Chugging through one of the most clogged thoroughfares in the commonwealth, the C Line is one of the most frustrating rides on the MBTA — prompting the Brookline Transportation Board’s vote last week to ask the T to help speed up the trolley.
To learn just how slow it is, Metro raced a car against the C Line during the afternoon commute.
Along for the ride, Brookline Transportation Board Chairman Mike Sandman predicted the car’s victory because a traffic cop ferries cars through Coolidge Corner at rush hour.
But racing from the St. Mary’s stop to the end of the line at Cleveland Circle, the car clocked a time of 16 minutes, 16 seconds while the train came in at 16:32.
Sandman noted the unusually empty trolley didn’t lose time loading and unloading riders and was shocked the car took so long.
“What we’d love to do is shorten the time for everybody,” Sandman said.
Light Rail Director Brian Dwyer said the line’s average run time is 10 minutes.
“Run times vary depending on the time of year,” Dwyer said.
