A trio of MBTA bus routes in Boston will continue to operate without charging fares for another two years thanks to an investment of more than $8 million from the city, Mayor Michelle Wu announced Tuesday.
While the transit agency prepares to roll out an expanded system-wide low-income fare option, Wu said her administration would continue to use federal pandemic aid to cover the costs of running the Routes 23, 28 and 29 buses free to riders.
The city-funded program, which started with the Route 28 bus in August 2021 and expanded to three routes in February 2022, was set to expire at the end of the month. Wu’s office said Boston will use $350,000 per month in American Rescue Plan Act funding — which comes out to about $8.4 million over the course of two years — to keep the three bus routes fare-free until March 2026.
“Fare free bus routes have been proven to make public transportation more convenient, accessible, and affordable for our residents who depend on transit to get to work and school,” Wu said in a statement. “Community members have emphasized that this program helps them save money, and encourages more trips without worrying about exact change or rationing travel. Since this program started, we have seen similar initiatives take off around the Commonwealth and the country.”