PROVIDENCE – Rhode Islanders taking the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority commuter rail to and from the Boston area will have to pay more starting this summer.
The MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board voted Monday to raise all fares by 6.3 percent on average – including for commuter rails, subway, bus and ferry – beginning July 1.
One-way fares on the Rhode Island commuter rail starting at Wickford Junction in North Kingstown and ending at South Station in Boston will increase by 75 cents for stations at Wickford Junction, T.F. Green Airport and Providence.
One-ways fares will increase by 50 cents for stations at Attleboro/South Attleboro and Mansfield in Bristol County, Mass.
For example, the current one-way fare from Providence to Boston will increase from $11.50 to $12.25, according to the MBTA’s new fee schedule.
Monthly passes on the Rhode Island line will increase by $27.25 at Wickford Junction; by $26.50 at T.F. Green Airport; by $25 at Providence; by $23.50 at Attleboro/South Attleboro; and by $22 at Mansfield.
A monthly pass at Providence, for example, will increase from $363 to $388, according to the MBTA.
The MBTA has not raised fares since 2016. Massachusetts law allows the MBTA to raise fares at regular, modest increments, limiting increases to once every two years and a cap of no more than 7 percent across all fares.
For Rhode Island commuter rail trips that do not begin or end at the South Station, Back Bay, or Ruggles stops, one-way fares will increase by 25 cents for those passing through four or more zones. Those passing through fewer than four zones will not see an increase.
For monthly passes on the Rhode Island line for those not riding to or from the South Station, Back Bay, or Ruggles stops, those passing through one or two zones will see a 25-cent decrease in the monthly price.
Those passing through three zones will see a 25-cent increase; while those passing through four to 10 zones will see increases from $8.75 to $16.50, according to the MBTA.
Scott Blake is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Blake@PBN.com.
