Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 23, 2024 Making Transit More Affordable: MBTA’s Income-Eligible Reduced Fare Program Launches September 4 Riders who qualify can apply online or at five in-person locations around the MBTA service area in partnership with Action for Boston Community Development and the Massachusetts Association for Community Action network starting september 4. B OSTON – The MBTA announced this week that it is expanding access to reduced fares for income-eligible riders beginning Wednesday, September 4, 2024. The online application is simple and can be completed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, simplified Chinese, Haitian-Creole, or Vietnamese. The launch will also include the availability of in-person support at five locations around the MBTA service area in partnership with Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) network. An additional 31 locations will become available for service over fall 2024. Following input from critical stakeholder groups, a pool of “early adopters” of the program will be able to apply online beginning Tuesday, August 20, 2024. More information is available at mbta.com/income-eligible. A meaningful improvement for fare equity, the new program provides riders who are aged 18-64 and have low income with reduced one-way fares of approximately 50% off on all MBTA buses, subway, Commuter Rail, and paratransit (The RIDE) travel. This unlocks affordability for residents across the MBTA service area, including in the Gateway Cities. This expansion will be the first reduced fare program to include The RIDE. As part of this change, Senior users of The RIDE will also be eligible for half-priced fares on both Standard and Premium RIDE trips. “The MBTA’s first-of-its-kind income-eligible reduced fare program will truly make public transportation affordable for those who need it most,” said Governor Maura Healey. “For many of our low-income riders, we know the daily expense of commuting can be a burden, but this program will provide the financial relief riders need and, as a result, encourage more people to take public transportation. We are thankful to the Legislature for their partnership in securing the funds in our FY 25 budget that make this program possible.” “Implementing low-income fares across the entire MBTA system is an important step toward our administration’s goal of making Massachusetts more equitable, more affordable, and more competitive,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “This program will have a direct impact on the lives of so many commuters across the MBTA system and we’re grateful for the leadership of General Manager Eng, Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, and the legislature for getting this done.” “Connectivity is essential not only for the quality of life of individuals and their families, but for our collective longterm well-being,” said Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “When we make the MBTA more accessible for low-income riders, we are helping to make our transportation system more equitable – and our communities healthier, stronger, and more prosperous. I applaud General Manager Eng and his team for their commitment to uplifting our communities who rely on our public transit.” “This is a critical step in making transit more affordable for those that need it the most. I thank Secretary Tibbits-Nutt for her advocacy of this initiative, the Governor and the Legislature for their foresight to include funds in our FY24 and FY25 budgets to enable us to develop this program, our numerous partners at the EOHHS, the RMV, ABCD, MASSCAP, and Omicron Technology Solutions who were instrumental in helping us launch this program, and the many advocates who have for years championed this initiative, which will benefit so many across all modes,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “This is a meaningful step that allows all of the public that rely on mass transportation to use it, improving quality of life, boosting economic mobility, and connecting people and communities.” Riders with low income will be able to apply in multiple languages online at mbta. com/income-eligible and at five in-person locations provided by ABCD and MASSCAP around the MBTA service area. Program participants can demonstrate eligibility via existing enrollment in programs with a cutoff of 200% of the federal poverty level (or lower), including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Transitional Assistance for Families and Dependent Children (TAFDC), Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled & Children (EAEDC), MassHealth CarePlus, MassHealth Family Assistance, MassHealth Limited, MassHealth Standard, and MASSGrant. “ABCD is excited to be a partner in the Income-Eligible Fare Program with the MBTA, making transportation more accessible for those who MBTA | SEE PAGE 16
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