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Here’s how readers graded the MBTA in 2024
Boston.com readers gave the ailing transit agency a mixed report card as 2024 and slow zones come to an end.
For the first time in decades, the entire MBTA system is expected to be slow zone free after Friday.
On Saturday, service will resume on the Green Line following a two-week shutdown between Medford Tufts, Union Square, and Park Street.
The slow zones and shutdowns were part of the T’s Track Improvement Program, which aimed to eliminate all slow zones by the end of 2024; repair and replace miles of tracks; and install new signal and power systems. To reach this goal, riders endured alternative routes and shuttle bus service for days or weeks at a time as crews worked around the clock to repair and replace tracks.
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Despite the disruptions, Boston.com readers gave general manager Phillip Eng an “A” for his first year with the MBTA when we asked in April.
But when we asked readers to grade the T as it approaches the end of its Track Improvement Program, they gave mixed reviews.
Of the more than 180 responses to our poll, 27% gave Eng an A, followed close behind with 23% of readers giving him a modest B. The other half of readers gave Eng average to below-average grades C (17%), D (13%), and F (20%).
As 2024 and slow zones come to a close, how would you grade the MBTA?
A
27%
B
23%
C
17%
D
13%
F
20%
Many readers who gave the MBTA an “A” and “B” grade praised Eng and his handling of the troubled agency.
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“I’m so proud of Eng. My commute has gotten faster, he’s really improved my quality of life. I don’t know who hired him, but great on them!” reader Rubby S. from Dorchester said.
Others who were more critical of the agency said while progress has been made, there is much left to improve.
Below, readers share why they graded the MBTA the way they did, and what they’d like to see going forward.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
What grade would you give the MBTA as 2024 and slow zones come to a close?
“A”
“I come from a state with very poor public transportation, which means I have a better perspective on how amazing the MBTA truly is. I know what it’s like to have no options, so I have been awed by the MBTA ever since I moved here. It’s a beautiful system of buses and trains that truly reach into almost every corner of the city and surrounding areas where I may want to travel. Public transport is unironically my favorite part of living here! It’s truly amazing seeing a city put real thought and effort into improving this vital infrastructure! Many would just let such things fall into disrepair and disuse, but the MBTA seems to understand and accept its responsibility to change and improve alongside the population it supports.” – Brittany M., Somerville
“The trains are faster and come more often as well as the state of many of the stations have improved. Eng has done the impossible and given me hope for the T.” – Andres, Watertown
“Great job Eng and MBTA! The T and commuter rail services are on time and regularly running during the week. If only there was more weekend service with better timed bus connections.” – Jonathan L., Roslindale
“A well executed plan to eliminate slow zones in 2024 has resulted in the Red Line running faster and on time for the first time in years.” – K.K., Holbrook
“Kudos to General Manager Phil Eng! Boston is a really tough audience to satisfy, and he has been great at responding to the monumental mess of years of disinvestment to the T!” – Melissa, Brighton
“The communication from the MBTA has been outstanding. I was certainly inconvenienced by the track work and repairs, but the clear outline and reasoning, as well as the empathy from the MBTA, made it very bearable.” – Lloyd W., Framingham
“B”
“I’m very happy that the slow zones are gone! But, the T does shriek loudly and sometimes it stops between stations.” – Adam L., Watertown
“I gave the MBTA a B. It’s a major improvement from last year in terms of speed. Along with that, I feel like the Orange Line is nearly back to what it once was before the pandemic. However, there are still lingering issues like signaling and the old equipment. Especially for the Red Line where they have 50 year old trains that are in dire need of replacement. I give major props to the MBTA leadership, especially General Manager Eng, for doing the best they can to make the MBTA more accessible and reliable to the general public.” – Elijah, Hyde Park
“The work that Eng and the MBTA team have put in over the past year has been phenomenal in bringing the rapid transit system into a state of good repair. That being said, there are still numerous issues with the Commuter Rail and bus system which prevents the MBTA from becoming truly world class. The lack of electrification, station capacity, and frequency means the commuter rail is limited to mainly serving commuters rather than serving as a regional rail model for everyone. The bus system continues to improve, especially following the bus redesign, but too often buses are getting stuck in traffic which causes delays and prevents them from staying on schedule.” – Benjamin J., Jamaica Plain
“They’ve done a fantastic job repairing the tracks, but the impact of the shutdowns, which I understand were necessary, was still keenly felt. I hope they can keep the trajectory up and keep improving our trains and buses, but I’m worried that the budget deficit will derail their efforts.” – Sam, Brighton
“C”
“The MBTA has been improving over the past year, however there is a long way to go, especially in terms of notable improvements to bus service.” – Leannah S., Allston
“The slow zone improvement is a great first step toward becoming a world class system. As far as GM Eng goes, he gets an A for being able to achieve as much as he has in one year, but the T has been in disrepair/debt for so long there is still much more to do. I look forward to being able to give the T an A but that’ll take some time to achieve.” – Filipe C., East Boston
“We still have so much more work to do on accessibility, station maintenance, growing the T network and more. However, this would have been an F last year so a C is a great score in one year.” – Andrew, Salem
“My family uses the T everyday to commute to work and school. While there has been noticeable improvements in 2024, the T still has a very long way to go to get its transit system up to modern day standards. Furthermore, the fact our governor, senators and Boston mayor are already fighting with the incoming presidential administration, doesn’t give me hope that funds for MBTA will be given to Massachusetts to fix our transit woes. Phil Eng cannot fix MBTA issues without massive investment from the federal government.” – Warren P., Charlestown
“D”
“It’s great that they fixed the slow zones and all the other problems but transit in a major city like Boston never should have gotten this bad. However, I do understand that there have been systematic funding decisions at higher levels making life more difficult for the MBTA for decades.” – Jesse, Winter Hill, Somerville
“Constantly delayed and disabled trains. Last week I sat at Kenmore for a schedule adjustment for 10 minutes, then stopped between Hynes and Copley due to traffic. I still can’t tell the difference between when the train is in a slow zone or not.” – Leo, Brighton
“I started riding a bike when the T (D line) failed me years ago. I decided to try the T last week when the weather was terrible because the news outlets were so positive. The ride in was good but the ride home was awful. Overall I would give the T a D for the evening commute and a B for the morning. Thanks but no thanks MBTA. I’ll continue to ride my bike. It’s actually less stressful to ride my bike to work into Boston than to take the T. I know what time I’ll get to work and home on my bike.” – Michelle, Newton
“F”
“The whole system is broken. Needs a major overhaul and to connect the Red and Blue lines.” – Jackie, Boston
“The Red Line is always partially shut down with shuttle buses. When I first moved to Dorchester, I took the Red Line a lot but now it’s so awful and takes so long I have almost completely stopped. I’ve lived in NYC and Chicago and DC – the Boston subway is the worst I’ve experienced.” – Patrick M., Dorchester
“The MBTA fixes things only after they are broken. They do not maintain any of the infrastructure. For example, the once impressive and beautiful Harvard Square station is filthy and falling apart. Train stations overstaffed with workers who stand around and do nothing demonstrate how our tax dollars are being wasted on unnecessary jobs. There is nothing here to be happy or proud of.” – Robert P., Boston
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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