SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1387        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to establish a reduced fare pilot program for students aboard South Coast Rail.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1387        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

An Act to establish a reduced fare pilot program for students aboard South Coast Rail.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in collaboration with Bridgewater State University, shall implement a reduced fare pilot program for student semester commuter rail passes along the South Coast Rail corridor.  The pilot program shall provide a reduced fare equal to 50 per cent of the standard fare for students enrolled at said university who reside within a municipality along the South Coast Rail corridor, including but not limited to, the cities of New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and the towns of Acushnet, Berkley, Bridgewater, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Rochester, and Somerset.  Bridgewater State University shall distribute said passes and prioritize allocation based upon student financial need.  The authority shall implement the reduced fare pilot program for the 2025-2026 academic year and submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the total number of reduced student passes distributed, number of passes distributed delineated by the city or town of residence, and the total cost incurred to implement the program.  Said report shall be submitted no later than September 1, 2026.