Efficient Fare Collection & Transfers
The manual, on-board fare collection system used on the commuter rail network is labor intensive and misses many fares per trip. While arguably the most efficient fare collection system for traditional commuter rail, it is too inefficient for a high frequency, dense urban corridor line. The new Indigo Line presents an opportunity to introduce and demonstrate a "proof of payment" (POP) fare collection system, which has proved successful and efficient in Europe, Asia and in most new commuter rail and light rail systems in the United States and Canada.The proof of payment system requires passengers to purchase time sensitive tickets prior to boarding, which must be presented on request to roving fare checkers. Successful implementation of a proof of payment system on the Indigo Line can be used as a model for expansion of the fare collection method to the rest of the commuter rail network and the Green Line, where current fare collection practices have been problematic and cumbersome.
Since the Indigo Line’s South Station terminus will not be the final destination of many of the route’s riders, free transfers should be available to and from the Red and future Silver Lines at South Station. If new transfer technology, as mandated in the 1999 rewrite of the MBTA authorizing legislation, has not been put into place by the start of the upgraded service, then paper transfers should be used until the new technology is implemented.
Finally, the Fairmount Branch is currently hindered by a needlessly confusing fare structure, whereby travel to each station is a different cost ($1.00 to Uphams Corner, $1.50 to Morton Street, $2.50 to Fairmount and $2.75 to Readville). Indigo Line fares should be standardized with fares on the regular MBTA rapid transit lines, such that fares to and from every station on the line is $1.00.
Indigo Line Home Page || Background || Existing Conditions
Future Opportunities || Cost || Supporters || Conclusion || Pix
Downloads || News || Contact the Indigo Line
This page created 9.9.00, last updated 8.1.01.