Massachusetts announces $30 million for year‑round fare‑free regional transit

Governor Maura Healey announced a $30,000,000 investment "to 13 regional transit authorities to provide year round free transit," saying the funding is a major step toward equitable, modern transportation across Massachusetts.

The announcement at a Greenfield event brought together state transportation officials, regional transit administrators and local advocates. "Free transit. It's a big deal," Healey said, and praised the legislature and MassDOT staff for helping secure the funding.

Franklin Regional Transit Authority administrator Tina Cote said the FRTA had suspended fixed‑route fares during the pandemic using CARES funding and will "extend the fare free fares for our demand response communities" beginning Nov. 1. Cote thanked local legislators and named transit colleagues who she said had supported the work.

Advocates framed fare‑free buses as a tool to reduce barriers to essential services. Laura Sylvester, public policy manager at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and leader of the Western Mass Transportation Advocacy Network, said, "lack of access to reliable transportation is 1 of the biggest causes of food insecurity," and that even a small fare can be a barrier for people struggling to make ends meet.

Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western Mass, said repeated community health assessments list transportation among the top needs and credited the fair share amendment and legislative partners with making the funding possible.

MassDOT undersecretary Hayes Morrison placed the announcement alongside broader rail investments, noting ongoing work on West‑East Rail to expand passenger service from Boston through Worcester to Springfield and Albany. State Senator Jo Comerford said the funding will support rural communities' access to jobs and services and highlighted local micro‑transit pilots and ride‑on‑demand work.

Officials listed the 13 regional transit authorities named for funding and said the state is supporting year‑round, fare‑free options to improve affordability, environmental goals and regional equity. The governor also highlighted other administration priorities — including tax cuts, an expanded child tax credit, universal school meals, free community college and a $5,000,000,000 housing bond bill — before inviting on‑topic questions.

The announcement described an executive allocation of funds and local implementation steps; the transcript records no legislative vote at the event. Officials said some local rollouts (for example FRTA demand‑response service) have implementation dates and funding sources noted (CARES funding for a prior pandemic suspension and the new state allocation for fare‑free service).