I'm sorry, but I stopped taking the T:
"MBTA plans a $1 cut in fare for The Ride" by Martine Powers | Globe Staff, November 26, 2013
MBTA officials plan to roll back the fare for The Ride from $4 to $3 — a significant triumph for advocates who have argued that a doubling of the fare last year had a grave impact on the lives of senior citizens and people with disabilities who rely on the T’s special door-to-door service.
The announcement came Tuesday at a meeting of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s finance committee, where T officials presented their plan to cut the cost of a Ride ticket; the price would still be more than the previous $2 fee, but the change is a significant nod to those who rely on the service, they said.
“It’s never too late to do the right thing,” said the T’s general manager, Beverly A. Scott.
Why does it always have to come after the wrong thing is done first?
She said the reason for reducing the fare is simple: Ridership data, and testimony from riders themselves, made it clear the fare increase hurt the disabled community more than officials expected.
Why didn't you listen to them first?
Seven months after the fares took effect, some Ride users told the Globe that they were forced to cut back on doctor’s visits, grocery trips, and social outings because they could not afford transportation.
Before the fare increase, the T had estimated ridership would decrease by 10 percent. Instead, records show ridership has slid 18.5 percent since the new fare began in July 2012....
Still, the Massachusetts Senior Action Council warned that it is only a partial victory, with many people still struggling with transportation costs.
The group’s ultimate goal: A tiered fare structure that would offer tickets at prices based on a rider’s income.
It’s a concept that T officials have considered for years as a potential way to raise revenue from a federally mandated service that costs significantly more than is covered by fares.
Yeah, it's not like we are bailing out banks here.
But Scott said the prospect of tracking and verifying income levels of riders would be a daunting task for the transit agency.
Then give the NSA a call.
Instead, she said, the T may partner with other state organizations that keep records on income levels, but establishing such a shared information system could take years.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the panel discussed efforts to urge Ride-eligible users to take trains or buses for some trips.
The Ride fare cut comes just as T officials are ramping up efforts to institute another systemwide fare increase in July....
What government giveth with one hand they taketh away with other.
Lowering fares for The Ride to $3 will be costly for the T, but even as the agency is lowering fares for The Ride....
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Related: Slow Saturday Special: My Baby Takes the Morning Train
Also see:
Pro-Israel group sues MBTA over proposed ads
MBTA’s advertising dispute: Speech without name-calling
Glad I don't ride the Globe's rails anymore; maybe it should be called Thanksgivukkah.
