Bill > H3623

This bill establishes two separate fare-free bus pilot programs: one for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and another for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) across Massachusetts. For the MBTA, the program will run for at least one year and provide free bus access without requiring passes, cash fares, or CharlieTickets, covering a minimum of 10 priority bus routes and 10 additional routes with higher ridership during the March 2020-December 2020 period. The MBTA pilot will include routes connecting to commuter rail, heavy rail, subway stations, and bus depots. Each pilot program will be overseen by a dedicated advisory group composed of transportation officials, labor representatives, community advocates, and experts, who will create performance metrics, hold public meetings, and evaluate the program's impact on factors like ridership, equity, system efficiency, and potential cost savings. Both pilot programs must begin no later than December 31, 2026, with the advisory groups required to submit six-month progress reports and a final comprehensive report within three months of the pilot's conclusion. The bill aims to explore the potential benefits of fare-free public transportation by providing comprehensive data and analysis of the pilot programs' outcomes.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3623