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-