Proposed MBTA Budget Doesn't Include Fare Hikes (For Now)

MASSACHUSETTS — The MBTA is working to fill a $308 million budget gap in its fiscal year 2022 operating budget, but does not expect to increase fares in the current fiscal year.

On Monday, the agency's fiscal and management control board approved moving federal money earmarked for capital projects to the agency's operating budget in fiscal 2022. The MBTA also plans to use $720 million in federal coronavirus relief money to close the current fiscal year's deficit. The agency has warned that budget gaps will continue to increase through at least 2025.

Even with the federal funds, MBTA officials are still looking for $400 million in cost cuts or new revenue. While the agency said there would be no fare hikes in the fiscal year that started July 1, it did not rule out future fare increases.

The current plan, according to Commonwealth, which first reported this story, calls for 4.5 percent fare increases in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2025.

MBTA ridership is currently about 10 percent of what it was before the coronavirus crisis hit in March. The T's spending blueprint makes assumptions that ridership will return to 60 percent of normal by next June and 80 percent by next September.

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).