Bill > H3266

This bill establishes a pilot program for fare-free buses within the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and all Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) operating in Massachusetts. The MBTA program will last a minimum of one year and include at least 10 priority bus routes and 10 additional routes with higher than average ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also creates a fare-free MBTA bus advisory group to oversee the program and set goals, standards, and metrics. Similarly, the RTA program will have a fare-free advisory group to manage the pilot. Both pilots must commence by December 31, 2024, and the advisory groups will regularly report findings to the relevant governing boards.