We all know the MBTA is in dire need of a pick-me-up, the likes of which can mostly be achieved through a proliferation of funding. Of course, the best way for such funding to be achieved is through a hike in fares paid by those who frequent public transportation, like you and me. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Finance Committee proposed a four to seven percent fare hike on Tuesday, effective July 1.

BostInno reached out directly to the MassDOT for further information on pricing but nobody was immediately available to comment.

According to the State House News Service via WBUR, a likely compromise of five percent in increased fares would generate some $20 million to $24.5 million in revenue to line the pockets of the MBTA per a MassDOT requirement – and hopefully result in some more efficient service as well.

The Boston Globe reports that the monthly subway and bus pass which currently runs transit riders $70 per month would bump to $75 “and commuter rail monthly passes will increase by $5 to $17, depending on the distance traveled.”

Fares for The Ride service, which picks up disabled riders and drops them at their respective destination, and passes for Boston Public School students will not, however, be lumped in with the fare raises. In fact, it’s expected that the latter will be lowered to $26 per month, notes the Globe further.

Public hearings are slated to take place in April to debate the fare hikes which, if you recall from the last time the MBTA became more expensive, aren’t likely to render much positive sentiment.

I suppose things seemed too good to be true for the MBTA, given that Mayor Walsh and his constituents recently announced late-night MBTA service to begin on Friday. The pilot program will take place on the weekends for the subway and select bus routes as a means of keeping Boston’s midnight oil burning long into the night while offering safer transportation for those where quitting time comes after the last train or bus has left the station.