The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s control board has voted to raise fares on the public transportation system an average 9.2 percent beginning July 1.
The vote came after protesters shut down the board’s meeting for about a half an hour on Monday.
The actual vote was drowned out by protesters’ chants and cries. An MBTA spokesman later confirmed the vote was taken.
Proposed increases had ranged from 5 percent to nearly 10 percent.
MBTA officials say the hikes are needed as the system struggles with annual operating deficits and an estimated $7.3 billion backlog of deferred maintenance.
T officials have reported progress in cutting overtime and other administrative costs.
Many riders argued at a series of public hearings the T should not ask customers to pay more until service improves.
The new measure includes:
- A single cash price to ride a bus decreases by ten cents
- Expands free transfers for MBTA riders, allowing free transfers from bus to rail to bus
- Student Pass at $30 (12 months), senior pass at $30
- Bus Pass at $55
- Outer Express Bus at existing prices
- Bus fares: Cash/Ticket $2.00, Charliecard $1.70
- The RIDE at 5 percent, instead of 10 percent increase
- Bulk discount for schools purchasing more than 1,000 passes a month
- Pilot student pass on fare vending machines
- Review of Commuter Rail zones
- Steps to address fare evasion and enforcement
- Free transfer extended to bus-rail-bus trips
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