Budget Amendment ID: FY2024-S3-850

TRP 850

Fare Free Bus Pilots

Ms. Jehlen, Mr. Eldridge, Ms. Rausch, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Keenan and Ms. Miranda moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2F, in item 1596-2404, by inserting the following:-

“provided further, that not less than $8,000,000 shall be expended on fare free pilot programs, of not less than 3 months in duration, to be administered with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; provided further, that MBTA shall establish criteria including, but not limited to, the prioritization of: (a) opportunities for increased ridership; and (b) increased service accessibility to low-income individuals; provided further, that selected routes shall be distributed in a geographically equitable manner; provided further, that routes shall be identified and pilots begun not later than January 1, 2024; provided further, that not later than December 1, 2024, the MBTA shall submit a report to the joint committee on transportation and the house and senate committees on ways and means including, but not limited to: (1) criteria used by the department; (2) a list of routes selected; (3) impact on bus rider and driver altercations; (4) analysis of on-time performance; (5) ridership trends and demographics and fare data for such piloted routes; and (6) details on the mechanisms being utilized to track ridership and fare data for said pilot programs;”.