So long Charlie? MBTA to begin accepting contactless payments on Aug. 1

The MBTA says contactless payments will be accepted onboard buses, Green Line trolleys, Mattapan Line trolleys and at all gated subway stations beginning Thursday, Aug. 1.The system will allow riders to pay by tapping a contactless credit card or mobile wallet on a smartphone, like Apple Pay, instead of the traditional CharlieCards and paper tickets."I’ve seen directly at other transit properties and heard firsthand from many riders about the importance of contactless payment and how it would greatly enhance the experience of using mass transit," MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng said in a news release. "I’m proud of the progress made to deliver this important amenity for our riders, bringing our payment system for our bus and subway system into the 21st century," Eng said. "This lays the groundwork for the fare payment system of the future."The MBTA says riders with weekly or monthly passes or those who would like to continue to use their CharlieCards will not be impacted by the change."The current ways to pay will remain the same," the MBTA said. The MBTA says riders should be mindful of the location of the tappable fare readers near the vehicles’ doors."To avoid the possibility of accidental taps and charges of their contactless credit or debit cards, riders are encouraged to hold their purses, bags, and backpacks away from the contactless readers," the MBTA said. In May, the MBTA said at a subcommittee meeting that the contactless payment will then expand to commuter rail trains and ferries in spring 2026.Riders will be able to manage their contactless cards, phone, and/or the watch they use for travel through an online Charlie account here.