MBTA Public Information Officer Brian McKeon sends out alerts from the MBTA Command Center using the new alert system the MBTA now has in place.
PHOTO BY NICOLAUS CZARNECKI/METRO
About 10,000 MBTA passengers have signed up for the transit agency’s new and improved T-Alerts system since it launched two weeks ago, but officials said they are pushing hard to get more riders on board.
The new system required passengers to re-register for service updates. About 65,000 passengers were signed up for the old T-Alerts system, which officials say was not as detailed or timely as the new one.
- Since its launch on June 4th, T-alerts has sent 1.3 million emails and text messages and 99.9% were delivered successfully. On average, 360 new subscribers sign up per day.
- On average, 360 new subscribers per day sign up.
- 25 developers have already registered for keys to start using the new data in their own applications.
“We want as many people as possible to use it,” said MBTA Chief Technology Officer Gary Foster, who said that officials are still working on improvements based on user feedback.
According to Foster, many T-Alert subscribers want to get updates on individual Green Line branches.
“As a former Green Line rider, I think that’s a pretty good idea. It’s something we didn’t have in the past, but we’re looking to add it. That refinement will be really useful,” he said.
T officials have also heard from some users who complain that they get too many notifications, and others who are upset they do not get enough of them.
“All feedback is welcome,” he said. “This is the T.”
Sign up is available at www.mbta.com.
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