97 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

MBTA website:

 

 

                                               Coronavirus Updates for June 13 – 14, 2020

Updated Saturday, June 13, 2020, 12:30 AM

The following changes to service and operations have been made to protect the health and safety of essential workers who rely on public transit, as well as our frontline staff.

 

• All riders and employees are required to wear face coverings while riding the T.
• Service levels prioritize essential travel for healthcare and emergency workers.
• All shared trips on The RIDE have been eliminated. We ask all RIDE customers to book trips 1-3 days in advance.
• The CharlieCard Store is closed until further notice.
• Customers should board at the rear doors of buses and street-level trolley stops. Seniors or people with disabilities can still board at the front door if needed. 
• Stations and vehicles are being cleaned and sanitized with increased frequency.

Increased service levels will go into effect in late June as part of Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Plan:

• June 21: Increased service on the subway and some bus routes
• June 22: Increased Commuter Rail service, ferry service resumes

Learn more about June 21/22 schedule changes

This page is regularly updated as more information about the COVID-19 outbreak becomes available.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading 6/17/20

 

MBTA tests new fare option as commuter trends shift

 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) on July 1 will begin a commuter-rail fare pilot to test new ways to accommodate riders as their travel patterns change during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Under the pilot, MBTA will offer a fare option good for any five days of travel within a 30-day period. ...

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

MBTA news release

 

New 5-day Flex Pass Pilot for Commuter Rail Begins July 1

 

June 15, 2020

 

 

The 5-day Flex Pass is a bundled fare good for any 5 days of travel within a 30-day period.

 

Pilot also includes Commuter Rail upgrades to the Youth Pass.

 

 

The MBTA today announced a new customer-driven Commuter Rail fare product pilot to begin July 1: the 5-day Flex Pass on mTicket, a bundled fare good for any 5 days of travel within a 30-day period. With the understanding that travel patterns are changing and many employers are exploring new ways of working like staggered schedules and telework policies, this new fare product aims to serve Commuter Rail riders whose commutes may change as they return to using the system during the Commonwealth’s reopening phases. This product also comes as part of the MBTA’s Fare Transformation program, which aims to make paying for transit easier and more convenient. 
 
“We understand our Commuter Rail riders need another fare option as travel patterns adjust and many previous daily commuters see their post-pandemic work schedules changing,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “Using mTicket, Commuter Rail customers can purchase a Flex Pass and use their 5 1-day passes any day within a 30-day period, giving riders the flexibility to travel when they need to, using an option that’s cheaper than the traditional roundtrip ticket.”

The 5-day Flex Pass Pilot will take place beginning July 1 through September 30 and is available within the mTicket app only. Once purchased within mTicket, the Flex Pass provides 5 1-day passes that can be used at any time in a 30-day period. Available for all zones and interzones, the price of a 5-day Flex Pass is a 10% discount when compared to 5 round-trip tickets.

 

Youth Pass Improvements

 

As part of this pilot, beginning July 1, Youth Pass holders can now purchase half-price fares for all Commuter Rail zones at ticket windows, onboard, and via the mTicket app, which was not previously available to Youth Pass holders. The Youth Pass Program is a partnership between the MBTA and participating cities and towns that offers young adults with low incomes roughly 50% reduced 1-way fares or $30 monthly LinkPasses and was previously only available on bus and subway. Other recent Youth Pass updates include approval this past May by the Fiscal and Management Control Board of allowing Youth Pass holders to purchase half-price Zone 1A Commuter Rail tickets. This half-price Zone 1A Youth Pass ticket is available through the use of Fairmount Line validators, at ticket windows, and onboard trains beginning upon the commencement of the Fairmount Line Weekday Service Pilot on Monday, June 22. 

 

Additional Commuter Rail Fare Improvements

 

Today the MBTA also announced a one-time extension of its Commuter Rail ticket expiration policy. Understanding that many Commuter Rail customers were unable to use their tickets due to the recent stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, beginning June 22, Commuter Rail customers may use unused, expired, paper One-Way, Round-Trip, and 10-Ride tickets that were valid on March 10, 2020, onboard for the next ninety days. For unused, expired One-Way, Round-Trip, and 10-Ride mTickets, customers do not need to take any action – the MBTA will automatically push new mTickets to customers’ apps on June 22 for use over the next ninety days. If customers do not use these tickets before they expire, the MBTA will push new Tickets to replace these re-expired tickets at the end of the state of emergency. Customers also should note that the MBTA is unable to re-issue tickets earlier than June 22.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

MBTA news release

 

Lynn Zone 1A Pilot: Fares at Lynn Commuter Rail Station Lowered to Zone 1A Effective July 1 through August 31

 

 

June 10, 2020

 

Building off similar efforts during the recent Blue Line shutdown in May, Zone 1A fares will again be accepted at Lynn Station beginning July 1 for 2 months to promote additional travel options and to promote social distancing efforts. 

 

 

The MBTA today announced that Zone 1A fares will again be temporarily accepted at Lynn and Riverworks Commuter Rail Stations on a pilot basis effective Wednesday, July 1, through Monday, August 31. This step is being taken so the MBTA may provide additional travel options for North Shore customers, ease crowding on nearby bus routes, and to allow the MBTA to collect ridership data related to the effects of temporary fare changes on relieving crowding.

 

“We’re excited to again offer this option to riders traveling between Lynn Station and Downtown Boston for the same price as a subway fare,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “We’re continuing this temporary zone change pilot for 2 months starting July 1 with the goal of reducing crowding and promoting social distance on buses, and we encourage our North Shore riders to consider this Commuter Rail option.”

 

Zone 1A fares were temporarily accepted at Lynn from May 22 to May 31 in an effort to provide additional travel options for customers affected by the Blue Line shutdown from Bowdoin to Airport and so that MBTA staff could begin to gather ridership data related to temporary fare changes. Though data on Commuter Rail and relevant bus route ridership was inconclusive given the short length of the May offering, the MBTA hopes a longer 2-month pilot will allow customers to learn about the Commuter Rail option so that additional data can be collected.   

 

Customers heading inbound from Lynn or Riverworks to North Station and outbound from North Station to Lynn or Riverworks can purchase a Zone 1A ticket on mTicket, at a fare vending machine, onboard, or at a ticket window at North Station. Zone 1A monthly passes printed on CharlieTickets or CharlieCards or on mTicket will also be accepted. The MBTA will continue to closely monitor ridership levels with 14 additional inbound trains (28 total) to be added to the Newburyport/Rockport Line as part of Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s Re-Opening Plan. A 1-way Zone 1A commuter rail fare is $2.40, which is the same as a CharlieCard subway fare. Bus Routes that stop at Lynn Station include Routes 426, 429, 435, 436, 441, 442, and 455. 

 

In compliance with the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts Report, riders are also reminded that face coverings are required while onboard MBTA service and within stations.

 

 

[KevinKorell]

Wicked Local, 7/10/20:

 

  The new normal: Trains empty, masks on as MBTA ridership slowly rebounds  

 

 

 

At 8:15 on a Wednesday morning, the Quincy Center MBTA station is usually packed with commuters headed to Downtown Crossing for a transfer, to South Station to catch an Amtrak train or to Kendall for a trip to MIT.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

MBTA website:

 

 

                                      Coronavirus Updates for July 17 – 19, 2020

Updated Friday, July 17, 2020, 11:17 AM

 

The following changes to service and operations have been made to protect the health and safety of essential workers who rely on public transit, as well as our frontline staff.

• All riders and employees are required to wear face coverings while riding the T.
• Service levels prioritize essential travel for healthcare and emergency workers.
• Due to a shortage of drivers, shared trips on The RIDE will temporarily resume. Customers should expect to be on vehicles at the same time as other customers.
• The CharlieCard Store is closed until further notice.
• We’ve installed new protective barriers and decals at the front of vehicles to help maintain distance between riders and operators, allowing us to resume front-door boarding on buses and at street-level trolley stops. Riders who are able should board at the front door and exit at the rear door.
• Standard fare collection processes will resume at the front doors of buses and trolleys.
• Bus operators have the option—with approval from the Control Center—to bypass a stop if they feel the bus is becoming too crowded to safely accommodate any more riders.
• Stations and vehicles are being cleaned and sanitized with increased frequency.

This page is regularly updated as more information about the COVID-19 outbreak becomes available.

 

Continue reading more, including weekday & weekend service levels.

[KevinKorell]

WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston, MA, 7/29/20:

 

   Some MBTA commuter rail tickets bought before pandemic now expired   

 

 

With the MBTA resuming fare collection last week, some commuter rail passengers are finding tickets they paid for at the start of the pandemic are now expired, and so far the T has told them they're out of luck.

 

Details

[KevinKorell]

Taunton, MA Daily Gazette, 7/20/20:

 

  MBTA to resume collecting fares on buses, the Commuter Rail and trolleys  

 

 

 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will resume collecting fares on buses, the Commuter Rail and trolleys at street-level stops on the Green and Mattapan lines starting on Monday.

 

Details

[KevinKorell]

WBUR Radio, Boston, MA, 8/13/20:

 

   MBTA Extends Commuter Rail Discount Through 2020    

 

 

 

 

Commuter rail passengers will be able to travel between Lynn and Boston at the same price as a subway ride through the end of 2020 under a pilot program extension the MBTA announced Thursday.

 

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston, MA, 8/19/20:

 

   Keolis shows how it keeps commuter rail trains clean  

 

 

Keolis is deep cleaning the commuter rail amid the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Video