-To increase the accuracy of the public’s perception of homelessness
Contributors are designated by number only for the day on which what we have to say is published; the numbers aren’t permanent identifiers.
Homeless shelters aren’t named, also to protect the identities of contributors, who have every reason to fear retaliation from the shelters which are supposed to help us.
April 13, 2019:
Homeless Human 1:
Article from May 26, 2018:
April 13, 2019:
Homeless Human 1:
Article from May 26, 2018:
Today more than ever, mobility across our growing region is fundamental for equitable access to jobs, healthcare, education, and recreation. Yet the commuter rail fare structure is still a relic of the past century, based on a 1900s-era steam railroad which charged fares based on distance from South Station.
This fare structure stands as a barrier to mobility, exacerbating income inequality and racial disparities across Boston and beyond. Commuter rail fares can be quite expensive compared to bus or subway, with an especially large price jump between Zones 1 and 1A—for example, $2.25 from Forest Hills to South Station, but $6.25 from Roslindale Village to Forest Hills, just a mile apart. As housing prices near rapid transit stations rise, people priced out of living near jobs or transit now face significantly higher commuting costs. Whether commuters are deterred from taking transit altogether or incentivized to drive and then park on a side street near a subway stop, expensive commuter rail fares mean more cars, more traffic, and more emissions.
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From the "Transit Matters" website:
"We must vastly improve our public transport network to work for all citizens of the Commonwealth, improving equity, mobility, air quality, and economic opportunity."
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I have run out of free articles to read at the Boston Globe's website, so here are some Google search results for the search term "commuter rail impossible for low income people Boston":
Raise T fares? Let's lower them for some riders - The Boston Globe
Mar 2, 2016 - Commuters paying fares at JFK/UMass stop on the MBTA's Red Line. ... affluent residents, low-income earners burn a disproportionately large ...
Feb 12, 2015 - Charmaine Carroll has been unable to drive her car out of her Hyde Park ... stranded, unable to get to work without the commuter rail or the Red Line. He and his wife live in Lowell because of the lower cost of housing there.
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The first line listed for the commuter rail by the MBTA is Framingham/Worcester, so I chose Worcester to illustrate the necessity of making the commuter rail affordable. This is information from the "Department of Numbers," an independent data analyzing website:
Real Gross Rent in Boston Massachusetts (2017 dollars)2
| 2017 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,012 | +1.61% | +5.86% |
| Massachusetts Median Gross Rent | $1,208 | +0.92% | +6.62% |
| Boston, MA Median Gross Rent | $1,397 | +1.90% | +9.40% |
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Real Gross Rent in Worcester Massachusetts (2017 dollars)2
| 2017 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,012 | +1.61% | +5.86% |
| Massachusetts Median Gross Rent | $1,208 | +0.92% | +6.62% |
| Worcester, MA Median Gross Rent | $974 | +0.21% | +2.10% |
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Cost of traveling on the commuter rail from Boston to Worcester, from the MBTA's website:
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Find Your Fare
Commuter Rail
Select your origin and destination stations from the drop-down lists below to find your Commuter Rail fare.
Zone 8 Fare | South Station Worcester
People 12 and older who do not qualify for reduced fares pay the standard fare. If you are a student, senior, or someone with a disability who qualifies for reduced fares, click on the correct category below to view your fare. Children 11 and younger accompanied by a paying adult ride for free (up to 2 children per adult).
Tip: If you buy a round trip ticket with cash on board the train, it is only valid until the end of service that same day.
Zone 8 One-Way
CharlieTicket, Cash, or mTicket App$11.50
Valid for travel on Commuter Rail Zones 1A-8 only.
Zone 8 Round Trip
CharlieTicket, Cash, or mTicket App$23.00
Valid for travel on Commuter Rail Zones 1A-8 only.
Zone 8 Monthly Pass
CharlieTicket$363.00
Valid for 1 calendar month of unlimited travel on Commuter Rail Zones 1A-8, Local Bus, Express Bus, subway, and all ferry routes.
Travel beyond the designated zone on your pass will cost an additional interzone fare.
Zone 8 Monthly Pass on mTicket App
mTicket App$353.00
Valid for 1 calendar month of travel on the commuter rail Zones 1A-8 only.
Travel beyond the designated zone on your pass will cost an additional interzone fare.
Copyright, with noted exceptions, Homeless Humans, April 13, 2019
