Now, Bostonist has said it before and we'll say it again: The implementation of the new Charlie Ticket system has been nothing but dumb. You might arrive in town by plane, go to the Airport stop, and be forced to purchase a Charlie Ticket, since tokens are not available there. But then when you want to go back to the airport after some glorious vacation time in Cambridge, your Charlie Ticket is worthless at Central Square. If that makes you angry, well, we feel your pain. But you must understand this: The lady who sells tokens at Central Square cannot help you. She was surely not consulted on the implementation of the Charlie Ticket system, and has likely been specifically instructed not to let angry Charlie Ticket holders in for free. There is no need to curse at her. And when the beleaguered-looking fellow behind you (this Bostonist), the one who is only getting on the T to go to work at 11:30 because he has spent the morning in the ER at Cambridge Hospital after falling off his bike on the way to work and tearing a muscle in his shoulder (hence the sling), gently suggests that you not blame the token lady for the T's dumb policy, don't curse at him too, or if you do, do so quickly, buy a token, and don't make him miss the goddamn train. Because then, all that stands between you and being throttled is that guy's inability to use his left arm.
Coping with the Changeover to CharlieTicket: A Primer
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i thought this could be useful , anyhow funny !
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Why on earth couldn't they use the existing T pass readers at every station and Green Line train to accept CharlieTicket everywhere?
At Central Square? Can't you use the Charlie ticket at the unstaffed entrance(s)? Seems to me that token-selling lady should have known that. It's a pain, but if saving the $1.25 is the point, go back up the stairs and go down the other entrance.
Ouch... I hope you're right-handed.
At Central Square? Can't you use the Charlie ticket at the unstaffed entrance(s)?
According to Charlie 101, no you cannot use a stored value Charlie Ticket at unconverted stations. The ticket can only be read by new fare equipment, not the equipment that has always been able to read old style T Passes. Stored Value Charlie Tickets are simply not accepted at unconverted stations. Charlie Ticket monthly or weekly passes are by showing them to the station attendent.
Excellent post, people shouldn't be taking out their frustration on the T's staff, and they certainly should beware of an injured Cantabrigian trying not to miss his train.
Just one problem with the orginal post. How would a visitor to Boston be able to make his/her way from Airport Station to Central Square? Surely they would have killed a station attendent when they first realized the red and blue lines do not connect.
According to Charlie 101, no you cannot use a stored value Charlie Ticket at unconverted stations. The ticket can only be read by new fare equipment, not the equipment that has always been able to read old style T Passes.
I guess I was unclear. There are new gates at Central Square, just not at the main entrances with staffed booths. The station is partly converted. So can't the Charlie ticket be used there?
Two weeks ago, there was a token purchasing line at the Alewife station that extended all the way out the entrance doors. Why? The token lady was retarded and she couldn't sell tokens fast enough. Solution: A second T worker came out with a metal pan, placed it next to the open gate and told people to pass if they had $1. The big problem was that people were asking for quarters in change and the T was out of quarters. I'm assuming Charlie Ticket vending machines are going to get rid of the whole "change" return issue. I still have my Charlie Ticket from 3 months ago when I got on the blue line from the airport. Haven't used it since. Somehow the system seems to be flawed... before it even takes off.
While I agree that the current changeover is a huge pain in the butt, does anyone really expect that the T, in its current sorry state, could have transitioned all stations over at once? I mean, maybe they could be doing it faster than they are, considering how slow construction, etc, is in this state, but I don't see how it wasn't going to be awkward. When the transition is finished, I think it's going to be a HUGE improvement, and a big step in the right direction for the T. The T will no doubt continue sucking in a myriad of other ways, but I'm optimistic that they will have elminated a terrible fare collection system as one of their problems once this process is finished.
Tragedy could have been averted had you let the disgruntled traveler "piggyback" with you through the unmanned, token-operated turnstyle just East of the main T entrance.
Nice post, Josh. If I were you, I would have just gone back aboveground, bought a small, clear, plastic bottle at Supreme Liquors, and joined the crew meandering around on the sidewalk.
how about the gf @ state st last week - blue line to aquarium, walk to state street - not an issue natch - however, tired tired MO lady barely could direct you to the entrance to the or-anj line and dis-freaking-gruntled tourists melting down because there was no one to hold their hand on the arduous, dangerous walk from oranj to blue? typical boston, typical massachusetts, typical mbta
Now go blog about it you big strong cantabrigian!
Damnit, I'm not a Cantabrigian. I'm a Somervillionaire!
They could do a much better job of posting up-to-date signs at every station, listing which stations are and aren't converted yet.