Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-815

OTH 815

Clarifying Fare-Free Authority Language for RTAs

Mrs. Dooner and Messrs. Tarr and Fernandes moved that the proposed new text be amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:—

(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, an authority established pursuant to this chapter may not, subject to appropriation and Advisory Board approval, charge passenger fare for any trip on regularly scheduled fixed route service, or for any trip on complementary paratransit service that an authority is required to provide pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12143. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall, subject to appropriation, reimburse an authority for lost fare revenue associated with providing fare-free service pursuant to this section.