An MBTA Red Line train full of satisfied riders in 2017.

I don’t know about you. But I am fed up – and I mean fed up! – with all the negativity in the local media about the MBTA. 

Ok, we all know Boston is a small town at heart. And, sure all we read or hear about these days is Mayor Michelle Wu this, Mayor Michelle Wu that – man, you’d think she’s governor or running for U.S. Senate or something. 

So sure, things can get kind of dull around here, but to sensationalize every little hiccup, minor derailment and power outage? I mean really, to freak out over some lights flickering as if it were the end of public transportation as we know it? That’s just pathetic. 

I know, I know: Reporters, columnists and editors have to make a living, and you can’t do that without some news to cover. But for the media to spend all its time coming with new molehills to make mountains out of is just wholly unacceptable, especially when far more people are seriously injured drag racing or skydiving each day than riding the T. 

Compared to pulling frantically on the rip cord of your parachute after diving from a plane at 10,000 feet in the air, what’s a few subway cars bumping in the dark? 

Not reassured? Well, no one asked you to ride the T anyway. And if all you are going to do is complain, the rest of us in this train car would be better off if you got off at the next stop – once we get there. 

Now, you can’t blame the T or its seasoned press staff for all the negative coverage. They are doing all they can, day in and day out, to nip all this fake news in the bud. 

They’ve clearly learned that the only good question from the media is the one that goes unanswered. And if a reply can’t be avoided, the trick is to keep them guessing, including as little information as possible. 

Yet even with its crack media relations team, the T just can’t stop all these negative stories from popping up and tarnishing the reputation of the nation’s oldest transit system. 

It’s Getting Out of Hand 

Things really started to get out of hand last summer, when an Orange Line train stopped on a bridge over the Charles. The riders had asked for a bit of fresh air and the conductor was only happy to oblige, as MBTA employees always are. 

Now that’s a good news story, but some lady had to ruin it all, claiming she smelled smoke before diving headfirst into the Mystic! 

Before you know it, federal transportation officials were in town, sticking their noses into everyone’s business, and all because of some phony story about a crazy bridge jumper! 

Then we have to read story after story about the feds and their safety review, like we don’t know a thing or two about public transportation in Boston. We were the first – we’re No. 1!  

But just like the reporters, the bureaucrats always have to find things to nitpick or they’d lose their jobs. Like they say, garbage in, garbage out. 

All that’s nothing compared to the latest round of stories in the local press, belittling all the wonderful safety steps T management is taking to ensure every passenger has a 99 percent chance each day of making it home without injury – and sorry, wimpy, but bumps and minor bruises don’t count. 

No, no, no, these are not “slow zones,” as the media has libelously called them. They are “enhanced safety zones.” After all, us riders are precious cargo. You don’t go running around the supermarket with your carton of eggs, do you?  

There is all this griping about top speeds of 12 to 25 mph. Well, if you think you can beat that walking, go for it. We don’t need you and your attitude stinking things up on our great T. 

No One Else Has This Story 

Looking for a good story about the T? Well, here’s a story no one – and I mean absolutely no one, not even Bob Woodward – has the guts to write. It’s a heart-warming tale about a big Chinese train company, CRRC, and how it has worked night and day for nearly 10 years to bring back manufacturing to Springfield. 

Scott Van Voorhis

All the media wants to focus on is the supposed delays by CRRC’s Springfield factory in delivering those new Orange and Red Line cars, how they should have been completed years ago. Yadda, yadda, yadda.  

No one wants to talk about the kind of dedication CRRC has demonstrated keeping that Springfield factory looking busy, even when there was no real work to do because of all those supply chain issues – which, to be clear, CRRC was in no way responsible for any more than it is for the weather. 

And CRRC says it is ready to commit to Springfield for another 10 years until the job is done, or the payments from the T run out – whatever comes first. 

Such commitment to community and craftsmanship! You can’t put a timeline or a price tag on a story like that.  

Scott Van Voorhis is Banker & Tradesman’s columnist; opinions expressed are his own. He may be reached at sbvanvoorhis@hotmail.com.