LYNN — Knowing they can pick up CharlieCards in City Hall is an early Christmas present for Steven Liberge and Jocelyn MacRoberts, who travel to and from Lynn to Everett up to four times a day.
The couple live in Everett. Liberge works in Lynn, and MacRoberts often comes with him to the city. They take Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) buses and CharlieCards — the small green and white cards adorned with a drawing of a smiling commuter — offer riders fare discounts and free transfers between routes.
“Having a CharlieCard is the way to go. It makes the T cheaper to use,” Liberge said.
Lynn City Hall has free, no-balance CharlieCards available in the mayor’s office on the second floor and at the information table in the main entrance upper foyer.
Liberge and MacRoberts always keep a handful of cards with them so they never miss free transfers and fare discounts. But knowing they can quickly restock their supply is good news for the transit riders.
“We probably each spend $200 a month on transportation,” MacRoberts said.
The MBTA added Lynn this week to a list of communities distributing free CharlieCards, including Salem and Chelsea. Unlike Charlie tickets purchased in MBTA station kiosks, the reusable cards are portable transit credit cards with users adding fare value ranging from a day’s worth of transit rides to a month onto the cards.
CharlieCards are not valid for use on the commuter rail.
Meaghen Hamill, chief of staff for Mayor Thomas M. McGee, said the mayor’s office hopes to maintain an indefinite supply of CharlieCards and restock them through the MBTA.
Lynn state Reps. Dan Cahill and Peter Capano and state Sen. Brendan Crighton said MBTA officials have worked closely with legislators to publicize the CharlieCard distribution and to make the cards available in Lynn. Cahill has been handing them out to transit riders.
“I have about 400 in the trunk of my car,” Cahill said.
He wants as many Lynn transit users as possible to have CharlieCards in order to make transit travel less expensive for them and to convince the MBTA to ensure Lynn has automated kiosks where fare values can be added to the cards.
“This initiative will make cheaper fares more accessible to the residents of the North Shore who rely on the MBTA to get to work, school, medical appointments, and childcare,” said Crighton.
