A Green Line trolley rolls up to the Boston University East MBTA station. The platform is crowded with dozens of students outfitted with backpacks and earbuds. As the doors slide open, the crowd floods in. But no one pays.
On a Thursday afternoon in April, this scene was business as usual along the line’s B Branch, offering a snapshot of everyday fare evasion at one of BU’s busiest T stops.
Since the MBTA introduced its contactless payment system in August 2024, riders have been able to board by simply tapping a credit card or smartphone. The agency described the upgrade as a success, boasting over 10 million taps…