Dorchester residents divided over fare-free bus program
Route 28’s ridership increased by 22% following the pilot, according to Stacy Thompson, executive director of the nonprofit LivableStreets Alliance. Additionally, 5% of people riding Route 28 said they would have driven a personally owned vehicle if not for the elimination of the fare. Although 5% may seem like a small margin, it has a significant impact on congestion, Thompson said.
Read moreMore cities are looking at making public transportation free
"Sometimes the choice between paying for a monthly pass means that you can’t buy groceries for your children," Thompson said in a recent Zoom interview.
Read moreTransit Coalition: MBTA Riders Need Low-Income Fare Option
Stacy Thompson, executive director of the LivableStreets Alliance and co-chair of the Transit is Essential Coalition, recommended a low-income fare program, where low-income Commonwealth residents could purchase reduced-cost tickets across the system.
Read moreFree T bus sped service, even got some to ditch cars — but saved few money, MBTA says
“This is why we are advocating for statewide free buses,” said Stacy Thompson, executive director of LivableStreets Alliance, a public transportation advocacy group. “The T is going to collect most of this money anyway, but there are so many other benefits we can implement.”
Read moreBoston Public Radio full show: Feb. 15, 2022
Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson discussed Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s announcement of a two-year, fare-free program for MBTA bus routes 23, 28 and 29 beginning March 1, 2022, and how the program relates to Wu’s mission to make the T free. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets.
Read moreMayor Michelle Wu’s push for free buses is spurring other cities and towns to act
Riders of the 23, 28, and 29 buses are primarily people of color who have low incomes, according to a 2019 report from LivableStreets, a public transportation advocacy group. The routes travel along or intersect with Blue Hill Avenue, where the city plans to install center-running bus lanes.
Read moreT oversight board light on oversight, transit advocates warn
“If the members aren’t asking hard questions, particularly around things like safety and finances, then what is their purpose?” asked Stacy Thompson, executive director of LivableStreets Alliance, a public transportation advocacy group. “You have an opportunity to do so much, what are you doing with that role?”
Read moreThree More Boston MBTA Bus Lines Going Fare Free: Wu
Each route serves a diverse ridership, and they all intersect with Blue Hill Avenue, which research and advocacy group Livable Streets Alliance identified as a corridor that should be prioritized for reliability improvements and increased ridership, the city said.
Read moreNew study touts pilot-to-permanent bus programs in Everett, Cambridge/Watertown, Everett
Other BRT-like programs include the Columbus Avenue center bus lane and new boarding platforms in Boston, which opened this past fall. A study by Livable Streets found that 78% of bus riders were satisfied with the new features, and a quarter said they ride the bus more now.
Read moreReport: The T could lose more than $30 million under new fare system
Stacy Thompson of LivableStreets Alliance also stressed the importance of equitable access and questioned why the T doesn’t have a complete low-income fare policy...
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