'Service' Parte Dos

Are there any groups that advocate restoring service on the A line?
 

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