The MBTA Gauges Public Opinion on New Charlie Card System

The MBTA is launching a new fare collection system in 2020. In an effort to gauge public opinion on the coming changes, and to answer any pressing questions people may have, representatives of the MBTA led focus groups around the Greater Boston area.

In November of 2017, the MBTA completed a deal with Cubic Transportation Systems to initiate a new fare collection system. Since then, the MBTA has been in a planning period, with the full rollout of the new system currently set for May of 2020. The plan will transition away from physical Charlie Cards to an account-based fare system with which riders can pay for transportation with their smartphones.

The MBTA is also planning to put refill stations at retail locations most convenient to the public. In the Back Bay/Beacon Hill region, this could cause congestion in some stores at high ride times. However, the MBTA is placing more focus on finding locations for these refill machines in areas farther from T stations. Concern has also been raised about accessibility to these stations during off-hours, as not all stores are open when trains and buses first start each morning.

Beginning in October, representatives of the MBTA have coordinated with several organizations in the Greater Boston area to set up focus groups. According to Anthony Thomas, the Community Outreach Specialist for the MBTA, the goal of this event series was to “get the public input on how we’re building the system.” Every event was open to the general public, but the organizations were specifically chosen to address the widest possible span of demographics. The focus group held at Bridge Over Troubled Waters was almost entirely attended by youth involved with the organization, and the event at Franklin Field Elderly included many of the residents.

Looking forward, the MBTA plans to continue conducting focus groups as the plans for the new system reach the final stages of development. At this time, there are no determined dates for the next general public meeting. Laurel Paget-Seekins, the Director of Fare Policy and Analytics, described her interactions with the public thus far as “a really fulfilling and positive experience...We learn from them, they learn from us. It’s really about building those relationships.” Thomas and Paget-Seekins area looking for more organizations to help host further events.

This piece was produced as a part of Emerson College’s Beat Reporting course in Fall 2018.