Making Transit More Affordable: MBTA’s Income-Eligible Reduced Fare Program Launches September 4

Riders who qualify can apply online or at five in-person locations around the MBTA service area in partnership with Action for Boston Community Development and the Massachusetts Association for Community Action network starting September 4.

The MBTA today announced that it is expanding access to reduced fares for income-eligible riders beginning Wednesday, September 4, 2024. The online application is simple and can be completed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, simplified Chinese, Haitian-Creole, or Vietnamese. The launch will also include the availability of in-person support at five locations around the MBTA service area in partnership with Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) network. An additional 31 locations will become available for service over fall 2024. Following input from critical stakeholder groups, a pool of “early adopters” of the program will be able to apply online beginning Tuesday, August 20, 2024. More information is available at mbta.com/income-eligible.

A meaningful improvement for fare equity, the new program provides riders who are aged 18-64 and have low income with reduced one-way fares of approximately 50% off on all MBTA buses, subway, Commuter Rail, and paratransit (The RIDE) travel. This unlocks affordability for residents across the MBTA service area, including in the Gateway Cities. This expansion will be the first reduced fare program to include The RIDE. As part of this change, Senior users of The RIDE will also be eligible for half-priced fares on both Standard and Premium RIDE trips.

“The MBTA's first-of-its-kind income-eligible reduced fare program will truly make public transportation affordable for those who need it most,” said Governor Maura Healey. “For many of our low-income riders, we know the daily expense of commuting can be a burden, but this program will provide the financial relief riders need and, as a result, encourage more people to take public transportation. We are thankful to the Legislature for their partnership in securing the funds in our FY 25 budget that make this program possible.”

“Implementing low-income fares across the entire MBTA system is an important step toward our administration's goal of making Massachusetts more equitable, more affordable, and more competitive,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “This program will have a direct impact on the lives of so many commuters across the MBTA system and we’re grateful for the leadership of General Manager Eng, Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, and the legislature for getting this done.”

“Connectivity is essential not only for the quality of life of individuals and their families, but for our collective long-term well-being,” said Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “When we make the MBTA more accessible for low-income riders, we are helping to make our transportation system more equitable – and our communities healthier, stronger, and more prosperous. I applaud General Manager Eng and his team for their commitment to uplifting our communities who rely on our public transit.”

“This is a critical step in making transit more affordable for those that need it the most. I thank Secretary Tibbits-Nutt for her advocacy of this initiative, the Governor and the Legislature for their foresight to include funds in our FY24 and FY25 budgets to enable us to develop this program, our numerous partners at the EOHHS, the RMV, ABCD, MASSCAP, and Omicron Technology Solutions who were instrumental in helping us launch this program, and the many advocates who have for years championed this initiative, which will benefit so many across all modes,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “This is a meaningful step that allows all of the public that rely on mass transportation to use it, improving quality of life, boosting economic mobility, and connecting people and communities.”

Riders with low income will be able to apply in multiple languages online at mbta.com/income-eligible and at five in-person locations provided by ABCD and MASSCAP around the MBTA service area. Program participants can demonstrate eligibility via existing enrollment in programs with a cutoff of 200% of the federal poverty level (or lower), including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Transitional Assistance for Families and Dependent Children (TAFDC), Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled & Children (EAEDC), MassHealth CarePlus, MassHealth Family Assistance, MassHealth Limited, MassHealth Standard, and MASSGrant.

“ABCD is excited to be a partner in the Income Eligible-Fare Program with the MBTA, making transportation more accessible for those who need it the most,” said ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler. “This is the type of public and private collaboration that represents how equity is created for those who find themselves struggling in the economic environment where the cost of living is at an all time high.”

“The Income-Eligible Reduced Fare program resonates with the anti-poverty mission of Community Action and meets a fundamental need of vulnerable people living with low incomes; its implementation will go miles in terms of supporting increased access to job training and employment,” said MASSCAP Executive Director Joe Diamond. “Along with ABCD as the lead agency, Community Action Agencies in the MBTA service area very much appreciate the partnership with the MBTA and are looking forward to connecting the people we serve with reduced fare cards via a streamlined and innovative approach to conferred eligibility.”

As part of the program launch on September 4, RIDE customers enrolled in the Senior or income-eligible reduced fare programs will also be able to use an online form to link their reduced fare eligibility to their RIDE accounts and receive a discounted rate on Standard or Premium RIDE trips. Additionally, young people with low income already enrolled in the Youth Pass will be guided to enroll in the new program beginning on September 4 with the Youth Pass program discontinued on October 31.

According to prior research, riders with low income are expected to take 30% more trips with a reduced fare, significantly increasing mobility while saving on transportation costs. More than 60,000 riders are expected to qualify for and enroll in the program, which is expected to result in up to 8 million more trips per year.

The initiative is thanks to the collaboration of multiple partners across the Commonwealth with the MBTA, including the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) in allowing riders to demonstrate eligibility through existing EOHHS programs; the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) in allowing riders to offer proof of identity through an RMV ID; ABCD and the MASSCAP Network in providing in-person support; and Omicron Technology Solutions in providing additional application reviews.

“By simplifying the process for demonstrating eligibility and enrolling in this reduced fare program, we are making it easier for those who need it most to save time and money to get where they need to go,” said Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh. “I'd like to thank our partners in the Legislature and across the Healey-Driscoll Administration for coming together to help make transportation more affordable for so many Massachusetts residents.”

“We are honored to be part of this collaboration with the MBTA to promote fare equity and make sure everyone knows about the low-income fares program,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “Transportation is so essential to quality of life, and by educating the public about the existence of such programs, we can help connect more people to job opportunities, medical appointments, or to their families.”

“Omicron is honored to partner with the MBTA to enhance ridership through the Income-Eligible Reduced Fare Program,” said Omicron Technologies Vice President of Operations Audra Chadwell. “We take pride in expanding initiatives vital to meeting the national demand for affordable fares. Our commitment involves accelerating CharlieCard applications, ensuring quick access for customers and assisting in boosting rider numbers. We are excited to be an integral part in supporting this community.”

“For years, the City of Boston has seen firsthand the life-changing impact that reduced fare programs have on young adults through the facilitation of the MBTA Youth Pass program,” said City of Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement Executive Director Pedro Cruz. “We are thrilled to see access to this resource expanded to Boston residents of all ages, creating a more mobile and equitable city for all. The Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA) looks forward to continuing to support young residents and their families by connecting them to this new and improved service.”

The MBTA is committed to providing reliable, accessible transportation to all and is implementing this new, expanded reduced-fare eligibility that will make all MBTA transportation modes available and affordable to income-eligible individuals.