Transportation
His fate is still unlearned.
Sorry, Charlie.
The MBTA launched a public test phase for its new Charlie Card earlier this month, and the revamped design features a distinct lack of, well, Charlie.
Instead of the dapper commuter doomed to ride forever ’neath the streets of Boston, the new card features a streamlined network of lines whose colors seem to draw inspiration from the T’s various modes of transportation.
About 1,000 riders are trying out the cards on subways, buses, and ferries as the T tinkers with its new fare system, Charlie. According to the T’s website, the new Charlie Card (note the slight typographical change from the previous CharlieCard) will be available in both physical and digital form.
The two types of cards each come with some pros and cons. While current CharlieCards are only valid on buses and subways, the new Charlie Cards also work on ferries and boast online management features through the Charlie platform, according to the T’s website.
Unlike CharlieCards, however, the new Charlie Cards will come at a cost, with users paying an unspecified one-time fee per card. Riders enrolled in a reduced fare program may be eligible for a fee waiver, the T noted.
And while CharlieCards are to be used at existing fare vending machines, gates, and fare boxes, the T said its new Charlie Cards are only for use at Charlie readers and its upgraded fare vending machines. The Charlie website will also allow riders to review fare charges and view their recent trip history, according to the T.
Streetsblog MASS’s Christian MilNeil, who recently had a chance to try out the new Charlie Card, reported a “minor but slightly irritating glitch” that saw fare readers denying payment on the first try before accepting the second tap.
MilNeil also noted the new platform essentially ties riders’ transit history — in other words, their movements around Greater Boston — with their contact information and payment method, raising potential privacy concerns. For the record, the MBTA’s privacy policy and the Charlie terms of use touch on privacy and data security.
The MBTA has been working for years to overhaul its fare collection system, notably launching contactless payment on subways and buses last year. The exact timeline for the new Charlie Card rollout remains unclear, and the T is advising riders to continue using their existing CharlieCard or contactless payment method while the test phase is underway.
As for the new card design and Charlie’s conspicuous absence? The T said the design work predates many of its current employees, but that the latest configuration was “an effort to modernize the CharlieCard.”
Do you like the new Charlie Card design?
The MBTA launched a public test phase for its new Charlie Card earlier this month, and the iconic Charlie mascot is missing from the revamped design.
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