MBTA hikes fares nearly 10 percent
By Kirsten Glavin
@kirstenglavin
PROVIDENCE, RI
MBTA riders will soon see increased prices, averaging about 9.3% starting July first, and many commuters ABC6 spoke with are not pleased.
"I think it’s a little too much,” said Julio Baez as he hopped off the Commuter Rail in Providence. “As a commuter, as a college student, it’s too much."
The decision came out of Boston on Monday, but not without opposition from riders. Protesters swarmed the floor, saying a nearly 10% hike is too much. Charlie cards, commuter rail tickets and bus passes are all affected.
"For someone who knows a lot of people who commute to Boston, with not the highest paying jobs, obviously it’s very inconvenient for them,” said Corey Kossin as he waited to take the MBTA to Boston.
The increase is largely due to the MBTA operating deficits and more than $7 billion dollars of overdue maintenance fees. Their financial trouble is now being pawned off, down on riders.
“There are people out there are folks I’m guessing for whom that’s a really big deal. I’m hoping there’s something in place to help out people for whom it’s going to be a significant increase,” said Josh Yardley, an MBTA rider.
"Now this increase is placed on commuters and we’re not really getting anything for it,” added rider Jamila Greene.
