Recent Streetsblog MASS posts about Fare policy

A derailed Red Line car blocks the tracks at the JFK/UMass station on June 11, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Boston Fire Department.

Higher Fares Take Effect, and Elected Officials Respond With a ‘Boston T Party’

By Christian MilNeil | Jul 1, 2019 | No Comments

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. The higher prices take effect nearly three weeks after a Red Line train went off the rails at the JFK/UMass station and […]

A CharlieCard on top of stacked dollar bills

MIT Study: High Fares Limit Low-Income Households’ Mobility

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 10, 2019 | 4 Comments

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. In a new whitepaper, “How Low-income Transit Riders in Boston Respond to Discounted Fares: A Randomized […]

A WRTA bus in front of City Hall in downtown Worcester. Courtesy of WRTA.

Worcester’s Transit Agency Considers Ditching the Farebox

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 3, 2019 | 4 Comments

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.