One of the most famous songs referencing the value of the nickel – the second smallest American coin in value – was “Charlie on the MTA.” First written in 1949 by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Hayes, the song was popularized by The Kingston Trio in 1959 at the very beginning of the “hootenanny” era. It details the plight of an MBTA rider – then called the MTA – who after paying a dime to enter the station could not get off the subway train without paying an extra nickel. The subway line in reference became elevated (and hence the name The Elevated) as it passed through the South End, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain on the south and North Station and Charlestown on the north. (Note: the song was guilty of two inconsistencies: riders never had to pay an exit fee, nor did any single subway line connect Chelsea to Roxbury and Jamaica Plain.)

While a nickel was a lot more then, it is shocking that the T wants to charge visitors to Boston for the World Cup Soccer games $80 roundtrip from South Station to Foxboro on its Keolis purple line commuter run. This $80 represents an increase of 26,567% over the 30 cents Charlie would have to pay for a roundtrip – albeit a bit shorter and three-quarters of a century earlier – from Everett to Forest Hills.

It’s going to cost World Cup visitors from Haiti, Scotland, Iraq, Norway, Scotland, Morocco, England, and Ghana – none of which are oil-rich countries in the mid-East – a huge amount to travel from Dewey Square to Gillette Stadium and back. As stated above, the recommended train travel will be some 26,567% more than Charlie would have paid on his round trip (two dimes and two nickels) and 6,567% more than special event attendees on the Purple Line, who pay up to $20 for a round trip ticket to other special events – and much more than daily commuters fork over.

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Has the T lost its sense of integrity? Why are they trying to gouge visitors? America currently has a bad enough reputation with foreigners because of our government’s politics; now comes price-gouging by the MBTA. Another “accomplishment” by The Ugly American(s)?

The Foxboro terminus has already been upgraded with funding from the state and other sources; thus the upscale prices are not intended to pay for infrastructure. If FIFA (soccer’s world-governing body) approved the hefty fares, will FIFA or some other agency put a cap on prices for water, food, and tonic sold at the stadium to make life bearable inside the stadium? Hmmm. Enjoy your soccer, if not the overpriced train ride/traffic jams.