How to Ride the MBTA: The Basics (2024)

FAQs

How do you ride the MBTA in Boston? ›

At most MBTA subway stops, you'll use your CharlieCard or CharlieTicket at a fare gate to access the train platform. At street-level stops on the Green Line and Mattapan Trolley, you'll pay your fare with your card, ticket, or cash at the onboard fare box.

Most machines accept cash, major credit/debit cards, and EBT cards. Some machines only accept credit/debit/EBT cards and are marked to indicate that they don't accept cash. At street-level trolley stops, you can add up to $20 cash value to a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket at the onboard fare boxes.

Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted. One-way, round trip, and monthly Commuter Rail passes up to Zone 10* are available at fare vending machines, which are located at all subway stations and the Lynn and Worcester/Union Commuter Rail stations.

Contactless payment options provide better flexibility and allow riders to pay by tapping a contactless credit/debit card, phone with a mobile wallet, or watch on fare readers on buses, on Green Line vehicles, on Mattapan Line vehicles, and at all gated subway stations.

Credit/debit card: Check if your card has the four-waved contactless symbol on the front or back. Phone/watch: Make sure you have a card set up in your mobile wallet. Note: Tapping with contactless payment is optional. You can still use cash or a CharlieCard to pay your fare.

Our Services and Standard Fares

Local bus one-way: $1.70 with cash, CharlieCard, or CharlieTicket. The Commuter Rail connects eastern Massachusetts with transit hubs in Boston, including subway, bus, and Amtrak services. Commuter Rail one-way: $2.40 – $13.25, depending on how far you travel.

Children age 11 and under ride the MBTA for free. Groups including 10 or more children (regardless of the number of chaperones), must register their travel using the field trip form. People who are legally blind, as well as an accompanying guide, ride the MBTA for free with a Blind Access CharlieCard.

At our larger stations, you can book and pay for tickets at a staffed ticket office. We can accept payment by cash, debit card or credit card and National Rail vouchers. Unfortunately, we no longer accept personal cheques at our ticket offices. We can accept company cheques if you're buying an annual season ticket.

To ride the T, you'll need a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket, which can be purchased at most subway station vending machines and select convenience stores. The basic fare for a one-way ride is $2.40, and kids 11 years and younger ride free.

Service on routes 23, 28, and 29 will be fare free for four years from March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2026. This program is funded by the City of Boston. These routes travel through Roxbury and Dorchester, connecting riders to four stations: Ruggles, Jackson Square, Mattapan, and Ashmont.

Can you Apple Pay MBTA? ›

To set up the new Apple Pay feature for the MBTA trains, go to your iPhone's settings and click on "Wallet & Apple Pay." Then, there should be an option for "Transit Cards." From there, you can pick any card you have set up for Apple Pay. Now you can tap and hop on.

On all MBTA buses, you can pay your fare in cash with coins or bills, up to $20. To pay your fare, tell the driver you are paying in cash, and insert the amount displayed on the fare box. If a fare box takes your cash without accepting payment please call 617-222-3200 for assistance.

To ride the T, you'll need a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket, which can be purchased at most subway station vending machines and select convenience stores. The basic fare for a one-way ride is $2.40, and kids 11 years and younger ride free.

SUBWAY FARES

The cost of a one-way trip is $2.40 with a Charlie Card, a Charlie Ticket, or Cash. CharlieTickets are available at every stop using a self-serve machine. Charlie Cards can be picked up at the Downtown Crossing MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) and can be reloaded.

Single-ride Silver Line fares can be purchased with cash as you board through the front doors. We recommend paying with exact fare as our buses cannot provide change.

Children age 11 and under ride the MBTA for free. Groups including 10 or more children (regardless of the number of chaperones), must register their travel using the field trip form. Subway 1-way: $2.40 with CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, or cash.