Advocacy groups to T: Prepare for a fight over fare hikes

On the backs of riders
A unified front is slowly mounting against the MBTA’s proposed fare increase, with several rider advocacy groups joining efforts to put up a fight at upcoming public hearings that begin next week.

Under the T’s proposal, the fares would rise about 25 percent across the board beginning in 2007. That means subway fares would jump from $1.25 to $1.70, and bus fares would jump from 90 cents to $1.25.

Public meetings in the area are:
May 15 Boston 4:30 P.M.- 6:30 P.M. State Transportation Building 10 Park Plaza	May 22 Boston 3:30 P.M. - 5:30 P.M. Tip O’Neil Federal Bldg. 10 Causeway Street	May 23 Cambridge 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Cambridge City Senior Ctr. 806 Massachusetts Avenue	June 6 Boston 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. Boston Public Library 700 Boylston Street

Here is the listing of public meetings

Written comments will be accepted through June 30, 2006 and should be mailed to MBTA, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attn: Fare Policy Committee
or sent via email to fareproposal@mbta.com.

It is crazy that we are making it harder for people to use public transportation! With everything going on in the world with the price of oil, the environment going to hell, traffic congestion, and so forth, our city and state should be encouraging public transportation! How about making the T FREE?