NBC Boston joined Miles Taylor, who has spent countless hours reviewing MBTA stations and routes, on one of his “Transit Adventures.”
Miles Taylor probably knows more about the intricacies of public transit in Massachusetts than anyone else in the state - including the MBTA itself.
The 18-year-old Cambridge high school senior has reviewed every MBTA subway station and bus route in the region on his blog Miles on the MBTA. Hundreds of hours and many, many miles, have brought him to strange places and given him a unique perspective on the region.
He takes these “Transit Adventures,” as he calls them, very seriously and analyzes the pros and cons of each station/route with a fine-toothed comb. Benches, bathrooms, ridership, schedules, stairways and doorways are all put under his microscope before he gives his final verdict.
The MBTA itself has even made map corrections and bus route changes thanks to this young expert’s feedback. That might also be why they decided to bring the aspiring consultant on board as an intern this summer.
Find out more about Miles during our journey from North Station to Lowell, North Billerica and back again in the video above. And don’t miss his spot-on impression of the transit announcements that haunt commuters each and every day.
Check out Miles' 5 Best and Top 5 Worst subway stations in the Boston area:
The Best
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Miles on the MBTA
Miles on the MBTA
Verdict: 10/10n"I really can't think of anything I don't like about Beachmont! It's a beautiful station, and very functional, with a larger-than-needed parking lot. Plus, it's elevated! Perhaps this isn't my favorite station on the Blue Line (Maverick is very cool), but it has no glaring problems that I can think of. And it's definitely my second-favorite, or perhaps it even gets the number-one spot. Thus, Beachmont gets the elusive 10/10 score."
Miles on the MBTA
Verdict: 8/10n"I love how well-designed this station is. The really wide platform is definitely a standout for me. The entrance is nice, as well. The best part? Definitely the (I know, pretty useless) LED map. This is the only place on the system with something like this, and that makes it all the more unique. I only wish this station had some bus shelters - or at least some benches in the lobby. Benches can't be very expensive, can they? Nonetheless, this is definitely a station I recommend you pay a visit to."
Miles on the MBTA
Miles on the MBTA
"Okay, so it may have a few minor flaws - the shaking and the entrance - but it's totally worth taking the train over the Longfellow Bridge. The stupid fence is there right now, though the view from the other side is, as I said, not bad. It's still one of the better ones on the system."
Miles on the MBTA
"Okay, so there are a couple of flaws here. The MHSL's platform could really use an actual bench, and there needs to be signage for the Pedal and Park, but honestly, this is a great station. Extra points for the amazing platform and the really cool slanted roof."
The Worst
Miles on the MBTA
"These are definitely the WORST stations on the Green Line. Yes, the E Line street-running stops are bad, but at least they have T symbols, and some have shelters! Plus, they're on wide sidewalks! I mean, with these stations, if you take a step backward a car will run you over, and if you take a step forward a train will run you over! Yeah, these stations are most definitely deserving of their bottom-of-the-barrel scores."
Miles on the MBTA
Verdict: 2/10 (From his review of Fenwood Road, Mission Park, Riverway, and Back of the Hill)n"Hey, at least some of them have shelters. That's worth an extra point, right? Geez, I must be in a good mood..."
Miles on the MBTA
Verdict: 6/10n"The station is just so... dated. Paint is chipping everywhere, the busway is a mess, the billboard frames are ugly and pointless... still, though, with the MBTA's budget problems and the West Medford extension just around the corner, a big renovation isn't necessary. Also, it's a bit annoying how only the E Line serves the station. Why is it only served by one line?"
Verdict: 5/10n"The only reason Boylston isn't getting a lower score is because of those old trolleys, which are admittedly quite cool. But as for the rest? No accessibility, no free crossovers, and no sense of aesthetics. And as for that curve? You can hear the trains screeching around it from above ground. Yes, I know the MBTA can't smooth it out, but it's so annoying. So...how 'bout those old trolleys, huh?"
Verdict: 4/10n"This is probably one of the ugliest MBTA stations I've ever been in. It lacks the strange charm that its sister station, Symphony, has (I don't know why I like that station, but I do), and it's just really ugly. I do like the art, although a) it's almost at the very end of the platform, and b) it's very high up. I do have to give the station credit, though, for having a convenient entrance right into the Prudential. Admittedly, that entrance is far too grand for a station like this, but it's still fantastic to have."
