By Ali Noorani

Will Charlie of the MTA ever return? Well, if he is still looking to travel Boston public transportation on today's equivalent of a dime, probably not.

Yes, as in 1948 when "Charlie on the MTA" was written, the MBTA wants to raise our fares so the fewer people who ride the T will pay more. On one hand, we could argue the T is finally holding itself accountable to a budget. On the other hand, this makes no sense.

In March, the MBTA Board of Directors voted to consider a fare increase to take effect in January 2004. Last month, the Legislature and Governor Romney helped by removing the section of legislation which held that fares could not be increased if ridership decreased by more than four percent in a 12-month period.

In 2000, when the last fare increase took place, the T acknowledged the challenges of measuring ridership, and committed to updating technology. To date, no such equipment exists and counting riders remains a curious science.

So, the Board wants to raise fares by 25 percent on subways, 33 percent on buses and 18 to 33 percent on commuter rail. If implemented, the new fares will represent a 66 percent increase in fares on subways and a 100 percent increase in fares on buses since 1990. During the same time period, the cost of living index has risen by 40 percent and the cost of unleaded gasoline has increased 39 percent.

Now, if the price of gasoline was to rise 100 percent in the last 13 years and the price of public transportation to rise 39 percent, we wouldn't be in this fix. I, for one, would be motivated to take the bus to work as opposed to driving, there would be more riders, and we would receive far better service.

Instead, it is relatively cheaper and faster to drive my car through the neighborhood. In fact, rather than wait for a bus, I will risk becoming a hood ornament and ride my bike or walk from point to point within the neighborhood. I admit to being one of the factors leading the Public Purpose to rank Boston seventh in the country in terms of traffic congestion.

In order to minimize the air pollution, congestion and turmoil caused by traffic, our state government is more than happy to provide incentives to suburban riders - the proposed increase for commuter rail tickets falls somewhere between 18 percent and 33 percent. This builds on widely cited surveys that highlighted the Authority's willingness to subsidize commuter rail operations at the expense of urban services.

In response, the Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition (DEHC) has joined the Beat the Fare Increase Campaign to advocate:

-The MBTA conduct a public review of the potential economic impacts and social impacts of this fare increase.

-The MBTA take all steps to increase non-fare revenues before raising fares.

-For an automated fare collection system that will provide accurate ridership counts, a basis for sound accounting, fiscal planning and system expansion/service improvements, and a basis for developing a fair fare policy.

-For a fair fare policy that considers distance traveled and peak and off-peak use and special discounts for seniors, students and the disabled.

-The MBTA establish and implement a standards-based service quality program.

-The MBTA improve service, particularly in transit-dependent neighborhoods such as Dorchester.

-The Commonwealth explore alternative funding sources for public transit, such as an increase in the gas tax.

According to Jonathan Reed, the song "Charlie on the MTA" was one of seven songs for Walter O'Brien's 1948 mayoral campaign. The song, describing an infinite underground T ride by Charlie who couldn't pay the exit fare, went on to be a big hit that even riled McCarthy era anti-Communists. The O'Brien campaign itself was not such a big hit and was fined for disturbing the peace when broadcasting the song from a truck.

Since 1948, I'll admit that public transportation has improved considerably. However, we do know that fare increases of the 1950s led to decreased ridership. Not until years of investment did the T reach a high of 170 million riders in 1990, a 24 percent increase from an all-time low in 1975. Now, just 3 years after a previous fare increase, and minimal service improvements in underserved neighborhoods, the MBTA wants to increase fares again. Doesn't make sense.

Editor's note: MBTA officials will meet with Dorchester residents Wednesday September 16 at 6 p.m. in the Vietnamese American Community Center in Fields Corner.

Ali Noorani is a member of the DEHC.