MBTA expands income-eligible reduced fare program

The MBTA has expanded access to reduced fares for income-eligible riders across the MBTA service area.

The new program, launched on Sept. 4, provides low-income riders, ages 18 to 64, with reduced one-way fares of approximately 50% off on all MBTA buses, subways, Commuter Rail lines, and paratransit (The RIDE) travel. The expansion is the first reduced-fare program to include The RIDE.

The online application, at mbta.com/income-eligible, can be completed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Haitian-Creole, or Vietnamese.

The MBTA offers in-person support at five locations around the MBTA service area, in partnership with Action for Boston Community Development and the Massachusetts Association for Community Action network. An additional 31 locations will become available for service over the course of this fall.

Program participants can demonstrate eligibility via existing enrollment in programs with a cutoff of 200% of the federal poverty level, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Transitional Assistance for Families and Dependent Children, Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children, MassHealth CarePlus, MassHealth Family Assistance, MassHealth Limited, MassHealth Standard, and MASSGrant.

Young people with low income already enrolled in the Youth Pass will be guided to enroll in the new program, with the Youth Pass program being discontinued on Oct. 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.