No more T Tokens in Boston
This is sad. The MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) is converting to automated fare collection by the end of the year.
That means no more T Tokens!
So next year you'll need a "CharlieTicket" to ride, after they get rid of tokens. Basically it's like an E-ZPass with stored value on the card, in the magnetic strip.
They say the CharlieTicket is an outgrowth of our cashless society, and that it's easier than tokens. But you know what I think it is? In 1998 when I finished school, a fare was 85 cents. Now it's a buck twenty-five to ride. And they're proposing a hike to $1.70 a ride.
That's why they want stored value cards. It saves you from thinking of each ride being $1.70! Because if you had to pay the ticket window person $1.70 each time, you'd be pissed off!
You realize that's doubling the fare in eight years. The only other ticket price hike that extreme? Disneyland under Michael Eisner!! In 1982 a one day ticket to Disneyland was $12, in 1990 it was up to $25.50.
I know they have to make improvements on the T (I really do, one of my brother's friends from college who is an engineer for the T is up visiting this Memorial Day Weekend). And I know gas prices have more than doubled in the last eight years (Zeig heil to the President Gasman!) But still, $1.70 to ride from Kenmore to Government Center? Stupid.
That means no more T Tokens!
So next year you'll need a "CharlieTicket" to ride, after they get rid of tokens. Basically it's like an E-ZPass with stored value on the card, in the magnetic strip.
They say the CharlieTicket is an outgrowth of our cashless society, and that it's easier than tokens. But you know what I think it is? In 1998 when I finished school, a fare was 85 cents. Now it's a buck twenty-five to ride. And they're proposing a hike to $1.70 a ride.
That's why they want stored value cards. It saves you from thinking of each ride being $1.70! Because if you had to pay the ticket window person $1.70 each time, you'd be pissed off!
You realize that's doubling the fare in eight years. The only other ticket price hike that extreme? Disneyland under Michael Eisner!! In 1982 a one day ticket to Disneyland was $12, in 1990 it was up to $25.50.
I know they have to make improvements on the T (I really do, one of my brother's friends from college who is an engineer for the T is up visiting this Memorial Day Weekend). And I know gas prices have more than doubled in the last eight years (Zeig heil to the President Gasman!) But still, $1.70 to ride from Kenmore to Government Center? Stupid.