MBTA fare hikes start Monday; City councilor launching #BostonTParty protest

BOSTON — Taking the T will get a little more expensive Monday, as a long-planned 6.3% fare increase is set to go into effect.

The fare hikes come amid growing rider frustration and anger with chronic MBTA delays and derailments.

A Red Line derailment at JFK/UMass Station this month badly damaged signal infrastructure that won't be fully repaired until at least Labor Day, according to the MBTA, and will add an extra 20 minutes for Red Line riders.

Last month, the Green Line and Red Line both derailed within a matter of days, causing commuter chaos.

Some fares, like one-way bus and reduced fare passes, won't change, but many others will. A one-way ride on the T with a CharlieCard will rise from $2.25 to $2.40.

This will be the fourth price hike since 2012, but the first in three years. The MBTA is only allowed to increase fares every two years -- and that increase can be no more than 7 percent.

Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu is organizing the first of a two-day commuter protest of the fare hikes to "spark a conversation on social media and throughout the day and beyond about how to marshal political will for urgent changes."

Wu wants volunteers at MBTA stations and riding on trains during Monday's morning commute "to get every T rider in Boston talking with friends, family, and coworkers about the concrete steps we could be taking today towards frequent, reliable, affordable and sustainable service.”

To appeal to a social media-minded crowd, she's calling it a #BostonTParty for #UnfairHikes.

More details on the July 1 fare hikes | New fare sheet (pdf) |

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