MBTA Holds Focus Group on New Fare System at Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Last month, the MBTA teamed up with the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth to coordinate an informational event on the new Charlie Fare Collection System. The new system is being referred to by the MBTA as the Automated Fare Collection (AFC) 2.0. The focus group event took place at Bridge Over Troubled Waters, located on West and Tremont St, directly across from the Boston Common. The institution is a self-described “national model and program incubator for youth development services” which helps vulnerable and troubled youth throughout the city with everything from food and housing to emotional support groups. There were roughly 25 attendees, comprised almost entirely of youth between the ages of 15 and 25, as well as a few older BOTW associates.

Anthony Thomas was the designated MBTA representative for this focus group. He began with a presentation about the MBTA’s plan of implementation for AFC 2.0, which will largely take place online. The change will allow users to pay for bus and train rides using their phones. The system will be compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Charlie Card and single-ride rates at this time will remain the same, though Thomas did mention that with this new system it will be easier to make changes, should it be deemed necessary.

According to Thomas, the MBTA hopes to roll out this new system by May 2020, followed by a three to six month transition period. The next step in AFC 2.0 involves installing cash reload stations at retail locations around the city. These could include some of the several convenience stores scattered throughout the Back Bay region. These would allow users to refill their Charlie Cards and/or mobile devices on the go, though there are still several questions about how the authentication method for these machines will pan out. New fare gates to accommodate the fare change are projected to be installed by May 2021

Thomas’s presentation was met with enthusiastic comments and questioning by many of the youth in attendance. One of them, Alala Rei, said they are keen to stay updated on the proceedings, and found the content enlightening and important. “It’s something that affects everybody. It’s how a lot of us get around, not a lot of us have cars. This isn’t Ohio!” Corey Prachniak-Rincon has served as Director of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth since 2017. He stated that the MBTA was very forthcoming in setting up the event. “We thought it’d be great for us to work together, and it was really the MBTA that took the initiative, wanting to be inclusive and make sure they're reaching as many youths as possible.”

According to the MBTA website, this focus group was the second in a series that the MBTA has been conducting at different organizations in the greater Boston area. In an email exchange, Thomas expanded on the goal of this event series. “All of this is in a real effort to develop policies that work for our customers… While we may never be able to talk to everyone, we’re seeking to meaningfully engage as many people as we can.”

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