Give the B Line a Break

No one denies that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is one of the worst transit systems in the United States - which happens to have the most inefficient systems, compared to the rest of the modernized world. You can travel from Paris to London in two hours on Rail Europe, while it can take an hour to ride the T from Newton to Government Center in the tiny city of Boston.

The MBTA has also, to the dismay of many in its already unhappy customer base, raised its prices from $0.85 to $2 in a matter of five years ($1.70 with a Charlie Card).

Charlie also brought a cancellation of the free outbound rides, though many sneak on, chancing an embarrassing, "Please come up to the front to pay your fare," from the underpaid conductor, who has yet to see the fruits of this abhorrently augmented price.

Luckily, unlike the dwellers of that other university on Commonwealth Avenue, we have the option of choosing between three different Green Line branches for optimal access to different stops in and around the city.

So I decided to conduct an admittedly unscientific and barely objective case study of fastest ways to get into the city. The conclusion? Give the B Line a break.

If I had a nickel for every grievance made against the B Line I could buy one of those coveted monthly-link Charlie passes.

In my investigation, however, I was able to find a small population of people who have uncovered some of the many benefits that come from taking the right line at the right time - including the Boston College line.

It is important to understand that the T will probably not change any time soon until there is a drastic overhaul of the outdated layouts from late 19th century Boston, a highly unlikely operation since it is notorious for having the highest debt load of any transit agency. In essence, making the most of the present situation is the only way to afford some stress that is sure to be experienced later on, while trying to cram the 300-plus terms for your philosophy final during the study days. The B Line is more tolerable than its reputation makes it out to be.

In his "BC's 95 Theses" (Feb. 11), Heights senior staff member Reeves Wiedeman proposed adding "a BC bus stop next to the B Line station so students can decide for themselves whether the B or D Line will be quicker into the city." Well of course the D Line is quicker (everyone knows that). But is it? It all depends on a few conditions.

The D Line is hands-down the quicker route into Boston when it is taken from Upper Campus or the Commonwealth Avenue bus stops.

On a lucky day, it is possible to catch the bus right away, but on a Murphy's Law day, where you happen to be among the unfortunate people watching a bus drive by as they approach the stop, no one will blame you if you cross your arms and pout as you wait for 10 or more minutes for the next bus to come.

From these two bus stops, it would be fair to expect a seven- to 10-minute ride to Reservoir. Expect then no more than a five- to 10-minute wait at the actual station while waiting for the T. You can then plan for a 25-minute ride from Reservoir to the end of the line.

In the best-case scenario of good timing, without any wait, it is possible to get to Government Center in less than 40 minutes; in the Murphy's Law worst-case scenario, close to 60 minutes.

From Upper Campus, it is also advantageous to take the D Line by taking a seven-minute walk down Hammond Street (right across from McElroy) to get to the Chestnut Hill stop - this is like going to Reservoir, but better. This shaves off the possible 25 minutes of waiting for and riding on the Commonwealth Avenue bus, while getting some exercise to defer complaints of the Freshman 15 - a great option for the spring.

It is a different story for the upperclassmen who live on Lower Campus. As unreliable as the B Line might be, the perks are hidden to most people who think that there is such a wide discrepancy in the speed of the expedition.

Sure, the frequent stops of the B Line make it the more sluggish train, but from Lower Campus, it is not too far behind. The Commonwealth Avenue Bus has to circle around campus to get to Reservoir from Lower Campus, and it may or may not take a 10-minute break along the way.

The 25 minutes you save by taking the D Line is dissipated by the bus, which can have you waiting in the cold for far too long. The B Line has a short wait at the station, and in the winter it will keep you warmer for longer.

Also, the sluggish B Line provides a perfect reading opportunity, saving you some cram space during finals and some frustration on how slow the line is moving.

The champion perk of the B Line, however, is the outbound surprise that happens every so often when you find yourself on an express train to Boston College - this bypasses a majority of those stubbornly close stops and horns in a little to help out the rivalry (pun intended), as the grunts and sighs of the Boston University students that then have to get off the express to Boston College trolley are priceless.

Don't let the D-lovers completely fool you; be assured that you can just as well step on the Boston College line with as much peace of mind, efficiency, and pride as the D Line.

Nidia Fevry is a Heights staff columnist. She welcomes comments at fevry@bcheights.com.