Results tagged “farehike”

We can't control the nasty weather that occasionally strikes Boston. When the sleet stings your face, or when you step into a deep, cold puddle, you just have to convince yourself that the moment will pass. Soon, you'll be underground in a cozy T stop where you can thaw out or dry off.

Bostonist has gotten countless emails from our local HR department and forwards from friends whose benefits specialists have issued missives regarding the changes in the fare structure and how it will affect your monthly pre-tax transit order. The basic fact of the matter is that those $44 T passes are on the way out. The December monthly pass will be the last time a monthly subway-only pass is issued. In January the LinkPass – which serves the same purpose a monthly combo and combo plus pass now serves, will be the only option for subway riders. The monthly purchase cost will rise $15 for those subway only purchasers, but drop $12 or $20 for the combo pass holders. If you can get it through work benefits it's likely pre-tax, the savings or increase will only be a percentage of that amount in paycheck dollars.

The MBTA is holding a public hearing regarding the proposed fare hike at the Boston Public Library's main branch in Back Bay this afternoon. Some local bloggers and T-riders have called for a rally to precede the meeting held in Copley Square. Unfortunately the meeting is taking place before the average work day is finished. Getting to the rally and/or the meeting may prove difficult for many, especially if you're taking the T. The series of public meetings (upcoming in Mattapan, Arlington, Attleboro, and Lynn) will take impact statements from participants and present a transcript to top MBTA officials – do all the yelling won't do much unless the language is particularly colorful to express displeasure with the increase (well, maybe Deval will hear it). After careful examination of the issue there are a few things that have merits. If the system is truly seen as a whole, perhaps the busses currently underused, late, and unreliable will become more frequent and reliable with increased usage. Maybe. For now the written statement of opinion is a good option, especially if you can't make the rally and meeting today. Well, that and watching this tangentially related video of the dancing MBTA Police Pig.

For our years in academia and a continuing commitment to understanding social and economic policy, we’ve heard that ecological friendly initiatives won’t be widely popular unless economic incentive is the driving force. We thought the whole emissions trading market would help out our ambitions for green, before a certain someone backed out of the Kyoto Protocol. Recently, with gas going for over $3 a gallon (still way less per ounce than a Dunkie’s large regular), we were sure that the hybrid cars would make way for pure electrics or at least heavy reliance on mass transit systems. Maybe that’s happening. Slowly. Take your stance on the MBTA’s most recent proposal for a fare hike and it’s ecological and social merits. It may be the housing market's building boom that moves to green first. Transportation may follow.

The Boston Globe reports today that "the city of Boston has approved a 50 cents per ride gasoline surcharge on cab fares, which are already among the highest in the nation." Breath a sigh of relief because this fare hike is only temporary. The goal of the 50 cent surcharge is to relieve the Boston taxi cab driver's wallet of the burden of increased gas prices faced in the post-Katrina context. Don't get too excited, there is no definite termination of the increase.