MBTA to Offer Two New Online Resources for Reduced Fare Customers

Riders requesting a Senior CharlieCard for the first time can now apply online.

Senior/TAP customers can make appointments online.

Today the MBTA announced that, beginning March 8, 2021, two new online resources will be available to Reduced Fare Customers: riders requesting a Senior CharlieCard for the first time can utilize a new online application to do so, and Senior and Transportation Access Pass (TAP) customers can make online reservations to visit the CharlieCard Store.

“We are happy to offer these new tools that are both a convenience for our riders but also an added layer of safety for customers that may have concerns interacting in a public setting during the pandemic,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “A customer will now be able to make an appointment online or upload a photo and required documents based on the criteria for the Senior CharlieCard. Once the card is ready, the customer can opt to pick it up at the CharlieCard Store or have it mailed.”

MBTA riders looking to request a Senior CharlieCard for the first time will be able to use the new online application. People 65 years of age and older are eligible for reduced MBTA fares with a Senior CharlieCard. This online application will provide seniors with a convenient method to apply for and receive a new Senior CharlieCard without having to visit the Store. This is the first phase of a pilot rollout that will include future online services for TAP and Blind Access CharlieCard customers.

In addition, Senior and TAP customers will be able to book appointments online for the CharlieCard Store to avoid standing in line during regular service hours.

On Monday, March 8, 2021, at 8 AM, the MBTA will launch both tools, offering first-time senior applicants the ability to securely upload Senior CharlieCard applications, photos, and verifying documentation, and allowing Senior/TAP customers to book CharlieCard Store appointments online. The new tools will be available at mbta.com/charliecardstore.

The online tools are a component of the MBTA’s efforts to transform the fare payment process to make it easier and more convenient for customers to get where they’re going. Fare Transformation includes a schedule of continuous improvements over a five-year period. In 2020, benefits of the project began to materialize with pilots that included new fare policy, greater access to CharlieCards, improved reliability of subway gates, and tap acceptance on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line. By 2024, riders will be able to board buses and Green Line trains through all doors, pay their fares using mobile devices or contactless credit cards, and tap on and transfer between all MBTA modes.

The CharlieCard Store is fully accessible and is located in Boston’s Downtown Crossing Station. MBTA riders looking to request a Senior, TAP, or Blind CharlieCard or replace a lost, expired, or damaged card and make deposits to RIDE accounts can visit the Store during the business hours below:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 AM to 1 PM: Seniors, TAP customers, riders with chronic health conditions, and legally blind riders.
Wednesday and Fridays, 12:30 PM to 5 PM: RIDE transactions and for riders who need to replace a damaged or expired CharlieCard (excluding corporate passes, semester passes, and student passes).
The CharlieCard Store is closed on Mondays.