Operation Fare Game, the plan implemented by the MBTA in July 2012, has led to an 11 percent drop in citations for fare evasion, down to 2,838 from 3,187 at the same time last year, according to a report by the Boston Globe.
The MBTA’s plan to crackdown on riders attempting to bypass costs consists of placing officers dressed in street clothes at multiple high traffic MBTA stations, including Back Bay, Downtown Crossing and Park Street.
How embarrassing would that be? You know, getting caught by an undercover MBTA officer while trying to score a free ride.
MBTA spokeswoman Kelly Smith believes watching someone get cited for fare evasion is similar to watching someone get pulled over and issued a speeding ticket.
“It is difficult to get inside riders’ heads and pinpoint their motivations, but we think that this drop is due to heightened awareness of the operation inside stations and the media,” Smith told the Boston Globe.
Smith is right, no one wants to feel shame.
Last July, the MBTA ramped up patrol at various stations and increased evasion fines from $15 to $50 for a first offense. A second offense now carries a $100 fine and a third offense costs an evader $300.
I have never seen anyone cited for fare evasion. Clearly, I need to live a faster, more limitless life. I am new, however. Need to give it time.
Smith believes it’s impossible to predict the motivations of those known as the MBTA passengers, but I think I can help her out. The goal of your average passenger: get from point A to point B as quickly as possible.
Why try to evade fare costs?
For starters, the MBTA raised fares 23 percent last year.
So, yes, the MBTA can pat themselves on the back for the 11 percent drop in fare evasion, but can they really say Operation Fare Game/Phenomenal Wordplay has been effective?
Of the approximately 391,902 thousand annual riders in the 2013 fiscal year, MBTA undercover officers busted 2,838 people attempting to bypass costs. Thats a rate of .72 percent.
In 2012, the Fare Game squad caught 3,187 violators out of a possible 400,197. Good enough for a .79 percent rate.
What’s the expression? “Good, job. Good effort,” you guys.
Smith said that clearly more people are paying the fare over the past year. Yes. This .07 percent reduction in citations is why the MBTA posted a record revenue intake last year.
The MBTA raked in $564,560,142 during the 2013 fiscal year, surpassing last year’s total by $100 million. The MBTA surpassed revenue predictions by nearly $28 million.
Fiscal Year 2013 – $564,560,142
Fiscal Year 2012 – $465,755,373
Fiscal Year 2011 – $448,813,678
Fiscal Year 2010 – $439,322,437
Fiscal Year 2009 – $448,751,949
Fiscal Year 2008 – $440,964,147
Now, if $465,755,373 revenue total is inflated with the 23 percent fare raise, the adjusted revenue total would be $572,879,108 for 2013, just over $100 million more.
Bottom line, hiking fares nearly 25 percent is reason enough for public transportation users to try and evade fees. The number of citations has likely dropped because fewer people—two percent less—chose the MBTA.
Smith claiming that Operation Fare Game has been a success is the MBTA spinning the truth. Simple as that. “Yeah, we earned $100 million more any previous year. Sure, there’s that 23 percent hike in passenger costs, but, more importantly, fare evasion is down. We rest our case.”
No, the MBTA did not credit Operation Fare Game with the massive 2013 revenue increase. The press being given to the drop in fare evasion, however, takes away from the real issues. By cherry-picking 2013 figures, the MBTA is able to show the public that, finally, a plan of theirs has worked. That success, however, can’t be proven, seeing as two percent of 2012 riders chose other means of transportation in 2013.
The biggest issue today: Why are people surprised?
Boston ranks as the fifth most congested city in America in terms of car traffic. There are few other options commuters have in terms of traveling in Boston. We’re prisoners to the MBTA system. Fares will continue to go up in price and ridership will barely decrease.
