Dan Graubaskas should be eaten, horribly and ironically, by a shark

[spatch]

From El Glob:

Thursday, November 9, 2006
MBTA board approves fare hike for T, buses and light rail
By Mac Daniel, Globe Staff, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent

The MBTA board voted unanimously this afternoon to approve the T's second set of fare increases in three years despite the objections of Governor-elect Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

...

The increases, slated to take affect in January, are projected to bring in an additional $71 million a year as the MBTA tries to balance its budget after two years of shortfalls.

T officials acknowledge that the fare hikes will drive away an estimated 16.5 million passengers a year. The MBTA carries about 1.1 million passengers on an average workday.

Under the new fares, subway and trolley rides will go from $1.25 to $1.70, and bus fares from 90 cents to $1.25.

They unanimously voted for a fare hike, eh? After all that smoke-and-mirrors regarding "We'll think about hiking prices after we hear what the ridership has to say" and after the ridership spoke up and said "NO"?

Wow, talk about your world-shattering surprises right there.

Then again, after this week's Blue State Bonanza (like Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, the Fourth of July and 4/20 all rolled into one for the Democrats except Nevada, where there ain't gonna be no 4/20) I guess I should have expected some bad news to filter up eventually.

Comments

[jadasc.livejournal.com]

I suppose it'd be gauche to mention that, because of how I commute, I'm likely to save money under these new terms?

[marphod.livejournal.com]

Er? How?

[jadasc.livejournal.com]

1. The price of the monthly pass is going down to match the rate of four weeklies.

2. Last I'd heard, the new subway fare includes one free bus transfer, which means I'd no longer be paying $2.15 for that leg of a trip.

[spatch]

The price of the monthly Combo pass is going down; however, they're phasing out the Subway-only passes. The new Combo pass, while cheaper than its current incarnation, will be more expensive than the current Subway only pass.

However, if this turn of events seriously does result in savings for you, you're one of the lucky ones and I salute you, albeit with a pang of slight jealousy. :)

[ron_newman]

People who win with the new fares:

- anyone who takes both a bus and a subway ($2.15 -> $1.70)
- zoned local bus passengers ($1.55 -> $1.25)
- anyone who buys a Combo Pass ($71 -> $59) or Combo Plus ($79 -> $59)
- Zone 1B commuter rail ($2 -> $1.70)
- Newton Green Line D riders ($3 -> $1.70)
- Quincy and Braintree riders ($2.50 -> $1.70)

[marphod.livejournal.com]

anyone who takes both a bus and a subway ($2.15 -> $1.70) In that order.

If your transit is subway->bus one way and bus->subway return, it is 4.30$->4.65$ (2 subways and one bus) roundtrip.

Newton Green Line D riders ($3 -> $1.70)

Assuming you leave the above ground area. Round trip was 3.00$ if you were returning from above ground. Now, its 3.40$. If you stayed in Newton, it was even less. Newton local, with warrant, was 1.50$ out and free back. (and a one-time 1.50$ surcharge to get the warrant).

[ron_newman]

No, your hypothetical round trip would be $4.30 -> $3.40 . $1.70 includes a transfer from bus to subway, OR from subway to bus.