The MBTA is not only extending two of its summer commuter rail discounts through November, including 50% off monthly passes, but will also be piloting three new discounts across the rest of the system.
Gov. Maura Healey and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, who is also the state’s interim transportation secretary. made the announcement on Tuesday morning from Belmont Station before taking the train into North Station.
“Now I know there’s still more work to do, and it’s why we’ve been directing record funding to the T to continue to improve service,” said Healey. “But in the meantime, in addition to making sure there’s better service — which there is — we also want to make sure that this is affordable to people.”
Healey added that commuter rail ridership has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“In fact, Friday commuter rail ridership has increased 50%, and riders have taken more than 6,200 companion trips since the start of this program,” she said. “It’s a huge success, makes a difference for people, and I thought it was really important that we continue this.”
The commuter rail’s “$1 Weekend Companion Fare,” which allows monthly pass holders to bring an additional rider with them for $1 on the weekend, is also being extended through November.
Eng said the MBTA wants the commuter rail system to be more affordable and available to riders on weekends.
“As the governor said, the $1 companion pass makes the monthly ticket even more valuable because now you could use it on a weekend and bring a companion, let them experience the commuter rail and see so many great things that Massachusetts has to offer,” he said.
This summer, the commuter rail began offering free service for riders on Fridays through August. That promotion won’t be extended into the fall, however.
But one of the new MBTA discounts includes cheaper express buses. Starting Sept. 1, express buses — which run directly between downtown Boston and certain suburbs — will cost just $1.70 each way, down by more than half from the current cost of $4.25.
“That is going to save regular commuters hundreds of dollars over the next several months,” Healey said.
Also starting Sept. 1, subway and bus riders will be able to make unlimited transfers within a two-hour window. Currently, riders can only transfer up to two times between modes within two hours and pay just one fare.
“If you’re using the Lynn ferry ... that’s only a 50-minute trip,” Eng said. “Guess what? You still have time to jump on a different mode when you get to your destination and take advantage of the unlimited transfer window.”
The T will also work with the RMV to offer free fares to state residents aged 75 and older who no longer drive. That pilot program doesn’t have a start date but will apply to all MBTA buses, ferries and commuter rail services.
Eng said this summer, the MBTA saw “unprecedented level of service running safe, running reliably.”
“That’s allowing us to be here today to be able to tell our riders in so many different ways that we want to thank them for their returning back to the system,” he said.
