MBTA cutting "late night" T service (Boston, Marblehead: how much, transfer)

[Whatsnext75]

MBTA fare hikes: Here

[Amontillado]

Globe headline says "MBTA approves fare hike amid chaotic protest". And then:

"Greater Boston public transit officials unanimously approved a system-wide average fare hike of 9.3 percent amid shouts and boos from protesters who plunged the board meeting into chaos."

MBTA approves fare hike amid chaotic protest - Massachusetts news - Boston.com

I wish a reporter had asked some of the people in the audience, "Where do you think the money ought to come from?"

[Whatsnext75]

Tax dollars.

[allenk893]

Originally Posted by millerm277

Late at night is only dead because the city refuses to allow most things to be open late, and I don't just mean bars (which aren't in their control).

Nothing good happens late at night anyway. This is a good thing.

[Whatsnext75]

Tell that to people using it to get home from work.

[Boston_Burbs]

Commuter rail riders taking the brunt of increases again.

Pricing on the Subway needs to be a node system. I can take a bus from Bedford, MA to the red, switch to the orange, then to the blue, then take a bus at Wonderland to Marblehead for.. $2.25. There needs to be a node system in place so you pay for your length of trip, much like the commuter rail.

I do agree that fairs need to be increased. There is limited ways this board can cut costs thank the the unions. I don't think it is fair taxing everyone in the state for Bostons system. Aside from a localized income tax for those communities serve by the T, raising the fairs is what they need to do.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Boston_Burbs

Commuter rail riders taking the brunt of increases again.

Pricing on the Subway needs to be a node system. I can take a bus from Bedford, MA to the red, switch to the orange, then to the blue, then take a bus at Wonderland to Marblehead for.. $2.25. There needs to be a node system in place so you pay for your length of trip, much like the commuter rail.

I do agree that fairs need to be increased. There is limited ways this board can cut costs thank the the unions. I don't think it is fair taxing everyone in the state for Bostons system. Aside from a localized income tax for those communities serve by the T, raising the fairs is what they need to do.

That's what pisses me off the most. Commuter rail fares go up astronomically and have the worst quality of service yet the bus and subway allows you to cover much more ground for a very cheap price that doesn't take distance travelled into account. This also fails to take into account that parking at CR stations costs $4/day ($7/day at 128).

They've officially made driving a cheaper option than CR for most people and I expect ridership to drop dramatically.

[Boston_Burbs]

Originally Posted by Dm84

That's what pisses me off the most. Commuter rail fares go up astronomically and have the worst quality of service yet the bus and subway allows you to cover much more ground for a very cheap price that doesn't take distance travelled into account. This also fails to take into account that parking at CR stations costs $4/day ($7/day at 128).

They've officially made driving a cheaper option than CR for most people and I expect ridership to drop dramatically.

I am totally a hypocrite because I bought a house in Marblehead, walking distance to a bus which I take to into Wonderland for $75 a month.

If we looked in towns further out, we would have had our price range cut by $100,000 because it would be about $500 more a month to register a car, pay insurance, gas, pay to park for $70/mo, $200+ more for a pass, not to mention the leafy Metro west Burbs like Acton have almost DOUBLE the tax rates of Marblehead.


I hope this increases the popularity of the private Commuter bus' which are some of the best deals out there. Coach Co. out of Newburyport is $160/10 round trips, free parking, and half hour to Haymarket.

[Steephill2]

I think the MBTA is underestimating the number of new alternatives out there that are ceopping up, in particular ride sharing companies. Its not there yet, but some now offer pooling options which make using them no longer that big of a stretch from a cost standpoint.

Also, for those who say you are OK with the increase because you drive anyways, expect to add a few minutes to your commute because some ppl are gonna start driving as well as fewer and more expensive parking spots in town.

[MrLinderman]

Originally Posted by Steephill2

I think the MBTA is underestimating the number of new alternatives out there that are ceopping up, in particular ride sharing companies. Its not there yet, but some now offer pooling options which make using them no longer that big of a stretch from a cost standpoint.

Also, for those who say you are OK with the increase because you drive anyways, expect to add a few minutes to your commute because some ppl are gonna start driving as well as fewer and more expensive parking spots in town.

No one is going to start driving into town because of a dime increase on the subways and a .50-1.00 increase in commuter rail tickets. That's just absurd.