In an ongoing effort to combat fare evasion, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has ramped up enforcement measures since September, issuing dozens of warnings to riders but no monetary fines yet.
Under the newly initiated program, each rider is afforded one warning before citations are issued for subsequent offenses.
From the program’s launch on September 8 until now, MBTA fare engagement representatives have issued a total of 85 warnings, according to the agency’s latest data.
Starting with a first offense warning, riders face fines beginning at $50 for the next infraction and increasing to $100 for the fourth or subsequent violations.
Maya Bingaman, a spokesperson for the MBTA, expressed satisfaction with the program’s reception in a recent statement, thanking riders for complying with fare payments.
The ticketing initiative follows nearly a year of having fare engagement staff engage with riders at transit stations, which previously resulted in a 35% increase in fare collection.
Currently, MBTA staff are conducting visual checks for fare payment at select subway stations, although data on where the most warnings have been issued is not yet available.
Future plans include extending fare enforcement staff to buses as well as on Green Line and Mattapan Line trolleys.
Phillip Eng, the General Manager of MBTA, emphasized the importance of collecting fare revenue to maintain the sustainability of the transit system, citing a responsibility to riders and the general public.
This tightening of fare enforcement comes amidst pressure from the Trump administration for public transit agencies to enhance law enforcement on buses and trains.
During a national public transportation conference held in Boston last month, Federal Transit Administrator Marc Molinaro urged transit officials to take serious measures against fare evasion, harassment, and violent crime on public transportation.
Molinaro stated, “If you don’t feel safe, nothing else matters,” highlighting the correlation between fare evasion and escalating criminal activities.
Following isolated assaults against riders, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned of potential federal funding consequences for public transit systems in Boston and Chicago.
In addressing these safety concerns, Eng mentioned that the MBTA shares a goal with federal officials to ensure riders feel secure while using public transportation.
To ensure fair enforcement of fare rules, the MBTA has implemented various measures, including training staff on issues of bias, cultural intelligence, de-escalation, and customer service.
The MBTA has committed to deploying fare staff according to ridership patterns rather than geographic location, in an effort to avoid a disproportionate presence in any single community.
Riders who receive a written warning are then subject to a $50 civil citation for their next three offenses, with fines increasing to $100 for any violations beyond the fourth incident.
In cases where riders refuse to provide identification or contact information, staff are instructed to ask them to leave the station.
So far, no confrontations of this nature have been reported.
Additionally, certain riders are eligible for reduced fare options, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, and students.
Moreover, the MBTA has broadened reduced fare eligibility to income-eligible individuals aged 18 to 64 enrolled in programs through the Department of Transitional Assistance or MassHealth.
Participating in these programs can lead to fare reductions of approximately 50%.
Riders can explore eligibility and details about reduced fare options at mbta.com/reduced.
Several bus routes, including 23, 28, and 29, are also fare-free as part of a pilot program funded by the city of Boston.
Most fare enforcement staff are multilingual, and all have access to Google Translate to assist non-English speaking riders.
image source from：masslive
