Massachusetts residents with an income below 200% of the federal poverty level can now apply for reduced MBTA fares under a new program launching this week.
MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng celebrated the income-eligible reduced fare program in Malden on Tuesday, saying that the cost of transportation can be a barrier for many people.
“Public transit is a lifeline for many people in our community, for jobs, for education, for other essential services, that’s why we’re introducing this new reduced-fare program,” Eng said.
To be eligible, riders must be aged 18-64 with an income of about $30,000 or less for individuals and about $62,000 or less for a four-person household. The MBTA will determine eligibility by confirming a rider’s enrollment in another income-based program, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and MassHealth plans.
The program is expected to impact 60,000 riders and amount to 8 million MBTA rides across the T, local buses, the commuter rail and The RIDE, according to Eng.
Jason Wang, a Malden resident and father who plans to apply for the program, joined Eng on Tuesday. Wang said he doesn’t have a car, so he and his daughter will ride the T more often, thanks to the program.
“The money I will save on a reduced-fare T pass will let me allocate my resource to other place, like my monthly bill,” Wang said.
The program brings a one-way T ride down to $1.10 from $2.40, and a local bus ride down to 85 cents from $1.70.
Riders can apply online or in person at local partner organizations, such as Action for Boston Community Development, starting Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Reduced-fare services already exist for students, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
This story originally appeared on Sept. 3, 2024 at GBH News.
