Re “Ridership on MBTA is a bit lower’’ (Starts & Stops, Metro, Nov. 12): I wonder if the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the governor, and the Legislature have considered that the decline in T ridership may stem from the fact that, all too often, the service stinks. A 6 percent decline in bus ridership? That comes as no surprise to those of us who count on T buses for all or part of our transportation service. We have learned the hard way that we cannot count on the T to get us to work or to critical appointments on time.

While Governor Baker and his oversight board have been cleaning the T’s financial house, it seems they have done little, if anything, to improve the day-to-day experience of T riders.

With traffic increasing to epic proportions, and subway cars and buses crowded like cattle cars at rush hour, let’s admit that the Commonwealth has serious transportation problems. It is time to begin the heavy lift of providing relief to the riders of today, and of building the transit system and transportation infrastructure that will improve the quality of life and commerce in our future.

If the transit system, in particular, is not made reliable and pleasant to use, the people may very well continue to vote with their feet.

Joseph Levendusky

Watertown