Cambridge Partners with MBTA to Increase Access to CharlieCards

CharlieCards now available at the Community Development Department within the City Hall Annex / McCusker Building.

Today the MBTA announced that the City of Cambridge has joined the ongoing program to increase the availability of CharlieCards to residents who rely on public transportation.

“We’re pleased to see the continued expansion of this program, ensuring that more customers have access to lower fares through the re-loadable CharlieCard,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “Thank you to the City of Cambridge for partnering with us in this growing effort that ultimately allows the MBTA to be even more accessible for our riders.”

“Cambridge continuously strives to support sustainable and affordable options for people to get around our city,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “By partnering with the MBTA on this program, we’re increasing our residents’ access to the public transit system and the fare savings that come with using a CharlieCard. I hope this program will encourage more people to consider riding the T.”

Under the program, free no-balance CharlieCards are now available at the Community Development Department (third floor) located at 344 Broadway within the City Hall Annex / McCusker Building during their open hours.

The City of Cambridge joins a growing list of organizations, cities, and towns partnering with the MBTA to increase access to CharlieCards:

The City of Chelsea partnered with the MBTA in January 2019 with CharlieCards pre-loaded with $5 as well as free no-balance CharlieCards available in the Treasury Office of Chelsea City Hall.
The City of Boston partnered with the MBTA in May 2019 with free no-balance CharlieCards available at Boston City Hall and branches of the Boston Public Library.
The Town of Watertown partnered with the MBTA in July 2019 with free no-balance CharlieCards available in Watertown Town Hall and the Watertown Free Public Library.
The City of Salem partnered with the MBTA in August 2019 with free no-balance CharlieCards available at the Mayor Jean A. Levesque Community Life Center, Salem Public Library, and Salem’s Parking Department.
The Town of Winthrop partnered with the MBTA in September 2019 with free no-balance CharlieCards available at the Winthrop Public Library.
The City of Lynn partnered with the MBTA in December 2019 with free no-balance CharlieCards available at Lynn City Hall.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston partnered with the MBTA in January 2020 with free no-balance CharlieCards available at all eight area Clubhouses in Boston, Chelsea, Dorchester, Roslindale, and Roxbury.

As of January 1, free no-balance CharlieCards are also now permanently available at Downtown Crossing Station via Transit Ambassadors. On October 31, 2019, the MBTA's Customer Experience team implemented a pilot program to distribute CharlieCards to Downtown Crossing Transit Ambassadors directly from the CharlieCard Store. This pilot was implemented to provide customers with increased access to CharlieCards during all hours of service (including weekends when the CharlieCard Store is closed) and to reduce the need for customers to travel to the Store just to obtain a card. When the pilot officially ended on December 31, over 3,000 CharlieCards had been distributed to customers. Due to the success of this pilot, this program will continue permanently.

Unlike CharlieTickets, CharlieCards are reusable plastic cards that can be routinely loaded with stored cash value or one-day, seven-day, or monthly passes. As a way to encourage use of CharlieCards, cardholders pay lower single-ride fares on bus and subway services than customers who pay cash or hold a CharlieTicket. CharlieCards also offer enhanced options for transfers over tickets and cash. (Note: CharlieCards are not valid for use on the Commuter Rail though customers are encouraged to learn more about Commuter Rail fare products that include the mTicket.)

CharlieCard availability has historically been concentrated around major rapid-transit hubs. Similarly, fare vending machines are clustered around rapid-transit stations. Under this program, the MBTA continues to acknowledge that access to cards needs to increase, especially in communities with a higher reliance on buses.

The MBTA hopes to partner with nonprofit organizations or cities and towns to provide residents with CharlieCards, either blank or pre-loaded with a dollar amount for purchase. By providing easier access to CharlieCards, the T hopes to incentivize riders to use CharlieCards and fare vending machines throughout their travels, resulting in a savings of both time and money. Organizations and communities seeking to partner in this effort should contact MBTA Chief Customer Officer Danny Levy at DLevy@MBTA.com.