How Will the MBTA Fare Hikes Affect Riders?

We spoke with riders to see what the fare increases mean for their commute

After the MBTA voted to increase fares 9.22 percent on Monday, many riders started to realize exactly how that will impact their wallets.

Some are even considering exchanging their Charlie Cards for their car keys. 

Necn spoke to several riders who reacted to the rate hikes on Twitter to find out exactly how much more their commutes will cost them.

Rob Holmes lives in Millis, Massachusetts, and both he and his wife commute into Boston every day.

Holmes takes the Franklin/Forge Park commuter rail line from Norfolk into South Station and then walks to his office.

His current monthly pass costs $265 and will increase $26 a month to $291, or a total of $312 more per year.

Between Holmes and his wife's commuter rail passes, and the cost to park in Norfolk, their joint commuting costs will now be $653 a month. That's $7,836 a year.

"At this point, we're seriously considering paying for a monthly parking spot in Boston because it's cheaper than riding the commuter rail," he said. "I'd rather sit in traffic on the Mass Pike or I-93 daily than pay more money for a commuter rail pass when the service continues to get worse."

MBTA rider Becky Jacobson from Medford, Massachusetts, is also considering an alternate mode of transportation. 

Jacobson takes the bus and Orange Line to Ruggles Station every day.

https://twitter.com/becky_jacobson/status/707204768226271233

Her monthly MBTA pass is $75 and will increase to $84.50, an additional $114 a year.

"The cost will now be comparable to the cost of a parking permit at my work, which is something I'll now seriously consider if the the MBTA doesn't makes some serious improvements," Jacobson said.

Samantha Mack of Dedham, Massachusetts, takes the commuter rail every day from the Endicott stop in Dedham to South Station.

Right now, her monthly pass costs $188 but with the fare increases that cost will increase $19 to $207 a month, or an additional $228 a year.

Mack is also frustrated because proposed schedule changes would cut her Endicott stop, meaning she'd have to travel further just to catch a train.

"If the changes are approved I'll be paying more for decreased stops... and most likely increase the amount of people who are boarding the train at one time."

For J. Pierce of Waltham, Massachusetts, her "quick 20-minute commute isn't worth $231 a month for how many times the equipment breaks down, the trains are delayed or told to wait for the next train because there isn't enough room."

Pierce currently pays $198 and will be paying an additional $396 annually.

Below is a full list of the specific fare increases according to the MBTA:

Contact Us