BRTA Announces Free Rides Extension
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey announced that Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) will receive $699,733 for fare free service from Jan 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2025.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration 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.
Customers riding the fixed route bus and/or the complementary ADA paratransit service will be fare free from Jan. through Sept. 2025. BRTA was already awarded funding to provide free rides for the 2024 Holiday season.
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."
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.
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