Straphangers on some of Boston's busiest bus routes got their wallets a break as Mayor Michelle Wu announced the extension of the fare-free pilot program on Routes 23, 28, and 29, set to now continue until March 2026. The initiative, initially set to end this month, spares over half of its riders, classified as low-income, the cost of their commutes, in a move to make public transport more accessible to city dwellers most in need.
While the city plans to further fund the program with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, passengers are to quickly move on and off buses without the fuss of fumbling for change. According to the city's announcement, this has not only saved money for riders but also bumped up ridership and kept travel times steady.
The routes in question are some of Boston's most trafficked, with Route 23 at 94% of its pre-pandemic ridership numbers, Route 28 surpassing its former figures at 102%, and Route 29 trailing at 64%, as stated in a report from last October. Mayor Wu underlined the positive impact on the community, saying, "Fare free bus routes have been proven to make public transportation more convenient, accessible, and affordable for our residents who depend on transit to get to work and school." She also thanked partners at the MBTA and the support from Governor Healey's administration.
Since the program's spring 2022 inception, over 12 million journeys were made on these fare-exempt routes, leading to a significant cost savings for riders. While some save as much as $35 a month, others, who tend to use transfer services or already have passes, don't see a financial benefit. In an effort to permanently make mass transportation affordable, Phillip Eng, MBTA General Manager, stated, "Our combined efforts, from Boston’s fare-free bus program to Governor Healey’s proposed Low Income Fare Program, are benefiting communities who take all different modes of transit."
Across Massachusetts and the nation, the concept of fare-free transit is gaining speed due in part to Boston's initiative. Following its lead, Merrimack Valley Transit (MeVA Transit) introduced no-cost bus and paratransit services to its 2.8 million yearly riders. Noah Berger, MeVA Administrator, echoed sentiments of the program's success saying, "Since going fare free, fixed route bus ridership through December 2023 has more than tripled and now exceeds pre-pandemic levels by over 60%, while passenger complaints are down a third."
Bus riders, such as Arrachael Miller, expressed relief at the program, as stated in boston.gov, "It is a struggle when you don't have income coming in on the regular. To have a free bus is really good." The continuation of the fare-free routes aligns with Mayor Wu's vision to augment affordable and sustainable transportation options citywide, with recent initiatives like the Boston Bikes Pass and the Safety Surge focusing on traffic safety measures.
