PROVIDENCE – The proposed fare increase for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority would increase fares for monthly pass customers of the commuter rail from Providence to Boston, or vice versa, by $300 a year, with a proposed Zone 8 pass cost of $388 per month, compared with its current cost of $363 per month, for a total yearly cost of $4,656.
The proposal is an increase of 6.9 percent, or $25 per month. The law caps fare increases at 7 percent every two years. The last fare increase was in 2016, the MBTA said.
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Monthly pass fares for riders from Wickford Junction and T.F. Green Airport would increase by 7 percent. Wickford Junction riders would pay $27.75 more per month for a total of $426 per month, or $5,112 per year. T.F. Green riders would pay $26.50 more per month for a total of $406 per month, or $4,872 per year.
The proposed increase in one-way fares from Rhode Island into Boston and vice versa will be 75 cents for Providence, T.F. Green and Wickford Junction, increasing to $12.25, $12.75 and $13.25, respectively.
The proposed fare changes would increase by an average 6.3 percent and take effect July 1.
Three public meetings on the proposed rate hikes will take place. The first will be held on Feb. 13 at the Framingham Memorial Building in Framingham, Mass.; another will be held on Feb. 21 at the Woburn-Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn, Mass.; and the third meeting will be held on Feb. 27 at the State Transportation Building in Boston.
Comments may also be submitted online through Feb. 28 on the MBTA website.
The MBTA said in a statement that the fare increases are necessary to keep up with inflation and to continue system improvements.
A full list of proposed fare increases may be viewed online.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. Email him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
