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6d ago

MBTA Extends Commuter-Rail Discounts and Rolls Out Fall Fare Pilots

Officials say the moves are intended to cut rider costs and help more people use transit.

A man concentrates on his phone while riding an MBTA bus in Cambridge.
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Overview

  • The MBTA announced Tuesday that the 50 percent discount on monthly commuter-rail passes and the $1 weekend companion fare will be extended through November.
  • Two pilots start Sept. 1: an expanded two-hour unlimited transfer window that charges only the highest fare within two hours if riders use the same payment method, and a removal of higher express-bus fares on most routes so they charge local bus rates; the Silver Line and SL1-3 and W routes are excluded.
  • The T will end its Free Fridays commuter-rail promotion after August as officials expect higher seasonal fall ridership.
  • A Car-Free Seniors pilot will offer free fares to Massachusetts residents age 75 and older who no longer drive using an RMV-verified credential, with a start date to be announced this fall.
  • Officials cited strong summer results—monthly pass sales surged and Friday commuter-rail trips rose about 50%—as the reason for the actions, but the full additional cost of extending discounts has not been finalized.