MBTA oversight board paves way for 10 percent fare hike

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) fiscal-control board yesterday approved a policy that will allow the agency to increase fares by up to 10 percent every two years, The Boston Globe reported.

Although the MBTA hasn't officially proposed any fare increases yet, the agency may opt to increase fares at different rates for each of its transit modes.

With the agency's "CharlieCard," subway passengers currently pay $2.10 to ride, while commuter-rail fares range from $2.10 to $11.50. The cost of a monthly pass for MBTA's subways is $75, and commuter-rail monthly passes range from $75 to $362.

Those opposed to the increase have argued that a Massachusetts law prevents MBTA from raising fares by more than 5 percent every two years, the Globe reported.

The agency last raised fares by an average of 5 percent across the system in 2014.