After living in Boston for a year while attending Northeastern University, I can say that the T is a fairly good means of public transportation. Although the timing of the trains are often hard to get (I often find myself stepping onto the platform as my train is pulling away, leaving me standing there for a while waiting for the next one), once you're on the T, it is easy to maneuver to your location.

My school falls along the E segment of the Green Line, which continues West towards the Heath Street stop. This line also services the Prudential Center, which contains many stores.
The green line also services 3 other segments; B, C and D.
The B section will take you to both Boston University and Boston College.
The C line takes you towards Cleveland Circle.
The D line will take you towards Riverside, passing through Brookline.
These four lines blend into one at the Copley stop, where you can go above ground right in Copley Square. If you follow the green line down, you will come to Lechmere. Here, you will find a large shopping mall with many stores and a food court. One stop before is the Science Park stop. This stop is home to Boston's Museum of Science, an interactive museum filled with many various things to do and see.

Another line my school has easy access to on the far side of campus is the Orange Line. Going from Forest Hills to Oak Grove, this line has access to many interesting stops, such as Chinatown. On the orange line, you can also get off at the New England Medical Center stop, in case you are having a medical emergency and are in need of a good hospital. Having been to the emergency room there before, I can vouch for the quality of their care.

The Red Line will take you from Alewife, through Cambridge, passing Harvard, and South Station. South Station is home to Amtrak, the Commuter lines and many buses. It is especially busy during vacation times as many people are trying to travel out of the city. After you pass South Station, the line branches and you can go either to Braintree or Ashmont.

The Blue line offers access to the aquarium and the airport. It goes from Wonderland Station to Bowdoin.

All four lines are accessible from each other without paying an extra fee. The four stops that offer service to another line are: State Street, Gov't Center, Downtown Crossing, and Park Street.

Currently, the cost for a one way ticket is $2.00. However, if you have a Charlie Card, the ticket is reduced to $1.70. Tickets can be purchased by credit, debit or cash in any of the ticket booths located in the underground stations. If you get on a line above ground, such as the green line, you will need exact change.

For more information on the T or what to do in boston, visit http://mbta.com/schedules_and_ maps/subway/ or email me at simon.s@neu.edu.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Simon.
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