Balanced arrivals
An observed headway between 0.5× and 1.5× the scheduled interval. This avoids pretending exact timetable adherence is the only rider experience that matters on frequent service.
CITY METER · BOSTON, MA
MBTA rail
reliability report
A 30-service-day view of how evenly trains arrived and how closely measured travel segments matched the published schedule.
82/100Mostly steady
30service days
1,271,764stop observations
123,477trips
Sep 15, 2026latest service date
LINE-BY-LINE
The full board
The Mattapan Line ranks first for this window. Rankings change as the rolling dataset is rebuilt.
RANKLINEBALANCEDGAPS7-DAY ΔSCORE
01
Mattapan LineAshmont to Mattapan
89.7%balanced arrivals
6.8%long gaps
-2.7
93Steady
↗
02
Orange LineOak Grove to Forest Hills
85.8%balanced arrivals
9.5%long gaps
+5.4
91Steady
↗
03
Blue LineWonderland to Bowdoin
86.3%balanced arrivals
10.6%long gaps
+4.7
91Steady
↗
04
Red LineAlewife to Ashmont and Braintree
75.3%balanced arrivals
14.9%long gaps
-2.3
83Mostly steady
↗
05
Green LineB, C, D and E branches
63.6%balanced arrivals
19.4%long gaps
+2.9
76Mostly steady
↗
Long gaps
An observed interval greater than 1.5× schedule. It indicates extra waiting risk, but does not by itself identify the cause.
On-pace travel
A measured station-to-station segment completed no more than two minutes above its scheduled travel time.
THE TRIP-TIME ATLAS
2,767 direct journeys.
Measured one by one.
Reliability is useful; the question riders actually ask is simpler: how long will my trip take? TransitMeter now answers that with completed-trip evidence, including a typical time and a slower-trip allowance.