The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) increased fares across the board yesterday for the first time in nine years. Subway fares went from 85 cents to $1, and bus passengers will now pay 75 cents, up from 60. Rates for monthly bus and subway passes will also go up on Nov. 1.
"Tufts students can get on at Davis Square, pay a dollar, and ride all around the system," said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo. "There's nothing else in the world that hasn't gone up in price since 1991. We can't provide 21st century service at a 20th century price."
The price hike has met only moderate opposition thus far, with a group of disgruntled passengers in Roxbury protesting the 15 cent hike yesterday morning, and a smattering of angry Bostonians making noise at MBTA hearings on the increases, held throughout the summer. Pesaturo downplayed the incident, saying that most passengers understand that prices must rise occasionally to maintain satisfactory service.
"There was one formal organized protest," he said. "But we are confident that ultimately common sense will prevail."
For the most part, Tufts students seem little concerned with higher prices. "Compared to other cities, 85 cents is not very much, and $1 is still reasonable," senior Andrew Lutin said.
"Now you don't have the dimes and nickels to give to the people playing music [in the T station]," said senior Justin Friedman, who went on to suggest that the T should run later than its current 12:30 a.m. closing. Senior Monica Barnes agreed.
"I don't really think it's a big deal. Most of the time I just give them $1, so now I won't get that change," she said. "But, [we] should be able to get on the T at two in the morning."
This summer, the MBTA unenthusiastically received a proposal from the State Legislature's Transportation Committee calling for an investigation of the difficulty of lengthening the T's hours of operation. While students, businesses, and city officials favor the plan, which they say would reduce drunk driving and allow both workers and bar-hoppers to stay out later, the MBTA has made it clear that extending hours are not a priority.
The higher fares only cover about 35 percent of the MBTA's operating expenses. "The remainder is subsidized by the State [of Massachusetts], with a small fraction from the Federal government," Pesaturo said.
The increase will not affect the vast majority of MBTA regulars using monthly passes until sometime next month. Unlimited monthly bus passes will jump to $25 from $20, and subway passes will rise to $35 from $27.
This month's rate increase accompanies a number of MBTA enhancements slated to take place this year. The main improvement is the addition of a new "Silver Line," which will run regular bus service from Dudley Square in Roxbury, through South Station, and out to Logan Airport through the Ted Williams Tunnel.
While the new line is under construction, passengers will depart from Andrew Square on the Red Line, and on through the tunnel to the airport. This will make the Logan commute much easier for Tufts students, who previously had to travel for an hour and switch lines twice to get to the airport.
