BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s $10 weekend pass is on indefinite hold, MBTA officials said this week, citing federal rules for ending the pilot program.
The MBTA says the pass offering unlimited weekend rides on its commuter rail system was popular, raising weekend revenue by 4.6 percent during its six-month trial, the Boston Herald reports. But the Federal Transit Administration requires additional studies before the program can become permanent, and the transit agency is still determining what to do next, the MTBA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board was told.
“The pilot is suspended until we get some direction from the FTA,” Deputy General Manager Jeff Gonneville said.
The board had learned of the suspension a week earlier, with one member suggesting a new pilot program with a slightly different price to circumvent the FTA rule. [See “MBTA’s $10 weekend pass to end, at least for now,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 11, 2018.]
The program is starting back up effective Jan 5. It was abruptly halted last month because of federal rules that require transit agencies to determine whether fare changes that last longer than six months are fair to low-income riders. The Federal Transit Administration is allowing the T to run the discount for another six months before completing the federally required “equity analysis,” which determines how different classes of riders are affected by changes in prices.
In a letter to the T granting the extension, the FTA said the T had not needed to suspend it last month because test discounts “may remain in place while the transit agency conducts the analysis.”
“Had MBTA reached out to the FTA Office of Civil Rights prior to its decision to suspend the pilot, FTA would have provided technical assistance and guidance on this matter,” the letter said.
I’m confused. Open seats. Lower prices. More riders. Large revenue increase. What is the issue?
I wonder what kind of studies are needed. They’re running trains as usual, moving people as usual, so what’s up? Metra in Chicago has had a program like this for years without any problems.