VIDEO: MBTA Increases Fares Amid Protests

Updated 6:15 p.m.

BOSTON, MA - All but shouting into their microphones to be heard, the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board voted to increase rider fares Monday, amid loud disruptions from protestors who earlier caused a break in the hearing.

On average, rider fares will rise about 9.3 percent across the board, effective July 1. This is lower than a 9.77 percent hike option originally proposed, with additional concessions on students prices and a decrease in cash fares for a single bus ticket.

Thanks to the uproar, detailed reports on the impact of the hike trickled out only after the meeting adjourned.

Details

Per a press release from the MBTA, here are the full details of the measure approved Monday:

• A single cash price to ride a bus decreases by ten cents [from $2.10 to $2.00]

• Expands free transfers for MBTA riders, allowing free transfers from bus to rail to bus

• Student Pass at $30 per month, year-round;, senior pass at $30 [from current $26]

• Bus Pass at $55

• Outer Express Bus at existing prices

• Bus fares: Cash/Ticket $2.00, Charliecard $1.70

• The RIDE at 5 percent, instead of 10 percent increase

• Bulk discount for schools purchasing more than 1,000 passes a month

• Pilot student pass on fare vending machines

• Review of Commuter Rail zones

• Steps to address fare evasion and enforcement

• Free transfer extended to bus-rail-bus trips

Protests

Earlier in the meeting, the board briefly recessed after protestors rushed to the front of the room, chanting through a megaphone and holding up banners opposing fare hikes. After returning, board members fielded several proposed amendments to those cuts before adjourning for a private executive session.

Protestors shook improvised noisemakers and chanted, "Fight the hike" in what they called a "people's takeover."

Two dozen or so remaining protestors departed well after the board adjourned, chanting, "We'll be back!"

The control board met to decide whether to raise fares and by how much. It also proposed ways to soften the potential fare hike for students and seniors. It originally debated two potential fare increases, one that would up fares across the board by an average of 6.71 percent, or another that would grow those fares by 9.77 percent.

You can see the new prices of each original option here.

The T projects a $138 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, and estimates a $7 billion maintenance backlog. The plan to raise fares is meant to address those impending costs and improve service. The 9.3 percent rate hike (which varies depending on mode of transit and whether riders purchase tickets or passes) is expected to boost the budget by $42 million.

Photo, video courtesy of Alison Bauter, Patch Staff