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SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Hundreds of low-income Somerville residents will have a chance to ride the MBTA for free.
Somerville is teaming up with Community Action Agency of Somerville to launch a new pilot program to give out 500 fully subsidized MBTA passes to low-income households.
The program will distribute 12-month MBTA transit passes free of charge on a first-come basis while supplies last starting in April, 2023. Somerville residents currently enrolled in a public benefits program, such as SNAP or MassHealth, or who earns up to "twice the federal poverty level and does not currently qualify for an existing free or reduced-fare pass" is eligible to apply.
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“In Massachusetts, public transportation has become cost-prohibitive for too many residents, so Somerville is stepping up to the plate,” Mayor Katjana Ballantyne said in a statement. “No one should be forced to choose between buying a T pass or paying for groceries, and low-income riders have little recourse. When we cover the cost of fares, we remove a barrier to ridership and deliver economic relief to those in our community who need it most. I’m grateful to CAAS for their partnership on this initiative, and I hope we can inspire similar programs to take shape across the region.”
To apply click here. Those interested or want to learn more can call CAAS at (617) 599-4185.
The program is meant to give residents some economic relief and to make transportation more accessible and equitable.
To learn more about Somerville transit benefit programs click here.
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