By Elise Harmon, news correspondent

Soon, there may be a productive outlet to complain when the Green Line train comes 15 minutes late, or when the T breaks down on the way to an essential interview. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) advisory board is creating a website for regular T-riders to rate their rides to understand the average experience.

“A lot of decisions are being made based on the loudest people in the room,” Paul Regan, MBTA advisory board executive director, said. “We think this will make the typical rider the loudest person in the room.”

The new transit diary website, which is based on a paper version the advisory board used in 2006, is estimated to be available in October. Train and bus riders will be able to set up accounts and give details about their commute, how often they use the T and which stops they use most frequently. After this initial sign-up, users can complete a quick survey on their smartphones or tablets, rating the cleanliness of the train stations, length of the ride, arrival time and conditions on the train.

“We didn’t want it to be burdensome; we didn’t want it to be excessively taxing,” Regan explained.

After the initial sign-up, he said, further surveys would take about a minute.

The purpose of the survey is to gather in-depth data on individual MBTA customers over a period of two weeks in order to understand what is needed in terms of service and maintenance of the system. The advisory board believes that the average consumer does not get enough of a voice in the process of improving the T and that there is not enough data on what the average experience is like, according to Regan.

“We’re going to do our analysis, but we’re going to make our raw data available as well,” Regan said.This way, people can examine the data on their own and draw their own conclusions, he said.

A beta test of the website was completed last week.

The MBTA Advisory Board was formed concurrently with the  MBTA in 1964 to advocate for the citizens. The chief community official of each district that the MBTA serves – or their appointed representative – sits on the advisory board. Generally, the 175-member board focuses on MBTA service.

The Advisory Board plans on launching an ad campaign in the subway system to coincide with the rollout of the website. Its members are also planning a social media campaign.

The goal of the app is to provide a voice to those who complain about the T but feel powerless to do anything. Among them are Northeastern students, especially those on co-op, who are forced to take the T on a daily basis.

“I hate the MBTA, but I’m using it because I have to,” Diana Al, a junior entrepreneurship major, said. “I live on the B line and take it every day… The trains are small and they come so late and charge a lot.”

Her opinions were echoed by Ana Pascual-Leone, a senior international affairs major.

“I try to avoid [riding the train] because it’s quite unreliable and you never know how long it’s going to take you,” she said.

However, Pascual-Leone is optimistic that the app will allow her a voice in the system – a way to broadcast her opinions.

“I would use it if I knew that there was going to be an output,” she said of the new website. “If I didn’t think it would change anything, I wouldn’t use it.”

Al, on the other hand, is doubtful of how much power the site will have to make any difference. She plans not to use it.

“The MBTA isn’t going to change,” she said.

Photo courtesy Robert Magina, Creative Commons