<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> https://charliecard.mbta.com </Td> </Tr> <P> The CharlieCard is a MIFARE - based contactless smart card used for automated fare collection by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The CharlieCard was made available to the general public beginning December 4, 2006 . The last metal token was sold on December 6, 2006, at Government Center station . </P> <P> The CharlieCard is named after a fictional character in a folk music song "M.T.A.", often called "Charlie on the MTA", which concerns a man trapped forever on the Boston subway system--then known as the Metropolitan Transit Authority, or MTA--because he cannot pay the 5 - cent surcharge required to leave the train . Since the card's introduction, the Charlie character has been used on a variety of MBTA signs, including construction and directional signage . </P> <P> The CharlieCard is named after the lead character in the 1948 protest folk music song, "M.T.A.". The song was written to protest a fare increase in the form of an extra five cent exit fare for longer rides and was later made popular by the Kingston Trio in 1959 . </P>

Where does the charlie in charliecard come from