I am a staunch supporter of public transportation for many reasons, and so even though I have a car, I choose to take the MBTA to work as often as I can. The problem is, I rely on the 94 bus, which runs from Davis Square to Medford Square. As routes go, this one isn't very long, or very complicated. I get on the 94 heading towards Davis about a mile out of Medford Square to catch the Red Line to MIT.

The problem is, often the bus just doesn't show up, esp. during off hours. I can recall a number of times where I reached the bus stop in plenty of time only to wait, and wait, and wait.. and the bus never comes. I give up after half an hour, stomp back to my car, and drive late to my appointment.

This happens in both directions. Even during the evening rush hour, it's not uncommon for the 94 to just not show up at Davis Square for forty minutes. When this happens, I ask the bus driver which bus they are, i.e. the 6:40 or the 7:00. It's usually the latter, and the driver looks puzzled that I'm even asking. There have been times where two 94 buses will pass each other. I have no idea how this happens, since at a minimum they depart every twenty minutes.

Two more neat tricks: the 94 that was formally a 96 and has gotten tangled in Harvard Square traffic (esp. around graduation, moving day, etc). Why teh good people of Somerville and Medford should suffer the impact of Harvard traffic is a mystery. And one more: the buses formerly either 96s, 95s, or sometimes even 134s, who FORGET TO CHANGE THEIR SIGNS. The hapless 94 commuter sees the "95", doesn't look interested or flag it down (and why should they?), and doesn't see another bus for at least half an hour, at which point they head to the car yet again.

There's a proposal on the table to bring the Green line to West Medford. PLEASE DO IT, PLEASE PLEASE. Rail line is pretty straightfoward. It shows up more than once every forty minutes or hour, it doesn't get confused about its routes, it doesn't get tied up in traffic.

Margaret Weigel
West Medford, MA