Providence MBTA Commuter Rail Station

I took Nivaldo to the Commuter Rail Station. The station was clean and is located in a convenient location. When attempting to buy a ticket apparently they only accept cash. I am a habitual cash back/​points/​miles credit card user, so I I didn’t think to bring my debit card or any cash. Fortunately, Nivaldo had some change on him so he JUST made his train.
I took two points off for a number of reasons.
1. It’s 2016.
2. If you are a business that cater to a large and diverse population, it is important to have diverse methods of payment.
3. One can’t buy individual tickets online, so THIS is the only option.
4. It’s 2016. Cash should be obsolete by now. Implanted microchip for payment purchases? Sign me up!

A commuter rail station is a little difficult to review. Providence has a tasty café going for it. However, the parking garage is currently under construction and really expensive in comparison to other commuter rail stations. It is currently $ 9.25/day to park and is limited to one level until construction is finished. Traffic around the station can be a bit crazy around arrival and departure times because there is no separate lane for pick-​ups and drop-​offs. Still, it is in a good downtown location making it easy to walk to nearly anywhere.
Note: You can only buy commuter rail passes in cash! It really is stupid. So if you want to buy a Zone 8 monthly pass ($ 330), in person, you have to pay in cash.

I give the MBTA service 3 stars for a few reasons
Reason #1: Price
I have to agree with my fellow reviewers. The price is just insane. Especially if you have to ride this thing to Boston everyday. Its a harrowing experience when you realise how much money JUST travel takes from you. Also, I remember just a few years ago the price was $ 6 a ride… to go from $ 6 to $ 10 is a MAJOR JUMP. Not cool, MBTA.
Reason #2: Unreliable Wi-​Fi
Don’t advertise that you have Wi-​Fi and have shoddy WiFi. Would have rathered you kept this crappy WiFi a secret. And even when it does work, it screeches along, similar to the train.
Reason #3: the MBTA App
A true life-​saver. Really. I mean if I could review JUST the app it would be 5 stars. Since implementing this, its made my commute so much easier, especially since I seldom have cash on me and the only place in the Providence station to purchase an MBTA ticket is CASH ONLY. No more fumbling for cash, no more worrying about being late because I’m already pretty late and have to wait in the line to buy a ticket. None of that. Just enter my card info and in a flash I have my ticket ready to present to the conductor.

Okay, follow me here. The station is nice. The train system in fine. The train itself is great. Free wireless, what is not to like?
The PRICE. So if you want me to stay off the roads and relieve the traffic congestion. If you want me not to drive and pollute the air. If you want me to take public transportation for what ever reason, do not make it more cost effective to buy a car and drive. Why back when (you know, last year) when it was $ 14.00 round trip I was okay. Now way up in the future, meaning today, it is $ 20.00 round trip, you lose me. I have to buy 3 – 4 tickets for the family ($ 60 — $ 80). I am sorry, I can drive there and back plus park at the Commons or a parked garage and on my own time table and still save $ 10 — $ 40 dollars. This makes about am much since as those stupid machines that push the barriers back and forth for the HOV lane in the morning and afternoon on I93. Interesting that the people that think this stuff up are so close to Harvard, MIT and Boston College.

It’s fast, cheap, prompt and about as clean as your kid brother’s bedroom. BUT you’ll get between Boston and Providence in about an hour without loosing cell reception (knock on wood). The wifi doesn’t work as well as promised, but with 4G, who really cares. Your Facebook isn’t that important. I promise.

The Commuter Rail from Providence to Boston is super convenient and super reliable. The station is right downtown, and they are nearly always on time. The best part of taking the train to Boston is no traffic!
Make it a point to get you tix at café la france before boarding, they are raising the surcharge to buy tickets on the train.

I live in Denver which barely counts as a big city so I always get a bit nervous heading into a real big city. MTBA makes it really easy to get around Boston. Being a geologist by education I also love the smell of the underground subway stations (yes, I know that’s weird).

The trains always run on time, the station is clean and includes some vending machines and cafes for hungry travelers, and its centrally located near the Providence place mall.
What more can you ask for from a train station?