MBTA Records Historic Fiscal Year Revenue Despite Ridership Drop

By Bret Silverberg

Despite a decrease in ridership, the T’s revenue reached a historic height over the last 12 months.

The MBTA collected $564,560,142 in fare revenue in fiscal year 2013 (Aug. 1, 2012 to July 31, 2013), reflecting a 21 percent increase over the previous fiscal year, MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott said in a statement issued Thursday. This marks the first time in the T’s history it collected over $500 million, according to the statement.

“As we close the books on the first fiscal year since last year’s fare increase, the numbers show that the MBTA continues to be the preferred alternative for thousands of commuters,” Scott said in the statement.

Total ridership along the T declined by 2 percent in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012. Analysts originally predicted a drop of 5.5 percent, the statement says. Fares were increased across the MBTA in fiscal year 2013.

In fiscal year 2013, the MBTA calculated 391,902,586 total rides, down from 400,197,307 in 2012.

MBTA fare revenue by year:

Fiscal Year 2012         $ 465,755,373

Fiscal Year 2011         $ 448,813,678

Fiscal Year 2010         $ 439,322,437

Fiscal Year 2009         $ 448,751,949

Fiscal Year 2008         $ 440,964,147