Davis T station has been Charlie converted

[ron_newman]

As of this morning, the Davis T station has been converted to Charlie gates.

Comments

[magid.livejournal.com]

For those with passes it means nothing really.
Actually, it's the annoyance of having to stop and wait for the machine to let me through. And the loud noise.

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

And the fare boxes jamming up and eating passes.

[ron_newman]

Does that happen often? I haven't seen it yet, and I've been using at least some Charlie stations for months.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I've not seen it. I use a monthly pass. Wonder if it's more of a problem with the paper cards.

[ron_newman]

since I now buy my monthly passes from the machines, they are paper just like the stored-value tickets.

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

The paper cards are the ones that get stuck.

[xxv.livejournal.com]

Really? Are they still a fixed amount per month?

I'm waiting for the RFID cards to come about. That'll reduce the jamming problem that seems to disable the machines every week or so.

[ron_newman]

Yep, you put $44 into the machine (well, I use a debit card instead), and you get a piece of cardboard with 'CharlieTicket' and a magstrip on one side, and "NOV 2006 Subway Pass" and a big S and an orange arrow on the other side. I've been buying them this way since June. The next month's pass goes on sale on the 15th of each month.

[xxv.livejournal.com]

Convenient that it's the 15th, but I'd be wary of putting so much value into a piece of paper (vs. the more durable plastic). Do you find that the printing wears off over the course of a month?

[ron_newman]

That's never happened to me. I keep my pass in a wallet slot; if you put it somewhere else the results may be different.

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

I think it happens more often on the new bus fare boxes but, judging by the number of people in line for new passes when I had to get one, YES. The MBTA neglected to open a new office for replacement passes and is having an already busy department take care of it.

[komos.livejournal.com]

You'll also see the cost of the spiffy new gate system reflected in fare hikes!

[matthew miller (from livejournal.com)]

Yeah, geez, the buzzer going off all the time while waiting for the train isn't gonna be pleasant.

On the other issue, though, the stop-and-wait initially at least seems more pleasant then when you scan your pass and then step into the turnstyle only to realize that the card didn't register. Ow!

[cook-ting.livejournal.com]

My nether regions are definitely happy the metal arms of the turnstyle are gone.

[spatch]

I agree. There've been several times when, rushing to catch the train, I'd unsuccessfully swipe my card at the turnstile and then rack myself against the unmovable arm as I tried to run through.

AWESOME>