The difference between fares and passes is the key to the MBTA’s price increases
Here’s why some price increases could be above the legal 10 percent limit.
The MBTA says it has the legal ability to raise fares by an average of 10 percent every two years. So how is it that one of their proposals would increase a montly bus pass almost 20 percent?
The reason, as The Boston Globe explains, is based on the difference between a fare and a pass and the T’s emphasis on an average.
The MBTA has put forth two proposals for increasing fares in an attempt to close next year’s projected $242 million budget gap. One proposal would increase average systemwide fares by 6.71 percent, while the other would increase the average systemwide fares 9.77 percent, the T said.
The price of a bus ride paid for with a CharlieCard could increase from $1.60 up to either $1.70 or $1.75. Both of those increases would be less than 10 percent.
However, the price of a monthly pass for buses, currently $50, could increase to $58 or $59.75 under the proposals. Those would be an increase of 16 percent or 19.5 percent, respectively.
To understand how, note that the T defines a fare is the cost an individual ride, while a pass is a bundling of rides with a discount.
“A pass is not a fare,’’ Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack said on Monday. “A pass is a discount from a fare, and that is the legal interpretation.’’
Fare increases are constrained by a 2013 law that the MBTA has interpreted to allow fare increases of up to 10 percent on average across the entire system every two years. Because that limit is based on an average, the cost of certain passes can exceed the 10 percent if they are offset in the opposite direction.
For example, the “inner express’’ bus pass could increase from $115 to $130 per month, a 13 percent increase. That’s partly offset by the “outer express’’ bus pass decreasing from $168 to $130 per month, a drop of 23 percent.
Although the T’s monthly passes are seeing more significant increases, they are still relatively affordable compared to other U.S. metro subway systems.
“We have very deeply discounted passes, more than other big-city transit systems,’’ Pollack said. “Our passes are a great deal. We want them to stay a good deal, but we think there’s room to increase the cost of the passes without losing ridership.’’
The increases will be debated at 10 public hearings and eventually decided on by the MBTA’s governing board.
Gallery: The 10 busiest T stops
[bdc-gallery id=”119109″]
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com