i^_cc[ho - Teens in Print

SPORTS ANDRECREATIONOut with the old and in with the new? Effective March 22, new busschedules will go into effect (they are updated quarterly). 155 new busesfrom New Flyer Industries will enter service allowing older buses to beretired, reducing breakdowns. GPS tracking systems are being installed onthe entire bus fleet, which the T hopes will reduce delays. On the rail sideof things, signal work on the Orange Line is expected to be completed byearly summer, which could mean increased headways. Plus, midlife overhaulsare slated to begin on the Green Line’s Type 7 cars (built 1987) andRed Line’s 1700 series cars (built 1988), improving vehicle reliability.Photo by: Alana AndonianBefore I get started, I just want to apologize for a smallbit of misinformation. In the last issue, I mentioned thatwhen the Mattapan High Speed Line reopened the farewould be $1.25. As of print time, that was the plan. In a last minutemove, however, the MBTA decided to charge a rapid transit fare of $1.70 for theservice. Since this development came after deadline, I was unable to make the correctionuntil now. I am sorry if I misled anyone into thinking otherwise.Speaking of the Mattapan High Speed Line, CharlieCard users may have noticedsomething strange. You board the bus, heading toward Mattapan Station. You tapyour card and pay $1.25. Arriving at the station, you tap your card again on the trolley,but with the transfer you pay only $0.45. Finally you arrive at Ashmont.Heading downtown, the Red Line is the last leg of your trip. So, youhop off the trolley and tap your card on the fare box above the RedLine platform. Running downstairs to catch the train, you probablydidn’t notice the $1.70 the machine took off your card. The extra$1.70. Wait a minute: $1.25 for the bus, $0.45 for the trolley, and$1.70 for the Red Line. Do the math and you have spent a total of$3.40! Pretty steep for a one-way trip, isn’t it? Makes you wonderabout alternate transportation.If you attend East Boston High School, you use the BlueLine at least twice a day. Each morning you run to catchthe Blue Line, hoping to get to school on time. Seeing the27-year-old train enter the station, new trains might soundnice. Surprisingly, the MBTA did order new subway cars…in 2001. The company, Siemens Transportation SystemsInc., has failed to deliver on their promise. The first test carsarrived last summer. The MBTA hoped to introduce themby the new year. Technical problems, however,delayed their debut until late January (then again toFebruary). Keep your fingers crossed.Photos by: Stuart Spinai.