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To Understand T's Woes, Mass. Lawmakers Commute Via Public Transit

Thursday on the MBTA there was an unusual sight — Massachusetts lawmakers.

"I've been a state representative now for 20 years and I am embarrassed to say this is my first trip on the commuter rail to Boston," said Kay Khan, state representative from Newton.

We applaud her honesty. Khan wasn't the only legislator riding the rails Thursday. Dozens of others did, too, at the behest of a group of transit activists calling themselves "gov on the T," who wanted Beacon Hill politicians to experience, first hand, the woes of regular riders. So, how did it go?

"It was, when I say jammed, there was no place to move. When I first got on I was in the center area between two cars, and I was told by one of the workers that you couldn't stand near one of the doors because it was defective," said Rep. Khan.

The commute didn't go much better for Reps. Alice Hanlon Peisch of Wellesley, or David Linsky of Natick.

"It was 15 minutes late," said Linsky. "And what was particularly frustrating was the message board at the Natick Center stop didn't reflect that until just before the time that the train was due to arrive."

"In addition," said Peisch. "I did not observe any collection of fares while I was on the train."

Guest

Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch, state representative in Wellesley. She tweets @RepAlicePeisch.

More

WBUR: State Lawmakers Ride The Commuter Rail — And Get Crowded, Delayed Trains

  • "In an effort to better understand the challenges — and headaches — faced by public transit riders this winter, dozens of state lawmakers rode the MBTA and the commuter rail Thursday morning."

This segment aired on March 19, 2015. The audio for this segment is not available.

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