Charlie Baker

MBTA Considering Fare Hike to Address Projected Budget Gap

The MBTA is projected to have a budget gap that will grow to $111 million dollars by 2019.

As it stands, fare increases could be among the options to make up for the shortfall.

Governor Charlie Baker has made managerial changes to the T, in hopes that its infrastructure upgrades would make the transportation service more reliable.

"The system is not as reliable as it should be, which is why we have been significantly investing in the T's capital investment program and upgrading a system that in many cases, where everything is more than 50 years old," Baker said.

Riders like Kelsey Mullaney who use the T to get to work everyday aren't too happy about the prospects of paying more money to ride the service.

"That's ridiculous. Especially for people that commute for transportation. For the most part, I mean, they're never really on time. I can't afford a monthly pass, so I use weekly, but still $21 a week is a lot."

Other daily T riders are accepting of the possible spike in fares.

"I'd rather pay less but if there's a shortfall, there's a shortfall. They have to get the money from somewhere," another rider told NBC10 Boston.

The MBTA must complete their fiscal year 2019 budget by April.

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