Charlie's Mailbag - Feb 4th - stupid is as stupid does

Another edition of the mailbag which can be reached at charlieonthembta@gmail.com

Gwen from Waltham noticed something odd about the Silver Line-Waterfront bus maps. They don't show the Silver Line.

Hey Charlie love your blog.
I work down in the Seaport District and usually catch the Silver Line at what they call "Silver Line Way". Yesterday I saw a couple of tourists looking at the bus map there and I offered to help.

They were looking for the Black Falcon Terminal and which bus to take and by mistake they had taken the bus to the Airport and were now trying to figure out which other Silver Line bus to take.

Charlie the map in the bus shelter doesn't have the Silver Line on it. It has all the other bus routes but nothing for SL1, SL2 or SL3. I read last week that the trip planner lost the Orange Line and now it looks like they lost a bus line as well!!

I got this letter about a week ago and I decided to check this out myself as I couldn't believe the T could lose a bus line.

I was wrong.

I went to the Silver Line Way station this morning and there is absolutly no mention of the SL Waterfront Lines on the map in the bus shelter. What makes this stranger is the bus shelter never existed until the Silver Line opened so it should not be a case of a map they never updated. Throw in the fact that the line has been running now for over two years one would think this oversight would have been corrected by now.

Now who exactly is at fault here I can't be sure. The shelters are maintained by WALL USA which was selected by the City of Boston to install 'street furniture' which includes automatic public toilets, newsstands, bus shelters, and information kiosks. They are probably the people responsible for the maps in the shelters but does the T print the maps or does WALL do so.

In any event the maps are out of date and it is pretty useless to have a bus map that doesn't show the bus you are waiting for.

Jeff from Abington had a run in with MBTA Police on Sunday morning

I enjoy your blog and badtransit.com very much as it shows me I am not alone at thinking the T could be a lot better. This morning I had occasion to be confronted by MBTA Police Officers because I was reading a newspaper.

I had missed my train from Abington this morning so I drove to Braintree to catch the Red Line to Boston. Outside Braintree station I picked up a newspaper in a box right outside the ststion entrance for something to read going in town.

As we left North Quincy 2 MBTA officers approached me and told me I was reading pornography on the train and that is not allowed. What I was reading is a newspaper called Barstool Sports which can be a little racy but nothing that is outlandish in todays society. They even demanded to see my ID.

I have never even gotten as much as a parking ticket in my life and I am being harrassed for reading a newspaper I picked up at a T station?

-Jeff-
Abington, MA

Jeff this report leaves me speechless. I know the paper you were reading and yes they are known for covers with beautiful women wearing as little as possible but it certainly in no way comes close to being pornography.

This has to be brought to the attention of the Transit Police because from what you report this really makes one wonder about the judgement abilty of these officers.

Here is the person to contact

Joseph C. Carter
Chief of MBTA Transit Police
617-222-1100
MBTA Transit Police Department
240 Southampton Street Boston, MA 02118

You can also check out their website at http://transitpolice.us/

which informs us that


Please let us know what happens with this

"Important 2007 Fare Information" you may not have seen

The MBTA Forum's moderator somehow got his hands on an 8-page PDF file containing all of the "seat drop leaflets" that the T distributed for the 2007 fare increase. The file contains sheets that were left on zoned local buses, express buses, Silver Line Washington Street, Green Line surface branches, Mattapan Line replacement buses, and inner harbor ferries.

These leaflets contain a lot of useful information that isn't on the T's website. Why didn't the T put them online?

Important 2007 Fare Information

New Light Rail line begins operations in San Francisco (updated)

The San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) begins limited operation of the their new light rail line (trolley) on Saturday, January 13th. The new line will be known as the T-Third will run starting at the Castro Station, down the Market Street Metro subway, around The Embarcadero and down Third Street to Sunnydale Avenue bringing sleek, modern light-rail service to some of San Francisco's most isolated, neglected and impoverished neighborhoods. ( unlike another city we can think of that decided residents would be happy with a bus).

When the line begins full operation in April it will mean some changes on other MUNI trolley lines. N-JUDAH: The N line will now terminate at the Embarcadero Station (not 4th & King) J-CHURCH: During peak hours only, the J line terminates at 4th & King. During regular hours it continues to terminate at The Embarcadero station.

For more information you can check out coverage from the MUNI website, The San Francisco Chronicle and the Examiner.

UPDATE

A review of the first day of the lines operation from the SF Chronicle

A New Look At The City

Muni's new T-Third line gives views of SF that many folks won't recognize.

Photos

New line links isolated areas to downtown

(T Memo) Green Line fare collection procedure

Somebody at the T passed this along to the blog. It is the memo given to all Green Line personal explaining the new fare collection procedures. It explains what is expected from both the employees and the passengers. Of course the T has yet to print or post something similar for the paying customers so we do so here.

Because there is no way to attach the document on the blog it has been scanned and converted to text.

OPERATIONS SPECIAL ORDER #06-180
TO: ALL GREEN LINE OPERATIONS AND OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTER (OCC) PERSONNEL
SUBJECT: NEW GREEN LINE FARE COLLECTION PROCEDURES

The new fare policy has established guidelines for the restructured MBTA fare policy. The new fare policy supports the MBTA's mission of providing high quality public transportation services, provides fare equity for the benefit of our customers, and maximizes fare revenue.

Green Line Surface Stops
With the implementation of the new fare system on January 1, 2007, customers will be required to pay the fare at all surface stops on the Green Line, both inbound (eastbound) and outbound (westbound). Green Line Motorpersons will open all right side doors of the streetcar at all surface stops with the exception of the off reservation stops on the E Line between Fenwood Road and Heath Street. (At the off reservation stops on the E Line Motorpersons will continue to open front door only for safety reasons.) It is anticipated that opening all doors will reduce station dwell time and ultimately will provide a faster trip for our customers.

CharlieCards (both time based and stored value), Senior/TAP, and Students are able to board Rear Doors with receipt from platform validator, verification from hand-held validator, or from the farebox.

CharlieTicket holders can board read doors if ticket is inspected visually.

Cash passengers must board at the front.

Special Order #06-180 Page 2
• Hand-held Validator
Officials and Ambassadors will be located on various surface stops. Some of them will have hand­held validator that can be used to validate CharlieCards. The hand-held validators are small personal computers that will be held in the hand of designated Officials and/or Fare Ambassadors.

Passengers with CharileCards can approach the Official holding a validator to deduct fare or to verify proof of payment. The card has to be tapped to the validator. The hand-held validator will evaluate the card data, read, and provide information for the appropriate action to be executed by the smart card reader depending on the type of card:

> Valid time based pass: validate the pass by displaying the device number and validation
date/time.
> Stored Value Card: deduct fare and display device number and validation date/time to the card

The hand-held validator will provide distinct audible feedback whether a card was successfully validated or validation was not possible. The display screen will show for valid cards the remaining value or validity depending on the type of card. An appropriate error message in case the card could not be validated, e.g. "Not enough value", "Expired", etc.

There is a button that can be set for the unit to be used in the "Validation Mode" or the "Inspection Mode" and back. In inspection mode it will only read the card information and display it to the operator without deducting value from the card. When card information is displayed an additional "Card History" button will be available to show the last 10 transactions on that card.

There is a glove type carrying case that will allow the Official to read cards through the reader located on the back of the operator's hand while the handheld will be placed in his palm This allows people to tap the card while the operator can observe the display at the same time. The glove is equipped with a shoulder strap. The glove suits both right- and left-handed persons. The glove will be made from a waterproof material.

Special Order #06-180 Page 3
• Platform Validator

There will be "Platform Validators" at some selected surface stops on the Green Line, including all D and E line stops (excluding off-reservation stops on the E Line). The customers will use the platform validators themselves. They will receive receipts signifying that they paid their fare by using a platform validator. It is easy to use. However, employees may have to explain the procedure to our customers. Use will deduct value from stored value CharlieCard or CharlieTickets and/or will validate time based passes on ChariieCards or CharlieTickets.

Designated Platform Officials and Ambassadors

During the introduction of the new fare policy, MBTA personnel will be stationed at many of the Green Line surface stops, and will assist with fare collection. The Green Line is assigning designated Officials and Ambassadors to surface stops during periods of high ridership. These individuals will be dedicated to fare related issues, such as informing our customers of new fare structure, instructing MBTA customers on how to use the fare equipment, and ensuring that customers pay the correct fare. With the introduction of new fare equipment, such as the platform validator and the hand-held validator, customers are able to board the rear doors. The Platform Officials and Ambassadors will assist in validating fare media and they will assist with rear door boarding.

Officials and Ambassadors will ensure that customers utilizing the rear doors during peak periods have paid the proper fare and/or have the appropriate pass or receipt before boarding. After peak periods, the Official or Ambassador may be required to board vehicles traveling both east and westbound and check that customers have a valid CharlieTicket and/or have proof that they have paid their fare. Officials and Ambassadors must ensure that consistent fare collection procedures are followed.

Green Line Motorpersons' Responsibilities

Green Line Motorpersons must familiarize themselves with the new fare structure and fare equipment. Every employee with the responsibility of collecting fares must be aware of fare media and be able to assist our customers in using new fare media and/or equipment. As stated in the above paragraph, at the inception of the new fare structure, personnel will be available on platforms to assist with fare collection. The fare media chart lists the various fare media, where customers can purchase fare media, how customers can obtain proof of payment, and how customers can board a streetcar.

Streetcar Motorpersons:
• Will open all doors at all stops (except on the E line off reservation).
• Must issue a receipt to cash paying customers.
o At locations with a platform validator, or where there is an Official or Ambassador with a hand-held validator, the sole responsibility of the Motorperson will be to provide a receipt to cash paying customers and to oversee CharlieTicket and CharlieCard transactions at the farebox.

o At platforms without a validator, or an Official or Ambassador, Motorpersons will open all doors, however the Motorperson must ask all customers who board through the rear doors to come to the front and provide proof of payment or verify that they have paid.

• In order to expedite service, Motorpersons should encourage customers to board at the front and exit at the rear.

Special Order #06-180 Page 4

• During off peak times, Motorpersons are required to make the following announcements when customers board using the side or rear door;
"Attention please, customers who have just boarded the streetcar through the side or rear door must come to the front to pay their fare or to show proof that they have a valid CharlieTicket. Thank You."

While the safety of our customers, employees, and the public is paramount, operating personnel must not lose sight of the importance of running dependable and efficient service. If you are delayed due to fare issues, call the OCC Dispatcher and inform them so that they will be able to take action to address the situation.

at this point the memo simply prints the Fare Media and Passes guide
of note and this is something that has caused confusion on the Silver Line the past 2 weeks

The T subway system is comprised of the Blue, Orange, Green, Red, and even part of the Silver Line. Silver Line 'Waterfront" falls under our subway fare structure noted below, while Silver Line 'Washington St' falls under the bus fare structure.

Special Order #06-180 Page 5

All employees shall use good judgment in settling fare disputes. Keep in mind the dignity of the customer and the right of the Authority to collect a fare for its services.
If you have any questions regarding this directive, please contact your Supervisor's Office, the OCC Dispatcher, the Heavy Rail Training School or the Light Rail Training School
Thank you.

Anna M. Barry
Director of Subway Operations

John J. McLaughlin
Director, Systemwide Modernization
Automated Fare Collection

John P. Hogan, Jr.
Director of OCC & Training
for Subway & Bus Operations

Cheryl A. Hinton
Director of Bus Operations
& Engineering

December 28, 2006
Distribution List attached

The last 4 pages of the memo is a FAQ list which is available on the T's website

So loyal readers we now know that the T did have a plan in place, they just never bothered to explain it to us the customers. Now we know that validators are on the E Line as well but for some reason they have for now not installed them on key stops along the B and C Lines. My thanks to unnamed T employees who are trying to get the word out to the riders.

The T's love affair with SIEMENS AG

For reasons only the Board of Directors of the MBTA can tell us the T has been using Siemens AG of Germany as a major vendor on the Silver Line, Blue Line and the GPS system on the entire bus fleet. To say the least Siemens record on T projects has been spotty.

The new Blue Line cars were supposed to be in service 2 years ago but the project has been delayed over and over again. A month ago the Globe wrote of the latest problems with the cars that include leaking doors and smoking air-conditioning systems. The T board approved purchase of the new cars in November 2001, with delivery of the first ones scheduled for January 2004. Siemens was hoping the Blue Line contract would give them a foothold in the United States subway market so one can assume they lowballed the bid to the T to get the contract. Once again the T is learning that you get what you pay for. For whatever reason you never see experienced subway manufacturers like ALSTOM in the Boston market. Coming on top of the BREDA fiasco on the Green Line you just have to scratch your head at how this continues to happen to the T. The Siemens website proudly tells us about the new Blue Line trains and their specs but doesn't mention when they plan to deliver them.

For the Silver Line Siemens touts these improvements (PDF) On paper it seems wonderful and I'm sure their salesman did a fine job selling them to the T but the problem is they have never worked as designed. The T's public response last April was "most of the technology developed for reliable and efficient service on the Silver Line is operational today -- sort of." But when it comes to letting riders know when the next bus is due, ''the MBTA has not been satisfied with the accuracy of the 'real-time arrival' messages," he said.
The contractor is working on fixing flaws in the software, said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo. If they can be fixed, the ''next bus arrival" information will soon be displayed.

The contractor is the Siemens division in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

But not only did Siemens get the contract for the Silver Line they also got the contract for the GPS system for the entire bus fleet. The system is called TRANSITMASTER and as you can see from the company website it is supposed to do everything but drive the bus. Next time you are on a T bus you can see the Transitmaster display to the drivers left. It tells him at a glance how early or late he is and if he is early he is supposed to adjust. It also runs the automatic announcements (Loud & Clear - ADA Announcements ) It would be nice if the computer could be taught to pronounce Lechmere correctly.

I have spoken to several drivers who said the original test vendor for GPS did a much better job but was shutout by Siemens when the entire system went out to bid. That vendor was a company known as Clever Devices who did have the test contract with the MBTA a few years ago. They currently have contracts with Chicago, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Dallas, Long Island, Pittsburgh, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Sacramento and elsewhere. In Chicago the computer announcements sound human with a pleasant male voice. The SF Muni now ever offers real time status on their website for select transit routes. Will Siemens get it to work in Boston? We can only hope but the Silver Line is 4 years old and it hasn't been fixed.

Sadly as long as the MBTA keeps awarding contracts to the low bidder we the riders are going to suffer. In any event the T should make sure they never allow Siemens to bid ever again. They promise well but they simply do not deliver. Three strikes and out.