With Performance Dashboard, More MBTA Data At Users' Fingertips

BOSTON (CBS) -- Calling communication and transparency the goal, the MBTA says it will now make more of its information, including data on reliability and performance, more accessible to the riding public.

Their new tool is called the MBTA Performance Dashboard. On it, the MBTA will post information about the four subway lines and 170 bus routes--and customers can look up a certain day, or even certain hours, to see how those routes are moving along.

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Or, they can look up ridership, or even the T's finances.

MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola says there's also a customer opinion panel, which will allow the MBTA to know where to work harder.

"Real-time, people can log on and provide us our feedback," DePaola told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "We've been using social media more and more, and this is that next step. We want to get a real sense from the people who use this system where they think the strengths and weaknesses are."

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DePaola says they can't fix everything at once, but they're hoping to make and show steady improvement.

"We feel that over the last year, we've made some significant strides toward improving ourselves, as far as reliability and on-time performance, and also bringing our budget under control," said DePaola.

The dashboard is available to view at mbtabackontrack.com.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports