Fare policy
News topics:
MBTA Board Updates: Bikes on Commuter Rail, Fare Changes, Budget Updates
Minor changes are coming to the T's fare policies, but advocates are still waiting to hear the agency's plans for a broad-based low-income fare.
January 27, 2022
15 Cities and Towns Ask the T to Streamline Agreements for Fare-Free Bus Programs
In a letter addressed to MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak, elected officials from 15 municipalities across the MBTA service area asked state officials to work with them to design "a fair, equitable, and standardized process for implementing fare-free bus pilots."
January 27, 2022
More Fare-Free Buses Coming to Lawrence, Haverhill, and Boston
Officials approved two major expansions in fare-free bus service on Wednesday: in Boston, the City Council formally endorsed Mayor Wu's proposal to fund fare-free service on three MBTA routes in Dorchester, and earlier in the day, the Advisory Board of the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA), which serves Haverhill, Lawrence, and surrounding communities, voted to suspend fares on all of the system's local bus routes for a two-year pilot that will begin on March 1.
December 1, 2021
MBTA Board Updates: Meet Your New MBTA Board
"The purpose of governance is to ensure there is transparent decision making and the interests of all stakeholders are taken into account... We intend to lead the T in ways that are inclusive, effective, efficient, and accountable," said Betsy Taylor, the Chair of the new board.
October 27, 2021
Does A Fare-Free 28 Also Need to Pay For A Free RIDE?
“Giving primarily white and wealthy transit riders a free trip, while forcing primarily Black and low income riders to jump through hoops to access similar fare-free service, is exactly what structural racism looks like," says Stacy Thompson, executive director of the LivableStreets Alliance.
June 16, 2021
‘Do Not Track’ Report Offers Privacy Guidance for the T’s New Fare System
The MBTA’s new fare payment system will potentially collect a lot more personal data from riders and their cellphones, and a new report offers advice for how riders can protect their privacy.
March 24, 2021
Higher Fares Take Effect, and Elected Officials Respond With a ‘Boston T Party’
A fare increase for most MBTA subway and commuter rail tickets takes effect today, but dozens of local elected officials and activists are responding with a "Boston T Party" during this morning's commute.
July 1, 2019
MIT Study: High Fares Limit Low-Income Households’ Mobility
A team of MIT researchers today announced the results of a study that concluded that a discounted transit fare for low-income households could offer significant benefits to those households without necessarily contributing to peak-hour crowding in the MBTA system.
June 10, 2019
Worcester’s Transit Agency Considers Ditching the Farebox
Fares contribute a relatively small portion of Worcester's transit budget, so going fare-free would be a low-cost way to attract many more riders, argues a local public policy research group.
June 3, 2019
