MBTA brings fare gates to two more stations

By Addison Brewer-Hay

The MBTA plans to bring fare gates to two new stations in order to more effectively collect ride fares. 

According to MBTA General Manager and CEO Phil Eng, agency officials are racing to place fare gates at South Station and Back Bay Station. This will complement the similar precautions at North Station.

Eng expressed that while these gates will help ensure that passengers pay their fares, the construction footprints posed some difficulties.

“Last year, after inquiring, we were informed that the installation of fare gates at Back Bay and South Stations could not start until 2026 due to the private development projects at both locations,” Eng wrote in a statement.

Eng continued by emphasizing his hope for the fare gates’ implementation moving forward: “This spring, the installation work gets underway at South Station, and by this summer, the fare gates will be activated. At Back Bay Station, the fare gates will be operational in the fall.”

On Tuesday, Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro published a three-page letter to Eng emphasizing that the economic loss due to inefficient fare collection is significant and therefore needs improvement. 

Eng replied that the letter did not accurately reflect the MBTA’s efforts toward fare collection, saying that the Commuter Rail fare had actually increased significantly over the past three years. 

For now, the two new stations mark the start of a potentially expansive MBTA fare collection system.