T had record high 400 million trips last year

The T may have had a rough go of it this winter, but last year more people used the controversy plagued MBTA than ever before.

The MBTA had more than 400 million trips, a slight increase over the previous year, when there were 393 million trips.

Joe Pesaturo, MBTA spokesman, said the T “placed a great emphasis on improving the quality of service, and providing commuters with a better choice than automobile travel.”

“In addition to providing more reliable service in 2014, the MBTA increased service on commuter rail and certain bus routes,” he said in a statement.

Smartphone apps that feature real-time information has made MBTA services increasingly popular, he said. Such T technology is expanding; the Green Line is currently being outfitted with technology that will allow riders to see real time tracking info for that line.

“Knowing exactly when the next train or bus is going to arrive makes using the MBTA more convenient,” he said.

This historic winter which dumped more than eight feet of snow on Boston also wreaked havoc on the T’s antiquated system, causing delays and cancellations over a month-long period. In the midst of commuter frustration brought on by the winter, MBTA GM Beverly Scott announced her resignation.

Her interim successor is Frank DePaola, who had served as the state’s highway administrator and the chief operating officer for the state’s Department of Transportation.