BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will resume collecting fares on buses, the Commuter Rail and trolleys at street-level stops on the Green and Mattapan lines starting on Monday.
Bus and trolley riders have been boarding through the back since March, as the MBTA looked to encourage social distancing and protect operators and passengers during the coronavirus pandemic.
With rear boarding, however, customers did not have to pay fares for months since fares are usually collected at the front of buses and street-level trolleys.
Effective Monday, the transit authority said customers using buses and trolleys at street-level stations will now have to board at the front doors only and exit via the rear doors.
New permanent protective barriers have been installed to support physical distancing between operators and passengers, which will allow front-door boarding to resume while providing more space for riders.
“We’re glad to be able to return to the normal boarding process, and as we continue through the reopening process, it is important that customers and employees remain vigilant in our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said in a statement. “By taking steps like wearing face coverings and social distancing, we’re able to continue to make progress and keep customers safe and healthy.”
In addition, MBTA bus drivers now have the discretion to bypass a stop in order to avoid overcrowding. If the driver sees a customer with a disability at a bypassed stop, they will alert the control center, which will notify that customer that the stop is being passed due to crowding and will let them know the estimated arrival of the next available bus.
Riders are still required to wear face coverings while they are onboard MBTA vehicles and they should continue to make efforts to safely distance, according to the transit authority.
If there is a substantial statewide increase in COVID-19 cases, the MBTA said it may revisit the updated boarding procedures and reinstitute rear-door boarding on buses and trolleys at street-level stops. There will be advance notice of that change, if necessary.
Bus and trolley customers are encouraged to pay with a preloaded CharlieCard or CharlieTicket. Customers may also pay with cash.
Commuter Rail riders are encouraged to use the mTicket app for payment or purchase the new Five-day Flex Pass on the mTicket app. The Five-day Flex Pass is a bundled fare good for any five days of travel within a 30-day period. Fairmont Line customers also have the option to pay fares with CharlieCards at Zone 1A stations.