T Deficit Again Raises Talk of Fare Hikes, Service Cuts

Fare hikes and service cuts are a few options T officials proposed in an effort to close the $130 million budget deficit in 2014.

Again this year, MBTA officials have proposed service cuts and fare increases if there is no increase in funding to close a $130 million projected budget deficit in fiscal year 2014. This week, the MBTA's Director of Strategic Initiatives, Charles Planck, said at a MBTA finance committee meeting that in order to close the budget gap T fares will need to go up 33 percent, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday. Locally, it would mean a $252 monthly pass from Hamilton-Wenham station woudl go up to $335. There was also talk at the meeting of a 15 percent fare increase coupled with the possible elimination of service that would include a reduced commuter rail schedule, according to the Globe. Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled an ambitious …

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On-Board Train Tickets to Cost $3 More Starting July 1

In addition to the MBTA commuter rail rate hikes that start July 1, riders will have to pay $3 more for a ticket to Boston if they do not buy a ticket in advance or use a pass.

Commuter rail riders getting onboard at Hamilton-Wenham station will pay an additional $3 for a ride to Boston unless they buy a ticket or pass ahead of time, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority announced on Tuesday. On July 1, the rate for a one-way trip to Boston from Hamilton-Wenham station, in Zone 5, will go from $5.75 to $8. But the same ride will cost $11 if a rider does not get on board with a ticket or pass in hand - even though there's nowhere to buy a ticket in either town. The move is designed to reduce the amount of time that conductors spend collecting fares. Previously, the T charged $1 more to buy a ticket onboard during off-peak times and $2 during peak times if riders did not purchase a ticket beforehand. But that fee…

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Bill Bowler

3:45 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012

I don't understand why they can't put a ticket dispenser, similar to the ones for Charlie cards, at each of the commuter rail stations. This is how you buy tickets on the Metro North line in New York.   more ›

Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 4

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Wednesday, April 4. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Trash: The kickoff of the new trash program moves to Hamilton on Wednesday. For the rest of the week, recycling and organics collection will happen on the regular day in Hamilton but there will be no trash pickup in the new black bins. Instead, only trash placed out in a blue bag will be picked up. Next week trash in the black bins, organics in the green bins and recycling in a labeled container will all be collected in Hamilton. A complete list of pickup days, listed street-by-street, is attached to this story as a PDF. 2. Agawam Hockey: Last summer, Agawam’s Learn to Play Hockey Program moved to Governor’s Academy while the rink at Pingree School underwent some work. …

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Allison Jenkins

4:52 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Michelle, notification that compost would now be picked up on your regular trash day was in local newspapers, the flyer that came with the compost container, the Hamilton Wenham Trash directory, the 2012 trash, recycling and organics calendar delivered to your home, announced at Board of Selectman meetings, explained at the Q&A sessions on trash held at the library and posting were sent to our …   more ›

Train Fares to Rise 20 Percent, Weeknight and Weekend Service to Remain

The MBTA's final plan to close its fiscal 2013 budget gap includes rate hikes for Hamilton and Wenham commuter rail riders but does not cut weeknight and weekend service, as was earlier proposed.

Regular commuter rail riders headed to Boston will pay 20 percent more for a monthly pass based on the MBTA’s latest – and final – plan to hike rates to close a budget gap. But a plan to cut weeknight and weekend commuter rail service on the North Shore has been dropped. The T’s final plan was unveiled on Wednesday and is headed for a final vote by the MBTA Board of Directors next week. If approved, the new rates would go into place on July 1. A monthly pass for service between Hamilton-Wenham station and North Station would go from $210 to $252. A one-way ticket would rise from $6.25 to $8, or 28 percent. The first proposal to close the estimated $185 million budget gap was presented in January, calling for rates hikes of up to 40 percent…

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