Overview

• Fare monitors in blue shirts and khakis began checks Monday at stations and on trains, issuing recorded warnings to first-time offenders.
• Penalties are $50 for a first, second, or third citation, rising to $100 for a fourth or subsequent citation.
• Riders who refuse to cooperate or provide identification may be required to leave stations, according to the agency.
• The program launches with 16 representatives budgeted at $2.39 million for fiscal 2026, with pay set at about $45 per hour.
• MBTA points to prior deployments that lifted fare collection by roughly 35% and says riders can appeal citations they believe are improper.