The MBTA's new ticketing system; useful or useless?

Three days a week I take the train from Lowell to Boston and then ride the Orange and Red line's to my workplace in Central Square, Cambridge. Recently, I've noticed several changes taking place in the MBTA's subway system. The old system of using tokens (gold colored coins about the size of a nickel) looks like its being replaced with a ticketing system. The method of entry is also changing as instead of three rotating arms you have two plastic panels that swing apart to let you through. To purchase a ticket you need to use one of the unattended machines. You can pay via cash, token, or credit card. After paying the $1.25, the machine ejects a credit card sized white ticket with a magnetic strip. You then walk over to the entry machines and insert the ticket into that machine to let you through.

All of this sounds pretty damn complicated compared to buying a token (or several tokens at a time, as I do) and inserting it into the machine to let you through. Needing to purchase a ticket from the ticket machine takes time, something that is very annoying when the train just pulled up and you need to wait in line to purchase a ticket, even though you're holding a previously purchased token in your hand. After purchasing the ticket and swiping it through the machine to let you through, what are you supposed to do with the now useless ticket? Most people simply place it on top of the machine after they've used it. Some, however, leave use it to litter the subway train. I'd think by now someone in the MBTA would see that they need a trash barrel on the other side of the entry machines, or a way to simply recycle the already used tickets. Yes, I understand that it's supposed to be your receipt, but if people never got receipts when they purchased tokens, why would care to have a receipt now? And why would the MBTA add all this complication of a ticketing system and create such confusion intentionally? Then today it dawned on me: It's easier to track people!

Each of the tickets has a date, time, and serial number on them. Who knows what other information is included in the magnetic strip when you purchase a ticket with your credit card! For now, the North Station subway stop still uses the token system, so I purchase all my tokens there and when I'm coming home I pay for a ticket with a token at Central Square. However, I know this is going to change soon because I've already seen the preparation starting for the ticketing system to be implemented in North Station as well.

Now I'm usually not the one to put down the use of technology on a daily basis, especially when it can make life easier and more streamlined. There are many advantages to the new ticketing system, some of which will not be seen until future methods of payment are implemented. With an electronic ticketing system, adding new methods of payment is rather easy. The ticketing machines could be modified to accept payment via cell phones, or the entry machines could be setup to accept payment from an RFID card that can be "refilled" online. None of that would be possible with a token based system. In addition, tracking people can be a useful security measure. Sure, it's an invasion of our privacy, but no more so than someone listening in on our cell phone call on the train, or being allowed to research our criminal (and other) history online.

In addition, statistical data from the electronic machines can be used to improve the subway system. With a token based system, someone could buy 50 tokens, sell them to several friends, and each of the friends could then use the tokens at any MBTA subway entry point. With a ticket based system, you know exactly where the ticket was purchased and then exactly where (and how long after the purchase) it was used.

The transition phase from a token based system to a full fledged ticketing system will take a little while, and there will no doubt be some bumps along the way. What the MBTA really needs to implement, at least in the short term, is a pay-as-you-go card that allows you to access any MBTA subway entry point and only be charged for what you use; perhaps automatically to your credit card. I don't go into Boston often enough to purchase a monthly pass, so I'm forced to purchase a bunch of tokens and use them as I go. Once the system is entirely moved over to the ticketing method, it will take me considerably more time to commute in the subway; especially if there are lines at the ticket machines.