March 6, 2008 MBTA faces budget, security woes Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - The MBTA board is expected to approve a new spending plan Thursday, that will dip into its rainy day fund, to help refinance current debts and cover a $75 million budget gap. The good news for riders is that fares will not be raised until 2009 at the earliest.

The General manager of the MBTA says the agency is suffering serious financial woes and is looking for federal and state assistance.

This news comes amid a new study that has found the agency may need to upgrade the security of its Charlie cards, which researchers say are currently vulnerable to hackers. The incentive for theft could jump if officials go ahead with plans that allow commuters to use their card to pay tolls and use parking facilities.

The MBTA has not commented on the security of the cards.

NECN's Latoyia Edwards has the latest from Boston.