I don’t like using 128 as the cutoff. Gloucester Station is inside 128, for example.
I do agree with the sentiment for increased parity among stations within 10 track miles of the hub/terminus, though.
That means Quincy Center, Hyde Park, Readville, Roslindale Village, Bellevue, Highland, West Roxbury, Newtonville, West Newton, Belmont Center, Waverley, Waltham, Wedgemere, Winchester Center, Wyoming Hill, Melrose - Cedar Park, Greenwood, and Wakefield should all be in the lowest fare zone, which let’s call Zone A. I could see that being the exact same as a rapid transit fare ($2.40) or a bit higher ($3.60, for example). Currently some of those are as high as Zone 2 with a ridiculous $7.00 fare currently, which is absurd.
Zone B should be the 10-20 mile ring, which I could see being $4.80. Salem, Beverly Depot, Route 128 Station, etc.
Zone C should be the 20-30 mile ring, at $6.00. Mansfield, Lowell, Framingham, etc.
Zone D at 30-40 miles and $7.20. Attleboro, Middleborough/Lakeville, Westborough, etc.
Zone E at 40+ miles and $8.40. Worcester, Providence, Fitchburg, etc.