Riders going for ‘Charlie’

After less than two years, vast majority of commuters using discount card

 The MBTA's CharlieCard is a year-and-a-half old, and T say the percentage of riders using the card continues to rise.

In June, 67.8 percent of subway and bus riders used CharlieCards to pay for their trips.

In February, the usage rate was slightly higher at 68.1 percent, though in June there were nearly 1 million more trips taken using the card.

The T introduced “Charlie” to riders in January 2007, and during the month a little more than half of subway and bus riders used the card for trips.

That number jumped to more than 60 percent in February 2007 once riders got used to the new system, and the usage has steadily climbed ever since.

In June, nearly 90 percent of riders used either a CharlieCard or discounted monthly or weekly passes throughout the system, according to the T.

In 2008, that figure has been at least 88 percent each month.

By 2011, the T expects rides on all modes of transportation — including commuter rail and ferry boats — to be paid for using CharlieCards.

Riders will also be able to use CharlieCards to pay at all of the MBTA’s parking facilities under that plan.

Next year, the T will roll out a pilot program to test automated fare collection on one commuter rail line.