MBTA Proposes to Keep Ferry Service, Increases Fares

MBTA and Mass DOT officials today announced their recommended proposal for closing the MBTA’s budget gap and it does not include the elimination of the Hingham to Boston ferry service but will include fare increases.

The  Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey and Acting Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager Jonathan Davis said they plan to close the MBTA’s $185 million budget gap for next fiscal year by increasing fares and cutting very few services.

Ferry service prices would increase 33 percent while the bus prices will increase 25 cents and subway prices will increase 30 cents. 

The MBTA's proposals also includes some service cuts which will call for the elimination of the Greenbush Line on weekends.

State Rep. Garrett Bradley (D-Hingham) said he was happy to hear that the ferry service will stay in place.  

“While the level of fare increases is higher than I would have liked, especially during tough economic times, I am pleased that we will not see any major disruptions to boat or bus service for commuters and others who depend upon public transportation,” Bradley said.

Davis announced that the MBTA is moving forward on a number of fronts to make riding the T more convenient for its 1.3 million daily riders. Some new ideas the MBTA proposed will include making real time data available by text at bus stops.  Also, the MBTA is working to bring “countdown clocks” to key MBTA stations as has been recently tested at Logan Airport’s Terminal C.  

“At the dozens of public meetings on the original proposals, I heard our customers speak eloquently and passionately about the important role the MBTA plays in their lives,”  Davis said in a written statement.  “In response, we have developed a plan that demonstrates our strong commitment to continue providing transit services that are reliable, convenient, and affordable.”

MBTA staff will present the solution to the MBTA Board for its approval April 4. If approved, the changes would be effective July 1.

Fare Increases

The final proposal recommends an average fare increase of 23 percent.  This would be the first MBTA fare increase in five years and still keep public transit prices in Boston lower than many major cities including New York, Atlanta, and Chicago. The fare increase is expected to generate $72.9 million next year.   Full details of all fare and service changes can be found at www.mbta.com  

The proposal also includes an increase for seniors and students, who currently pay just a fraction of the fares paid by other individuals. Seniors would now pay $0.75 for a bus ride and $1 for a subway ride. Students would pay $0.75 for a bus ride and $1 for a subway ride. Students would also see a new weekly pass option that would provide a discounted ride 7-days-a-week in addition to the current 5-day week discount.  

The Ride paratransit service, where program costs have increased by 400 percent over the last decade, would be changed to $4 per trip. The MBTA would continue to serve customers outside of the ADA-required service area, with customers there now paying $5 per trip.   Commuter rail single trip and monthly passes would be increased an average of 29%, depending upon the zone of travel. Ferry prices will be increased an average of 33%.  

Source: MassDOT Press Office

Service Changes

The final recommendation includes service changes that will result in a savings of $15.4 million.   The plan includes the elimination of just four weekday bus routes and a revised schedule for 14 other routes.

All weekday and all weekend ferry service will be continued except for weekend Quincy service.   

Weekend service on the Green Line’s E-Branch will be maintained outbound as far as the Brigham Circle stop.  Customers travelling between Brigham Circle and Heath Street (a distance of 0.7 miles) will have the option of using the existing, accessible Route 39 bus.  

Commuter rail trains will retain all weekday service.  Weekend service on the Greenbush, Needham and Kingston/Plymouth lines will be eliminated.   Because the services targeted for elimination see low ridership, the MBTA estimates just 0.3 percent of current riders will be lost through the proposed fare and service changes. 

Source: MassDOT Press Office