Fare engagement representatives began conducting fare checks last Monday on MBTA lines and bus routes across the city, with fines of up to $150 for fare evaders.
Riders who evade their fare must present a government-issued ID to fare engagement representatives, who can be identified by their blue shirts and hats. Evaders will then be issued a written warning or citation depending on how many times they have been cited and the type of fare violation, according to an Aug. 21 press release.
“If a rider refuses to cooperate with MBTA personnel, provide identification, or provide their contact information, they may be asked to exit the station at that time,” the MBTA stated.
Representatives may be stationed at any subway station with a fare gate or aboard any vehicle that collects fares. The program will also include bus routes, green line trolleys and Mattapan line trolleys, although they may be rolled out in “future phases” of the project.
“To prevent bias and promote a consistent rider experience system-wide, Fare Engagement Representatives will be deployed equitably across the system based on ridership patterns, not geography, to avoid a disproportionate presence in any one community,” the MBTA stated.
The MBTA began testing the fare engagement program in Oct. 2024, when they hired 16 representatives and found that fare collection increased by as much as 35% at stations where representatives were located. According to Lisa Battiston, the deputy press secretary for the MBTA, representatives were on-site at green line stations from Lechmere to Union Square and at Medford/Tufts, as well as the Back Bay station on the orange line during the test phase.
In its 2024 fare revenue analysis, the MBTA estimated that 15% of its operating revenue is sourced from fares — a total of just over $400 million — compared to its pre-pandemic budget, which sourced 31% of its revenue from fares. Most of its budget comes from Massachusetts sales tax and assistance from state and federal agencies. Monthly passes account for 40% of fare revenue, followed by stored value passes such as one-way tickets or round-trip tickets, which make up another 30% of purchased fare products.
By contrast, the program is expected to cost about $2 million in wages and $350,000 in other support costs, according to Battiston.
“As we continue to improve service frequency across all modes, we have much more to do, and we rely on each rider to pay their fare and support continued service improvements,” Phillip Eng, the general manager and CEO of the MBTA, said in a press release. “Your fares are essential to delivering the levels of service you expect and help us better support your community.”
In its capital investment plan published in May, the MBTA identified three major funding objectives: ongoing maintenance, future infrastructure and improved service. It identified 660 projects that will receive a combined $9.8 billion over the next five years, including electric hybrid buses, signal upgrades on the red and orange lines, and a green line extension. The CIP also highlighted “over $12.4B in vital work that could not be funded” by the proposed budget, such as a bus maintenance facility at Wellington station or rail modernization for certain tracks.
Part of the MBTA’s spending must also be put toward a special directive issued by the Federal Transit Administration which required the MBTA to, among other things, “address the pattern of safety incidents” at MBTA facilities, “correct defective track conditions” and “improve MBTA’s management of its safety committee process.”
The FTA’s original safety management inspection report found that “the combination of overworked staff and aging assets has resulted in the [MBTA] being overwhelmed, chronic fatigue for key positions in the agency, lack of resources for training and supervision, and leadership priorities that emphasize meeting capital project demands above passenger operations, preventive maintenance, and even safety.” Safety concerns included the number of injuries on the MBTA — between 2017 and 2021, the MBTA was responsible for 38% of light rail collisions and 94% of associated injuries.
Legislation passed in 2021 changed the way that the MBTA handles fares and fare evasion citations. According to Battiston, “The statute eliminates the potential for criminal sanctions for fare evasion and directs the MBTA to adopt regulations addressing the issuance of written warnings and citations and the collection of fines.” As a result, the MBTA moved to a warning-first system and decreased its fines, which were originally $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $600 for any subsequent citations. The MBTA now fines fare evaders $50 for their first, second and third offenses, and $100 for further citations, as reported by Boston.com.
Compared to inflation, fares have also been steadily decreasing since 2019, when the fare was last increased. According to the MBTA’s 2024 fare revenue and policy update, laws passed in 2013 and 2016 capped fare increases at 5% annually, then 7% every two years, following a 23% increase to fares in 2012. They have also expanded their reduced fare program in recent years, increasing eligibility for Massachusetts residents enrolled in programs with the Department of Transitional Assistance, MassHealth or MASSGrant programs, according to Battiston.
