BOSTON (AP) - The MBTA has scrapped a plan to slap a $3 surcharge on all commuter rail riders who buy tickets after boarding trains.
Instead, the surcharge will only be imposed on passengers who board at stations where tickets can be conveniently purchased.
Critics of the original policy pointed out that many commuter rail stations lack ticket windows or vending machines.
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo told The Boston Globe (http://bo.st/ME9FoZ ) the surcharge is intended to reduce on-board fare collections and cash handling costs by encouraging more riders to buy tickets in advance.
Passengers who buy tickets on trains are currently charged a $1 of $2 surcharge if those tickets could have been bought at the station before boarding.
The new policy takes effect on Sunday as part of an overall hike in MBTA fares.
Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe
