SRTA buses to remain fare-free through summer 2027

Riders like 19-year-old Angel Martinez won’t have to worry about paying for their daily bus commute, as the state has extended SRTA’s fare-free bus service for another year, through June 2027.

“I have to constantly commute from work and school because I go to school all the way up in Fall River, and I work in Dartmouth,” said Martinez, who has been working on getting his driver’s license. “Being able to take that trip whenever I need to without having to pay any extra fee is beneficial to me.”

The state budget approved this month continues funding for fare-free regional bus service, allowing the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) to operate its fixed-route buses and paratransit services without charging riders. The funding provides another year of state support for the program, which has contributed to ridership growth since its launch in January 2024. Bus fares were previously $1.50.

Lawmakers approved $40 million for year-round fare-free service across the state’s 15 regional transit authorities, a $5 million increase from the previous year’s funding level. The program is supported through state appropriations funded by Fair Share revenue, the state’s 4% surtax on annual household income above $1 million.

“We had 2.9 million trips provided in ’24, and then that skyrocketed in fiscal ’25, where it was the first time ever we broke 3 million trips,” said SRTA Administrator Erik Rousseau. For the most recent year, he said, “we are confident that we’ll be over 4 million trips for the first time ever.”

Increased state funding has allowed SRTA to launch Sunday service, expand routes, operate the Intercity Express between New Bedford and Fall River, and maintain fare-free bus service, according to Rousseau. “We have had to put additional vehicles out on the road in some areas to try to accommodate that additional demand.” 

Rousseau said the increased service is meeting the real demand for public transit. “Now the people no longer have that barrier. They’re coming out and they’re riding with us and really being able to tap into that benefit,” he said.

New Bedford resident Frank Saraiva said he has noticed the increase in ridership firsthand.

“People depend on it; they need to go to work,” Saraiva said. Full buses are a change that Saraiva is still getting used to. “I’m 61 now, and they have those things you can hold on to, but that’s not good for me. I have to sit down, you know?” SRTA’s rules for riding instruct passengers to reserve seats for people who need them.

How fare-free buses are funded

SRTA’s fare-free program began as a series of temporary pilots before becoming a statewide requirement. The first pilot lasted about six weeks in 2023, followed by a longer six-month phase in 2024.

In fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the Legislature set aside funding for fare-free transit and required Regional Transit Authorities to provide fare-free fixed-route and paratransit service for riders with disabilities, subject to annual appropriations, according to Rousseau.

Lawmakers chose to continue funding the fare-free transit program because it has increased ridership while reducing transportation costs for residents, according to state Rep. Mark Sylvia, D-Fairhaven.

“Ultimately the ability to reduce transportation costs for families, particularly at a time when so many costs are on the rise, is important,” said Sylvia.

For riders like 19-year-old New Bedford resident Anahi Forty, free fare has made essential commutes more accessible.

“I’m currently trying to join the Army, and the closest recruitment center is in Dartmouth, so I have to make that trip nearly every single day of the week just to go see them,” Forty said. “It does help that the buses are free. I don’t have to worry about paying for that.”

While future legislative sessions can change funding decisions, Sylvia expects the program to continue because it benefits communities and is supported by Fair Share revenue, which can only be used to fund public education and transportation. Additionally, annual appropriations allow lawmakers to evaluate the program and account for fluctuations in Fair Share revenue.

“Absent any major financial challenges that we may face as a commonwealth or as a country, I certainly anticipate and will continue to support and advocate for fare-free service,” said Sylvia.

The annual funding requirement helps protect transit authorities because requiring fare-free service without providing funding could lead to service cuts, according to Rousseau.

“There really isn’t a mechanism available to the Legislature to definitively say that this will be permanent funding,” said Rousseau. “What they have done by making it a requirement subject to appropriations each year is … the best they can,” said Rousseau.

Aida Delano is a summer intern with the New Bedford Light, as part of the South Coast Internship designed for local students. Email Aida at adelano@newbedfordlight.org