Previously I compared Boston's commuter rail ridership with a Japanese rail company's ridership. But what about subways?https://twitter.com/380kmh/status/839169646540513280 …
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Next is Kendall (15,433), then Charles (12,065), then Park (19,653), then Downtown Crossing (23,478) SOLID ridership so far!pic.twitter.com/uGJE1RHYyy
Next is South Station--the Red Line here sees 25,037 per day, while all commuter lines that stop here only see 21,772 combined!pic.twitter.com/UGgkdhn7Wf
Continuing south, ridership drops off a bit...Broadway gets 4,200, Andrew gets 6,425, and JFK/UMass gets 8,920pic.twitter.com/FCpMqJR0sE
Here the line splits...one branch goes to Savin Hill (2,440), Fields Corner (5,298), Shawmut (2,411), and Ashmont (9,239)pic.twitter.com/L8gMeWDQkh
...the other goes to North Quincy (6,975), Wollaston (4,624), Quincy Center (8,655), and Quincy Adams (4,785)...pic.twitter.com/pBocYj4uVD
...before reaching the terminal at Braintree (5,122 per day) These are good numbers, much better than Boston's commuter rail!pic.twitter.com/DRP7xKtRNh
Plenty of private railways in Japan don't see this level of daily ridership at their stations, yet still turn a profit. What gives?
Well, one problem for the Red Line is that much of its route is underground--subways are VERY expensive to maintain
...but I don't think that's the main culprit. The fact is that the Red Line leaves a ton of money on the table.
Look at those stations! Plenty of concrete and angular architecture, but where are the shops???
Charles/MGH Station is an egregious example of this: it was renovated some years ago into a spacious glass palace with NOTHING IN ITpic.twitter.com/3nDVhRUTry
Not even a Dunkin Donuts? Come on Boston, you're not even trying!! Where's the newsstand? The bookstore? The florist?pic.twitter.com/lRunz6W9D5
Another way Boston leaves money on the table: flat rate fares on the subway, regardless of distance travelled
This is essentially a subsidy for people travelling longer (more expensive to operate) trips, paid for by those going one or two stops
This is incredibly stupid, especially in the era of smart cards, and guarantees uneconomical patterns of use.
Last note here: do you think this is the MAXIMUM ridership these stations could see, given density of population and commerce around them?
I find the prospect difficult to believe--what would happen to ridership if the stations were kept sparkling clean?
Imagine cleaner, safer stations on the Red Line, with places to get food and drink--wouldn't people be more willing to ride?
Think about it...
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it's Portah, not Porter
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