MBTA: Fare Evasion Costing Millions

BOSTON (CBS) — At an MBTA Fiscal Control Board meeting Monday, officials said fare evasion was costing the transportation system millions of dollars each year.

Using a survey of riders, the agency calculated that it loses up to $42 million a year in uncollected fares, most of that missing from the commuter rail.

According to Keolis, the company that run's the T's commuter rail, some customers pay too little, some avoid paying altogether, and sometimes money is lost when tickets are not checked by Keolis's 362 conductors.

The MBTA also calculated that the Green Line loses up to $4.5 annually due to fare evasion.

The T was considering adding more steel gates to North Station, South Station, and Back Bay stops in order to deter fare evaders.

The board was also considering a pilot program that would involve private contractors collecting fares on Green Line surface platforms.

Keolis, said fare evasion cost them about $24 million annually, and that construction of gates to deter evaders would cost them about $10 million.