Healey announces state-funded fare-free regional transport

Local news

Thirteen regional transport authorities will continue to operate tariff-free.

A $30 million grant will allow 13 regional transit authorities across the state to continue offering free public transportation year-round.

On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced that the funding will be provided in the state budget for fiscal year 2025. The grant builds on two years of pilot programs across the state.

“Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents rely on their regional transportation authorities to get to and from work, the grocery store, doctor appointments and school,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “We are proud to provide this funding to help RTAs keep their service free of charge.”

Senate President Karen Spilka, who helped champion the initiative, said, “Regional transportation connects our state.”

Spilka said the Senate has pushed for funding to increase access for residents who rely on the services and make the state more resilient to the climate crisis.

“Merrimack Valley Transit has been free systemwide since March 2022, and the results are unassailable,” Noah Berger, administrator of the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, said in a statement.

Since the introduction of free fixed-route bus services, the number of fixed-route bus passengers has quadrupled and is now over 60% above pre-pandemic levels, while passenger complaints have fallen by around a third and subsidies per passenger have increased dropped, he said.

In addition, many riders no longer have to ration trips to medical or educational appointments because of the costs and keep more money in their pockets to spend at local businesses in Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill, Berger said.

Michael Lambert, administrator of the Brockton Area Transit Authority, said ridership is the highest in a quarter century.

He said in a statement that the high number of visitors “furthers our goals of supporting the local economy, reducing congestion, improving air quality and improving the overall quality of life for our community.”

Working together, the 13 RTAs submitted a joint application to disburse the $30 million based on the number of passengers within their service areas. Previously, the RTAs used federal and state funds to provide the free service. Now the service continues entirely with state funding.

The 13 RTAs that have applied for and will receive funding are:

Worcester Regional Transit Authority: $5,517,286

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 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