MBTA riders would pay an average of 23 percent more and most service cuts would be spared under a budget-balancing plan that will be announced this morning by the T, the state’s top transportation official said in an interview.
The changes, to take effect July 1, are significantly less severe than the two proposals unveiled by the T in January and widely criticized at hearings throughout Greater Boston in recent months. Those proposals would have relied entirely on fare increases and service cuts to make up the $160 million deficit the MBTA faces for the upcoming budget year.
No word yet on what will happen to Commuter Rail service.
See also: MBTA.com: Fare and Service Changes: MBTA Staff Recommendation
Looks like Providence service will not be cut, fares will increase though.
Zone 9 Commuter Rail pass goes from $265 to $329 per month.
Zone 8 (Providence) goes from $250 to $307.50
Now here’s the interesting part, lets say you have a car that gets 25MPG highway. Let us also assume that your two way commute is 120 miles. So 120 miles times 5 days, times 4.33 weeks comes to 2,598 miles. Divided by 25 equals 103 gallons, so it’s still cheaper to take the T. But just based on fuel alone, that advantage enjoyed by commuter rail is quickly disappearing
The MBTA should limit service to TF Green Airport and let the State of Rhode Island through the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) develop their own commuter rail service.
See http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/10/18/everybody-wants-a-train-station/.