It’s been one full year since the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) offered fare-free service on its fixed routes along the South Coast. The response has increased ridership.
Mr. Rousseau says SRTA has also seen a spike of 13 percent on the weekends thanks to the reinstatement of Sunday service last year. The authority has also seen a spike of 30 percent in its ADA demand response service.
Free fares have made a small impact on ensuring bus routes arrive at their destinations on time…A metric that SRTA is constantly assessing.
SRTA reintroduced express service this year between New Bedford and Fall River, cutting travel time from one hour to around 25 minutes.
Fare-free service is funded through the yearly state budget allocation and support from money collected from the state millionaire’s tax assessment. Fares will remain free until the end of June. Mr. Rousseau is hopeful state leadership will expand the opportunity at state budget time.
