POLL: Do You Agree With the MBTA's New Fare Increase Proposal?
The MBTA is offering a 23 percent increase to help deal with a budget downfall.
In a most recent update on Wednesday, the MBTA has proposed a 23 percent fare increase to help offset an ongoing budget defecit, according to a Boston.com report Thursday.
Under the new proposal, commuter rail single trip and monthly passes would increase an average of 29 percent, depending upon the zone of travel. Bus fares with a CharlieCard would increase from $1.25 to $1.50, while a bus-subway LinkPass would increase from $59 to $70. Those using CharlieCards on the subway would pay $2 instead of the current rate of $1.70.
If approved, the new plan would be effective July 1, and would not include hefty service cuts proposed under the original plan.
But what do you think about the new proposal? Is this better or worse than what was proposed before? Weigh in on today's poll and add your thoughts in the comments section.
Marcy Rose
11:16 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
You gotta pay to play and these fare increases aren't that substantial. I just worry that it won't be enough and we'll have to wrestle with this again next year.
KEN D...
11:28 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
I have no problem with the increase, but was the drama leading up to it really necessary?
steve
1:00 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
No problem with increases. If you want transportation you have to pay, but ofcourse people have there hands out.
Joe Santora
4:55 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
The "23% fare increase across the board" is a lie. Senior citizens, those on fixed income with many using T as sole transport shall receive a 67% increase in subway fare and 85% increase in bus fare.
barack no-bama
7:05 am on Friday, April 6, 2012
What is driving these increase is the same thing that is driving cities and towns broke....pension costs. Years of management gave away the farm because they did not want to confront the issue and bring these commitments into line with reality. You can work 25 years, retire at 50 and collect a pension (inflated by all kinds of shenanigans) starting the next day and receive them for much longer than you worked. It's a deal that the people paying for it don't have and it has to end.
Janet Beyer
2:09 pm on Friday, April 6, 2012
I wonder why the angry person who posted above refuses to use a real name.