The blog that started it all! Check out reviews of every bus route and train station in Boston, as well as ongoing reviews of the regional bus systems in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Recent Posts from Miles on the MBTA
PVTA: R44 (Florence Heights via King Street and Bridge Road)
You know it's a bad route when it reminds you of the GATRA. We're not talking about the "empty, deviatory minibus" side of GATRA today, though...no, the R44 harkens most to the "somewhat less empty, deviatory full-sized bus" side of GATRA. It reminded me a lot of...
Logan Airport Shuttle: 22/33 (Serves Terminals A & B or C & E to subway station and to Rental Car Center)
The 22 and the 33 are the Logan Airport shuttles that everybody takes. Linking the Blue Line station and the Rental Car Center to the airport, they can often be quite busy - that's why there are two routes to even out the crowds better. We'll be looking at both today....
PVTA: Northampton Academy of Music
Being a big hub for the PVTA, one would imagine that Northampton would have a relatively substantial terminal. No? How about a moderately substantial terminal? A single shelter, huh? Well...okay, that works too... Huh. Yeah, it's basically just a shelter, and a dingy...
WRTA: Westborough Shuttle (Westborough MBTA – Computer Drive (Commuter)/Westborough Local)
Ohhhhh, we're in for a good one here...if "good" means "REALLY REALLY TERRIBLE." I don't even know where to begin with this one. Uhhh...okay, so it's split into three "routes" that only run at certain times: a "commuter" route at rush hour, a "downtown commuter" route...
PVTA: 31 (Sunderland/South Amherst)
Finally! Our first PVTA review! As you may know, I'm doing a Summer Transportation Institute at UMass, so it makes sense that the first review out here would be of one of the system's UMass routes. The 31 is actually one of the busiest routes on the PVTA (Pioneer...
Westborough
Westborough, Westborough, Westborough...it's a modern Commuter Rail station with a ridiculously high footbridge. That's about its only notable feature... Yup, that's a huge footbridge. Westborough has a sizeable lot, with 448 spaces, but according to this page, the...
Greenfield (Amtrak)
Welp...I'm officially jealous of Greenfield. Their bus system, the FRTA, only gets about 155,000 riders annually, yet they get this absolutely amazing terminal! Some of the T's antiquated hubs can get that much in a week! Oh well...as long as we're out here, we'll...
WRTA: 11 (Union Station Hub – The Fair Plaza via Vernon Hill and Greenwood Street)
I'm not trying to stereotype, but...are all WRTA drivers really mean? I mean, Nathan and I tried to go to the end and back from Walmart on the 11 twice. The first time, the driver wouldn't even let us on, so we ended up on the 1 instead; we were able to do it the...
FRTA: 23 (Sutherland/Greenfield)
I still have more WRTA routes to cover, but I figured I'd start interlining the PVTA stuff in between them to vary it up a bit. Except...what's this? Yes, my first PVTA review isn't even a PVTA review, but an FRTA review! This is a system I've been wanting to ride for...
WRTA: 1 (Union Station Hub – Mount Saint Ann via Providence Street)
The 1 used to be the shortest, stubbiest little route, and I always wondered how the heck it could possibly get ridership. Ever since the demise of the 22, though, the 1 has been rerouted to cover some of the lost service, as well as extended to Walmart for...some...
WRTA: A (Northbridge Walmart – Shoppes at Blackstone Valley via Fisherville)
Alright, take the B. Give it a bunch of extra deviations. Make it have a significantly worse schedule and way fewer riders. That's the A! The bus at Walmart, with an actual sign! Leaving Walmart, we went down a hill out of the parking lot and turned onto Main Street....
James Asks…
What do you think are the best D Line stations regarding functionality, aesthetics, and structure? The D Line is generally consistent with regards to its stations, but there are definitely some standouts along the line. First, in terms of functionality at least,...
WRTA: B (New Village – Rockdale – Stop and Shop – Grafton MBTA Station)
Time to check out that "dubious-looking minibus" we saw in Grafton! This is the B, one of the WRTA's "Community Shuttle Flex Van Services," a long-winded name that basically means it's a minibus route that one can call in to deviate for 3/4 of a mile if they so wish....
Grafton
Ohhhh, Grafton, you're lucky the Commuter Rail tracks don't come anywhere near your town center...otherwise, I would have to complain about this place being in the middle of nowhere! Which...yeah, it is. Interesting lighting from the bright morning sun. For a modern...
Christopher Asks…
What are the quaintest towns/commuter stations on the lines you have seen in your travels? Based on a pass through the Commuter Rail stations I've reviewed, I came up with a few towns or stations that were quite quaint: Greenbush Sure, the station itself is boring....