Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Wants to End Cash Payments

Boston is the latest of a growing number of cities that could end the use of cash to may for transit tickets. The change does not come without some concern for riders.

1 minute read

March 30, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials want to eventually phase out using cash to pay on board its buses and trains, allowing riders to use their cellular phones, credit cards, and new CharlieCards instead," reports Nicole Dungca.

"The change would not take effect for at least two years and would need approval from the authority’s fiscal control board," adds Dungca. "But at Monday’s board meeting, MBTA officials said they plan to aggressively pursue a new fare-collection system that would be more user-friendly and speed up boarding times."

The article includes discussion fo the demographic concerns raised by the proposal (i.e., low-income riders are more likely to use cash), next steps in the planning process, and the example set by other transit systems in adopting similar technologies (e.g., Transport for London and the Chicago Transit Authority). According to Dungca, "[s]uch a fare-collection system would allow the T to easily charge different prices for different times of day, or for different distances traveled by a customer." 

Monday, March 28, 2016 in The Boston Globe

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Wide roadway in Austin, Texas at night.

How Project Connect Would Change ‘The Drag’

A popular — and sometimes deadly — Austin road will exchange car lanes for light rail.

46 seconds ago - The Daily Texan

Google Street View of wide roadway flanked by green trees in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Road to Get Complete Streets Upgrades

The city will reduce vehicle lanes and build a protected multi-use trail including bioswales and other water retention features on its ‘secret highway.’

56 minutes ago - Urban Milwaukee

Side view of layers of grass and soil

Tackling Soil Contamination With Nature-Based Solutions

Los Angeles County residents and experts are turning to nature-based methods like bioremediation to address long-standing and fire-exacerbated soil contamination without resorting to costly and disruptive removal.

2 hours ago - Los Angeles Times