From now on, you will have to dig a little deeper in your pockets and cough up some extra cash in order to ride the MBTA.
After months of protests, public hearings, battles on Beacon Hill between state elected officials, and constant reminders from media outlets, Sunday, July 1, officially marked the beginning of the first MBTA fare increase in more than five years.
Starting today, riders will be paying more out of pocket to utilize public transportation, so the T can dig its way out of debt.
The increases shouldn’t be a huge surprise for many, as MBTA officials have posted notices on every Charlie Ticket kiosk throughout the system, but for those who have missed the constant news announcements, meetings and posters, here is what to expect.
On average, fares are going up by 23 percent. If you’re paying cash or purchasing a single Charlie Ticket to get on the bus, it will now cost $2. If you are boarding a train, the price is $2.50, up from $2.
If you have a CharlieCard, you save a little money on your rides. The bus fares will be $1.50, up a quarter from the old fare, and the price to ride the subway with a CharlieCard will go up from $1.70 to $2.
Monthly “Link Passes,” which let you get on trains and buses, went up from $59 to $70. Some riders said on Twitter they tried to purchase the monthly passes in advance so they could skirt around the increase, but the full price was applied ahead of time. Nice try, though.
For elderly or disabled riders who use The RIDE system, increases are a bit heavier. Those who take the paratransit service will be paying roughly 100 percent more than they are used to paying. While protesters have said this will keep them housebound, T officials pushed the change through. Use of The RIDE will now cost $4. Premium trips will cost $5, beginning October 1.
If you have any tokens kicking around, you have until July 20 to turn them in at select stations. The MBTA is finally phasing out the little metal coins completely.
Along with fare increases come some service changes on various bus routes and train trips.
Starting today, eliminated bus routes include the 48, 355 and 500. On Saturday’s the 48, 52, 245, 451 and 554 will no longer be running. And on Sundays, the 18, 37/38, 245 and 436 will be out of service.
There will also be some service changes on the following buses: 52, 217, 351, 354, 439, 441, 442, 451, 455, 465, 555, CT3.
Starting July 8, changes to the Commuter Rail will include the weekend elimination of the Kingston/Plymouth and Greenbush lines. On Saturdays, the Needham line will no longer be running.
Although the fare increases have officially been implemented, some groups still refuse to accept the changes.
A group called “Boston Fare Strike,” who last month helped more than 50 people skip paying to ride the T in protest of the increase, will be teaching riders today at 2 p.m. how to fight the fare changes. They are meeting in Copley Square to hold “an informative, action-oriented training to discuss how to resist the fare hike.”
Presentations will be made by union activists, Occupy Boston organizers and anti-capitalists of various stripes, according to the group.
Below, we have included the chart that shows you all of the changes that start today.
