People living in and around the Boston area have a complicated relationship with the MBTA. Many rely on the transportation system for their daily commutes to and from the city, using it as a less expensive option that bypasses bumper-to-bumper traffic. However, inconsistent schedules and frequent delays fuel a collective frustration with Boston’s public transit system.
Ask anyone who rides the MBTA regularly for their thoughts, and you’re likely to get a response filled with a laundry list of issues and plenty of exasperation. As a frequent subway rider, I have cursed the MBTA and General Manager Phil Eng while standing on the platform waiting for a Red Line train that seems to grow more delayed by the minute.
Nonetheless, I believe Bostonians — myself included — take the MBTA for granted and fail to appreciate the access we have to a relatively reliable public transportation system.
It’s worth recognizing just how much ground the MBTA covers. The Red, Orange, Blue and Green Lines stretch across more than 166 miles of track.), going through the city and into the nearby suburbs throughout Greater Boston. Across all the branches, towns are funneled directly into downtown, giving convenient access to the city.
The Commuter Rail extends that reach even further across Massachusetts with lines running as far south as Providence, R.I., and as far north as Newburyport, Mass., nearly at the New Hampshire border. Running on a more structured schedule, Massachusetts residents have a reasonable travel option that does not require getting in the driver’s seat of a car.
The MBTA also provides a practical way to move through Boston itself. In a matter of minutes, you can travel from Newbury Street to TD Garden on the Green Line, or board the Blue Line at Government Center and pass beneath Boston Harbor into East Boston. It connects the city in a way that makes navigating it much less intimidating, sparing you from long walks and confusing turns under the guidance of Google Maps.
Riders of the MBTA should also appreciate the MBTA’s hours of operation, especially in comparison to other major railway systems in big cities. Sunday through Thursday, the subway typically begins running around 5-6 a.m. and goes until 1 a.m., with extended weekend service going as late as 2 a.m. Whether you are an early-morning commuter heading to work, or a late-night bar-hopper trying to get home safely, the MBTA offers you a reliable way to get where you need to be.
While New York City’s subway system and much of [Chicago’s](https://www.choosechicago.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around/#:~:text=Two lines operate 24/7,and South Sides via downtown.) run 24 hours a day, most other cities run their rail service from 5 a.m. to no later than midnight.
Yes, the MBTA often reminds us that Boston is home to the nation’s oldest subway system, and that reality can test anyone’s patience. But it is also a staple of the city and one that deserves recognition for the access and opportunity it provides to thousands of riders each day.
Will I keep rolling my eyes the next time I see a delayed train while rushing to get to class or work? Probably. But, I also know that I will keep coming back and taking the train, because at the end of the day, it brings me to where I need to go. For all its flaws, the MBTA remains an essential part of what makes Boston work.
