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MBTA Contactless Payments & August Service Changes

July 23, 2024

    Hi Mooviters, 

    Contactless payments are coming to a bus, trolley, and gated subway station near you. On August 1, MBTA riders will be able to pay their fare with a contactless credit/debit card, phone, or watch for pay-as-you-go travel.

    How does it work?

    Step 1. Choose

    Choose how you want to pay—you’ll use the same method for your entire trip:

    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.

    NoteYou will not be able to tap your CharlieCard on the readers. Pay your fare with your CharlieCard by tapping on the fare gate or fare box readers.

    Step 2. Tap

    Tap your card or device on the Charlie reader at the fare gate or the bus or street-level train door.

    Step 3. Ride

    Wait for the green “Go” screen, then ride.

    Please note, that existing transfer rules still apply to travel with contactless payments.


    August service changes are coming your way as MBTA continues to repair work to improve reliability across the system.

    Here is what you need to know:

    • Green Line B branch service will be suspended between Boston College and Babcock Street every day for 10 days from August 2 – 11.
      • Free and accessible shuttle bus service will make stops between Boston College and Babcock Street. 
    • Orange Line service will be suspended between Wellington and Back Bay during the weekends of August 3 – 4 and August 17 – 18.
      • Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Wellington and North Station. 
      • For service through the downtown area near Back Bay, riders are encouraged to utilize parallel Green Line service between North Station and Copley. 
      • There will be free fares with the fare gates open at Wellington, North Station, Back Bay, and on the inbound side of Copley for riders making connections to the Green Line.
    • Mattapan Line service will be suspended between Mattapan and Ashmont beginning at approximately 8:45 PM on Friday, August 16, and through the weekend of August 17 – 18.
      • Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Mattapan and Ashmont.
    • Red Line service will be suspended between JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT every day for seven days from August 19 – 25.
      • Free and accessible shuttle bus service will make stops between JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT with the exception of Park Street and Downtown Crossing. 
        • Riders heading southbound should instead disembark at Otis Street @ Summer Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street. 
        • Riders heading northbound should instead disembark at Federal Street @ Franklin Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street.
        • Shuttle buses will also serve State (on the Orange and Blue lines) and Haymarket (on the Orange and Green lines) for easier connections to other subway lines.
      • There will be free fares with the fare gates open at JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT.
    • A special Construction Schedule is in effect on the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line through the end of this summer. The Construction Schedule is available at mbta.com.
      • During this time, mid-day inbound trains will operate express between Ballardvale and North Station. 
      • For service to Boston, passengers are encouraged to consider a free connection with Bus Route 137, which operates parallel service.
      • Passengers may also consider connecting with Lowell and Haverhill Line train service at Anderson/Woburn station.
    • As previously announced, Haverhill Station is temporarily closed to passengers through summer of 2025.
      • Passengers are asked to instead board and disembark at Bradford. Bradford is about a half mile from Haverhill (about a two-minute drive or a 10-minute walk), features a parking lot with over 300 spaces, and includes outdoor bike storage racks. 
      • An accessible van operates between Bradford and Haverhill, making connections with trains at Bradford in both directions from the first train to the last train seven days a week. The van’s schedule is available at mbta.com.

    You Ride, We Guide,

    The USA Moovit Team

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