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Free rides on Southeastern Regional Transit Authority buses are locked in for another year.
Since January, SRTA has been running a fare-free pilot program that was slated to end this month. But last week, Gov. Maura Healey signed a budget with $30 million for year-round free fares on local buses around the state. That means SRTA buses will be free until at least the end of the fiscal year in June 2025.
Bus routes and schedules
SRTA currently runs 25 bus routes stopping at locations in New Bedford, Fall River, and the surrounding towns. It also operates on-demand transportation services for disabled riders.
Buses run Monday through Friday from 5:20 a.m. until 9:40 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9:05 p.m.
“People know now: If the bus is coming, I can just hop on and go,” said Shayne Trimbell, SRTA’s planning director.
MassDOT will distribute the funds in grants to the state’s local transit authorities. Trimbell said he doesn’t know exactly how much funding SRTA will get, but he’s confident it will be enough to cover the free fares for a full year, with no interruptions.
The free fares have driven a significant increase in ridership, Trimbell said. He didn’t have exact numbers yet, but he said the difference is undeniable — buses are visibly more crowded, and demand-response service is taking longer as it picks up more riders. It “has put some stress on the system,” he said.
Trimbell said he hopes that the new grant funding will help SRTA expand its service to meet the extra demand.
The free fares are important because many of SRTA’s riders have low incomes, Trimbell said. Without the free fares, they might have to decide on any given day whether they go to the grocery store, to the pharmacy, or to see a friend. Now, they won’t have to make that choice for at least another year.
“They can rely on us to get them where they need to go and not have that constant concern,” he said.
Email Grace Ferguson at gferguson@newbedfordlight.org
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