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MBTA board raises fares; riders object (Nov 2006)
MBTA board raises fares; riders object
by christina wallace / metro boston
NOV 10, 2006
BOSTON — The MBTA Board of Directors unanimously approved a fare increase yesterday that will take effect in January, angering many riders and advocacy groups who claim the regular commuter cannot afford another hike.
The increase will propel subway fares from $1.25 to $1.70, and bus fares from 90 cents to $1.25. Commuter rail fares will jump approximately 23 percent to 28 percent.
In addition, the pass structure will be altered to do away with subway-only passes; instead there will be a bus and subway LinkPass costing $59 a month. The bus-only pass will be maintained, and children 11 and under will ride for free with an adult. Riders who do not use the new CharlieCard will also be forced to pay a surcharge on top of the increase.
According to MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas and board member Janice Loux, the fare increase was necessary to close a $70 million budget gap expected for the next fiscal year. The T is also struggling to pay down an $8.1 billion debt load, and is grappling with high gas prices. According to T officials, the alternative to a fare increase was to cut services.
“Other transit agencies around the country have increased fares and cut services,” Grabauskas said.
Despite the T’s dire fiscal situation, many riders are enraged fares will now jump for a third time since 2000.
“I am going to have to give up my pass and walk,” said Jeff Booth, a Somerville resident who works as a library assistant at Harvard University. “We don’t get paid enough to take these increases.”
Eugene Benson, a member of Alternatives for Community and Environment, which worked vigorously against the hike, believes something needs to change or the cycle of increases will continue indefinitely.
“The board has an obligation to have affordable fares, and they’re ignoring their obligation,” Benson said.
According to Benson, the group is delivering 3,000 signatures to legislative leaders requesting the state step in to relieve some of the T’s debt.