Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Fare Free Regional Transit Across State
Grants awarded to 13 Regional Transit Authorities to
provide year-round, fare free service in communities across Massachusetts
GREENFIELD – The Healey-Driscoll Administration
today announced $30 million in grants to 13 Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs)
in Massachusetts to provide year-round, fare free public transportation
services. The funding was provided in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget signed by
Governor Maura Healey in July and builds off of two years of successful pilot
programs.
Governor Maura Healey, MassDOT Undersecretary Hayes
Morrison, Greenfield Mayor Ginny Desorgher, Senator Jo Comerford, and
Representatives Natalie Blais and Susannah Whipps made the announcement at John
W. Olver Transit Center, which is the headquarters of the Franklin Regional
Transit Authority (FRTA), in Greenfield. FRTA has been providing fare free
fixed route service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiscal Year
2020, and its board has voted to continue running fare free service every year since
the pandemic. FRTA has previously used a mix of federal COVID-19 relief funding
and state funding to provide this service, which will be able to continue with
the support of full state funding. FRTA ridership has now exceeded pre-pandemic
ridership totals.
“Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents rely on
their Regional Transit Authorities to get to and from work, the grocery store,
doctor’s appointments and school. We’re proud to be delivering this funding to
help RTAs keep their service fare free to save money for riders and encourage
more people to use public transportation,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I’m
grateful for the leadership of Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano and the
entire Legislature to make regional transportation more affordable and
accessible across our state.”
“The results of the fare free pilot programs our RTAs have
been running for the past few years have been incredible. More riders are
saving money by choosing to take public transportation in their communities,”
said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re excited to be
able to support the continuation of these programs with full state funding,
which will significantly benefit our residents, communities, businesses and
economy.”
“So many residents rely on public transit on a daily basis,
and by enabling free fares at a number of our regional transit systems, we are
making transportation more equitable for those who need it the most,”
said Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “This great
new fare free program is a testament to the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s
commitment to giving Massachusetts’ residents greater access to mobility
options."
“We are fortunate to be able to extend the fare free option
to so many of our partners in the state, to further support regional economic
development and accessibility,” said Rail and Transit Administrator
Meredith Slesinger. “We thank our RTA partners for the collaboration
and for their commitment to serving their respective communities which rely on
public transit.”
“Ensuring that all residents of the Commonwealth have access
to a safe and reliable public transportation system is one of the most
important responsibilities that we have as elected officials,” said House
Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “That’s why I’m incredibly proud
of the funding that the Legislature allocated for regional transit authorities
in this year’s budget, funding that will help to connect communities across
Massachusetts. I want to thank Governor Healey for her support for this
funding, as well as my colleagues in the House and our partners in the Senate
for the work that they did to make it a reality.”
“Regional transit knits our state together,” said Senate
President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate championed this
initiative to boost access for residents who depend on these services, and make
our state more resilient in the face of the climate crisis. I’m grateful to the
Healey-Driscoll Administration for standing this program up quickly and
effectively, and to the leadership and staff of our transit authorities for
delivering service that is imperative to our communities.”
“The success of our RTA pilot programs has clearly shown
that investing in public transportation benefits riders and entire
communities,” said Senator Brendan Crighton, Senate Chair of the Joint
Committee on Transportation (D-Lynn). “This incredible investment in our
RTAs will ensure that residents throughout Massachusetts can benefit from the
increased mobility and economic opportunities provided
by public transit. Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for
prioritizing this grant program and making public transportation more
accessible for riders statewide.”
"Regional Transit Authorities are often the primary
form of transportation for our residents, and in some cases, they are the only
means of getting around," said Representative William Straus,
House Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation (D-Bristol). "I
am pleased to see this funding go to fill an important need to expand transit
access for so many."
“The Education and Transportation Fund has been tremendously
helpful in supporting Regional Transit Authorities. Across the Commonwealth,
RTA’s have added desperately needed service to enhance access to education,
jobs, appointments, and everything in between,” said Southeastern
Regional Transit Authority Administrator Erik B. Rousseau. “The
Fare-Free Pilot is a wonderful way to help reduce barriers and build ridership
while allowing far more people to enjoy the benefits of public
transportation.”
“The Fare Share Amendment, and the grant program for Fare
Free at the RTAs is a lifeline to many in the MetroWest area. By allowing us to
go fare free, MassDOT and the Legislature are helping residents throughout the
Commonwealth to live, work, and thrive,” said Jim Nee, Administrator at
the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority.
“The Commonwealth’s Fare Free initiative has allowed BAT to
introduce its safe, frequent, and reliable service to new customers throughout
our service area,” said Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT)
Administrator Michael Lambert. “BAT is currently experiencing its
highest ridership levels in a quarter century, thereby advancing our goals to
support the local economy, reduce congestion, improve air quality and enhance
the overall quality of life for our community.”
“The Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) is excited to
be offering a pilot fare-free service for our communities over the next ten
months,” said LRTA Administrator Dave Bradley. “With this program
in place, we aim to increase customer usage, thus reducing congestion and
improving air quality, while addressing our region’s transportation needs. We
would like to thank the Governor and the Legislature for providing this
opportunity to improve and expand access to public transportation for both
existing and new riders of our system.”
“Merrimack Valley Transit has been fare-free systemwide
since March of 2022 and the results have been unassailable. Since going fare
free, our fixed route bus ridership has quadrupled and now exceeds pre-pandemic
levels by over 60%, while passenger complaints are down a third. Bus trips are
faster, and drivers are happier because they no longer have to police the fare
policy,” said Noah Berger, Administrator at the Merrimack Valley
Regional Transit Authority (MeVa). “Our subsidies per passenger are
down, while our riders report no longer having to ration trips to medical or
educational appointments due to cost, and they are keeping more money in their
pockets to spend at local businesses in Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill. We are
grateful to the Governor and Legislature, especially the Merrimack Valley
delegation, for making these funds available to allow MeVa to continue this
vital program that has been so impactful for the communities we serve.”
Working together, the 13 RTAs submitted a joint application
to disburse the $30 million made available in the FY25 state budget based on
ridership within their service areas. These RTA have been offering fare free
service in recent years using federal and state funds. Now, this service will
be able to continue with full state funding.
The 13 RTAs that applied for and will be receiving funds
are:
- Brockton
Area Transit Authority: $2,582,274
- Berkshire
Regional Transit Authority: $699,733
- Cape
Anne Transit Authority: $293,054
- Franklin
Regional Transit Authority: $218,173
- Lowell
Regional Transit Authority: $1,170,257
- Montachusett
Area Regional Transit: $1,095,279
- Merrimack
Valley Transit Authority: $2,575,810
- MetroWest
Regional Transit Authority: $812,331
- Nantucket
Regional Transit Authority: $484,507
- Pioneer
Valley Transit Authority: $9,511,353
- Southeastern
Regional Transit Authority: $3,230,893
- Vineyard
Transit Authority: $1,809,050
- Worcester
Regional Transit Authority: $5,517,286
Information on the Regional Transit Authorities operating in
Massachusetts can be found online: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/public-transportation-in-massachusetts#regional-transit-authorities-
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