(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) — Get ready to shell out even more to ride the T as the transit organization prepares for a fare hike.
MBTA fares last went up by 9 percent back in July 2016. Now, they're set to rise again by more than 6 percent on average come July.
Basic bus fare will go up from $1.70 to $1.80, and rapid transit fare will increase from $2.25 to $2.40.
"I know fare hikes are an unpleasant bit of this business, but they are an important part of the MBTA's funding stream," MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak told reporters. "This is, I think, a modest fare increase. It keeps pace with inflation, and I also think doing it on a periodic basis, I'm hopeful this lands a little bit easier."
Poftak said the hope is that the added money will help provide better service.
"I do hope that customers are at least starting to see some initial improvements in service, and we are working aggressively to roll those improvements out, again, over the next year," he said.
The proposed hike comes as the MBTA faces the prospect of its projected deficit doubling over the next fiscal year.
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin reports