“I moved out of Boston because the cost of living in the city was not sustainable on my 10-month stipend [~$28,000],” said Jordan Pickard, a PhD candidate in English at Boston University. “The city that I live in now is more affordable. But because I’m now in zone 4 of the commuter rail, I’d have to pay $1,000 per semester for a pass—which is a huge strain, especially since it has to be paid in a lump sum. I can’t afford to live in walking distance of my work, and I also can’t afford to commute.
