MBTA Approves Fare Hikes For July 1

MBTA fares are going up for the second time in two years.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's board of directors voted Wednesday to increase the price of bus, subway and commuter rail passes by an average 5 percent.

Under the approved proposal, the price of bus and subway rides will rise by 10 cents, increasing to $1.60 and $2.10 respectively.

The price of a combined bus-and-subway monthly pass will increase by $5 to $75, and a monthly bus pass will jump $2 to $50 per month.

Single ride fares on the commuter rail will increase by 25 to 50 cents. Passes for commuter rail pass passengers will increase by $5 to $17, depending on where you travel from.

Fares on The RIDE will not increase.

The fare increases, first announced in March, will take effect July 1.

The T last hiked fares in July 2012, when prices went up by an average 23 percent. At that time, bus fares rose a quarter to $1.50 and subway fares rose from $1.70 to $2.

The 2012 fare hike was the first since 2007.

Officials estimate that the fare hikes will cause ridership to decline by less than 1 percent.