MBTA is the truncated form of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It provides more than 1.3 million trips every day to people of Greater Boston through 4 subway lines, ferries, bus service, and commuter rail system. Amongst these, the MBTA subway is the most popular as it is a reliable and affordable service to avail, is the fastest mode, and operates on-schedule. In Boston, the MBTA is shortened to simply the ‘T’(also the MBTA logo), where the T stands for ‘transportation’.
The MBTA makes earnest efforts to introduce new additions to the existing cars, even replacing them with upgraded ones and new models. Tracks and signals also get remodeled consequently, ensuring faster and more efficient service to the commuters. New technology-driven cars attract new ridership and provide better service to the existing ones.
The T has five subway lines – the Red Line, the Blue Line, the Orange Line, and the Green Line. You travel by a Charlie Card or the Charlie ticket. The former is cheaper and more durable than the latter one. The Charlie Card, however, cannot be bought from a station’s vending machines, but you can get them from the T employees at the information booths inside the stations. They are also available at several retail places in the city.
The MBTA subway fares for a solo trip have been revised to $2.40 on a Charlie Card, Charlie ticket, or cash. A one-day pass will cost you $12; a 7-day pass will cost $22.50; and a 30-day pass will cost $90. The passes are meant for multiple rides. For entry into the station, you will need to insert the ticket into the slot, or tap the Charlie card on the black rectangular sensor (whichever you bought to travel), and pass quickly through the gate into the station.
As anywhere in the world, the subway is by far the most convenient and economical mode of public transport within Boston. Some of the important train routes include the Red Line (it runs from Alewife in North Cambridge through Somerville and Cambridge, and travels to Ashmont); the Blue Line (runs from the Bowdoin Station in downtown Boston and terminates at Wonderland); Green Line (starts from Union Square and terminates at Boston College); and the Orange Line (runs from the Oak Grove station in Malden, crossing the Mystic River, chugging into Charlestown and Forest Hills). Taking the 4 subway lines together, there are 128 stops in all.
Now let us apprise you of the procedures to follow if you were ever to lose your items on board an MBTA subway.
1. Report to the Lost Property Desk
It is advisable that you approach the Lost and Found Office at 3571, Pasadena Avenue, the moment you realize your loss. The office is operational between 9 am and 5 pm, Mondays through Saturdays. Explain the matter to them in person, and submit a loss item report. They will generate a reference number that will be useful to track the status of your claim online or whenever you wish to call the office for updates. They will also send you the number with an acknowledgment of your complaint via email. All official communication must happen via email.
2. Talk to the Customer Support
There are different numbers assigned for different T routes. The offices operate between 9 am and 4 pm Mondays through Fridays. Please take a look below at the different phone numbers for MBTA subway lines — Red Line (617-222-5321), Blue Line (617-222-5533), Green Line (617-222-5220) and Orange Line (617-222-5403). You can also call the main hotline on 617-222-3200.
For any information regarding your lost things, enlisting the right support and cooperation from the authorities in tracing them for you in time, you will primarily need to furnish them relevant details about the lost items – also mentioning the date, time, location, route number and subway line, along with any additional information that they may require to hunt down the missing objects.
If you have been a victim of robbery or theft, you may also report the incident and file a missing item complaint with the MBTA Transit Police by dialing 911 or calling 617-222-1212. You may even report emergencies via the MBTA See Say app which is monitored 24×7 and is promptly attended to by the staff.
3. Post an SOS on Social Media
You may simultaneously approach their social media team if you have lost something valuable on the train and are in a hurry to claim it. The platform is open to the public and messages go viral within seconds which may prompt someone in real time to trace and turn your things in to the MBTA authorities before your things get stolen or lost beyond recovery. Please post an SOS or a shoutout on MBTA’s Facebook or Twitter handles.
Someone will get in touch with you regarding your issue and a formal complaint will be logged into their system. If there’s a match with the description of your lost item on their database, you will be contacted for verification/identification. Confirmation from you will enable them to initiate a process to return your things for which you will be required to collect your items at an appointed hour and place. Please remember to carry a valid photo ID with you when you go to claim your things at their office.
