Battle of the Transit Systems 3: Greater Boston's MBTA vs. Greater Philadelphia's SEPTA (better, compared)

[Rwarky]

From your own experiences of ridership among greater Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Aurthority (MBTA) and/or greater Phildedelphia's Southeastern Pennsylvannia Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which transit system do find to the most user friendly, efficient, accessible, and is superior to its counterpart?

[Blackbeauty212]

I would have to give the nod to Boston both transit agencies are extensive and cover their regions well.. But Boston has a much more progressive transit system...

SEPTA is held back by the fact rural PA does not want any transportation dollars going to the big city Transit Agencies and everything is suppose to go to the Roads...This type of constraint holds SEPTA and PAT (Pittsburgh) from becoming more Progressive and will ultimately leads to the Big Cities of PA to cut Transit when they both need to be expanding....

Boston has a fully functional modern day fare collection system and is very convenient...

SEPTA still uses ZONES and TOKEN and non refillable Unlimited Transit Cards...SEPTA does not make it easy in obtaining TOKENS. Why on earth not all BSL and MFE stations don't have token machines is beyond me.

[Rwarky]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I would have to give the nod to Boston both transit agencies are extensive and cover their regions well.. But Boston has a much more progressive transit system...

SEPTA is held back by the fact rural PA does not want any transportation dollars going to the big city Transit Agencies and everything is suppose to go to the Roads...This type of constraint holds SEPTA and PAT (Pittsburgh) from becoming more Progressive and will ultimately leads to the Big Cities of PA to cut Transit when they both need to be expanding....

Boston has a fully functional modern day fare collection system and is very convenient...

SEPTA still uses ZONES and TOKEN and non refillable Unlimited Transit Cards...SEPTA does not make it easy in obtaining TOKENS. Why on earth not all BSL and MFE stations don't have token machines is beyond me.

Thanks for the quick response.

[tmac9wr]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I would have to give the nod to Boston both transit agencies are extensive and cover their regions well.. But Boston has a much more progressive transit system...

SEPTA is held back by the fact rural PA does not want any transportation dollars going to the big city Transit Agencies and everything is suppose to go to the Roads...This type of constraint holds SEPTA and PAT (Pittsburgh) from becoming more Progressive and will ultimately leads to the Big Cities of PA to cut Transit when they both need to be expanding....

Boston has a fully functional modern day fare collection system and is very convenient...

SEPTA still uses ZONES and TOKEN and non refillable Unlimited Transit Cards...SEPTA does not make it easy in obtaining TOKENS. Why on earth not all BSL and MFE stations don't have token machines is beyond me.

Arghhh, tokens! I remember when I was a little kid and we had to get tokens too...I think Boston converted to the CharlieCard around 2003, but I don't remember. I will say, the card system is fantastic. I don't envy SEPTA in that regard.

Overall, Boston and Philadelphia both have fantastic systems, but I think Boston's system is a bit better. Consolidating the ticketing system would be great for SEPTA.

[kidphilly]

I would give the nod to Boston, seems to be more functional overall, on regional rail they seem a tie, but have more experience with SEPTA, on the Boston T, it beats the SEPTA subways (even if you include the PATCO line), buses are probably about equal...

[lammius]

SEPTA vs MBTA, eh?

Subways: Boston for coverage
Light rail/streetcars: Tie
Buses: Boston for the Silver Line.
Commuter rail: probably a tie
Ease of use/fare collection: Boston

Therefore, Boston overall.

[OyCrumbler]

Boston, definitely.

Philadelphia's is great compared to the rest of the nation, but it's also really underwhelming.

[Rwarky]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

I would give the nod to Boston, seems to be more functional overall, on regional rail they seem a tie, but have more experience with SEPTA, on the Boston T, it beats the SEPTA subways (even if you include the PATCO line), buses are probably about equal...

In what way does MBTA's subway beat SEPTA's?

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Rwarky

In what way does MBTA's subway beat SEPTA's?

To me the broader T or whatever they call it, including lines like the Red line etc are more functional than are SEPTAs

[nei]

Boston's subways seem to cover the city (or cities since it goes into adjacent cities) with more lines and has more ridership. Seems especially impressive since Boston is a smaller city. Philly's commuter rail is electrified and seems to have denser coverage but doesn't cover as many distance places. Boston's commuter rail has a bit less ridership, too.