The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) last month announced its finalized plans for budget cuts, with changes to be implemented on July 1.
The plan calls for a 23-percent overall fare increase and some service cuts in bus, rail and ferry systems, according to the MBTA Fare and Service Change report. The changes are predicted to close the MBTA's operating deficit of $185 million.
The price of a single CharlieTicket for a subway ride will increase from $2.00 to $2.50, and the price of a single CharlieTicket for a bus ride will increase from $1.50 to $2.00.
The cost of a single subway ride with a CharlieCard will increase from $1.70 to $2.00, and the price of a bus ride with a CharlieCard will increase from $1.25 to $1.50.
The 96 bus route, which serves the area surrounding the Tufts campus, will not be cut, as had been proposed.
With regard to bus service, four weekday routes will be eliminated and 14 routes will be revised. In addition, there will be a 35-percent increase in fare for the ferry, and service to Quincy on weekends will be eliminated.
On the Green Line, E Branch weekend service will be eliminated between Brigham Circle and Heath Street. Commuter rail weekend service to Needham, Kingston/Plymouth and Greenbush will be eliminated.
The process to develop the plan included 25 meetings and six hearings with over 5,800 attendees, and there were 5,800 emails submitted. According to the report, 80 percent of responses opposed service reductions.
