MBTA plans to crack down on fare evasion with new commuter rail gates

MBTA plans to crack down on fare evasion with new commuter rail gates

MBTA officials say the new gate system will improve fare collection, replace platform-door ticket checks, and create a more consistent fare-paying experience across all transit modes.
September 29, 2022

By Gayla Cawley | Boston Herald

The MBTA is seeking to crack down on commuter rail fare evasion with the installation of new electronic gates at North Station.

Starting on Saturday, riders will have to show a ticket at the fare gates before being allowed to board a train on the commuter rail.

MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said at Thursday’s Board of Directors meeting that the fare gates were a long-standing request from customers, who noticed that many of their fellow passengers have been able to avoid paying for fares.

“One of the frequent issues is there are times when our conductors are not able to check all the tickets on a commuter rail train, and we frequently get feedback, particularly from folks who are monthly passholders,” Poftak said.

The feeling among those customers is that people purchasing fares electronically on a per-trip basis are “getting a free ride,” when their tickets aren’t activated on the train, he said.

“That fare non-collection has been an ongoing issue,” Poftak said.

According to the latest data from the MBTA, fare evasion is between 4% and 8% on the commuter rail, Poftak said, but he’s heard from riders that they think the number is much higher.

The T says the new gate system will improve fare collection, replace platform-door ticket checks, and create a more consistent fare-paying experience across all transit modes.

Thirty gates were installed around the concourse area at North Station, including nine wider, accessible gates that allow sufficient room for wheelchairs, scooters, bicycles, luggage, and strollers.

The MBTA also plans to install fare gates at South and Back Bay stations, which would encompass 80% of commuter rail ridership. It would be too expensive to add the infrastructure to all commuter rail stations, he said.

“The fare gates also provide us the opportunity to collect better ridership data for the commuter rail, which will inform operations and guide future investments in the system,” Poftak said.

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