Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

[Java King]

FWIW, I was in Seattle last week, and the system was very confusing. I asked some people at the station how to pay, and they said that I needed an APP to tap on and off. I couldn't find any relevant information at the station, and people came over to me and told me just to get on the train. LOL I was REALLY trying to pay, but it was so darn confusing. I wonder how much money the Seattle system is losing? LOL I even downloaded the APP AFTER I rode on the train, but still couldn't figure out how to pay.

 

[as02143]

^I think part of the reason the enforcement isn't happening yet is because the fare collection system is in transition and both confusing and easy to take advantage of. It will be simpler when the new Charlie Cards are in place. Theoretically, they should be able to allow riders to tap a Charlie or Credit Card on the Silver Line at Airport without charging them so that they can use it as proof of boarding. So a lot of the confusion/complication should dissipate and those complications should be addressed in a year or so.

What I don't understand is why the T isn't going to provide receipts and change tickets for cash payments. They want people to pre-load Charlie Cards with cash at vending machines and tap on board like everyone else. Realistically, I think most cash users are unlikely to do this. So if someone boards a Medford/Tufts train at Lechmere and pays cash on the train, how are enforcers at, say, Magoun going to be verify that? If it's not clear for riders and there's no way to reliably, easily verify and enforce payments, it's not going to work.

End state there is going to be no cash payment at all anywhere on board the Green Line, Mattapan Line, Commuter Rail and buses.

The program would be either get a Charlie Card or use your own contactless bank card.