Boston, MBTA say fare-free bus program will now run through at least the end of 2026
Three MBTA bus routes will remain free to ride through the end of the year, Mayor Michelle Wu and the MBTA announced Tuesday, just weeks before the fare-free pilot program was again set to run out of funding.
Wu’s office and the MBTA did not immediately answer questions about how much the program’s extension will cost.
Officials also did not explicitly say whether the city — which has covered the costs with federal money — the transit agency, or both entities would pay for temporary extension. But Wu’s office said in a news release Tuesday that the MBTA’s reduced fare program “resulted in cost savings that are being applied to deliver this extension through the end of the year,” and that the city “anticipates working this summer and fall on options for the fare free program in 2027.”
The question of where the money comes from to keep rides free on bus routes 23, 28, and 29 — which go through Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury — have animated concerns of transit advocates about the pilot program’s long-term future.
Wu first eliminated fares on the MBTA’s 23, 28, and 29 routes in March 2022.
Then, in February 2024, Wu again used federal COVID-19 funds to reimburse the MBTA and continue the pilot program for an additional two years. That money was set to run out at the end of February, but roughly a week before, city officials announced that enough of those funds remained to pay for the program through the end of this month.
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Transit advocates have pushed Wu and city officials to find a long-term, sustainable funding source to continue the program. In February, Wu’s office said the city is discussing the future of the program with the MBTA.
In a statement Tuesday, MBTA general manager Phil Eng thanked Wu for her partnership in the effort to continue the program.
“I’m glad to support the extension of the City’s Fare-Free Program, ensuring that the City’s dollars can go farther for their residents,” Eng said. “The MBTA is happy to collaborate with our municipal partners on efforts that make public transit easier to use and more widely available.”
Wu also celebrated the news of the program’s extension.
“Fare-free buses are delivering results for residents — saving commuters money, easing traffic, and growing our economy by connecting Bostonians to work, fun, and family,” Wu said in a statement Tuesday. “We’re proud to partner with the MBTA to extend this successful program as we continue building a more reliable, accessible, and affordable transportation system across Boston.”
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This is a developing story and will be updated.
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