Merrimack Valley Transit To Go Mostly Fare-Free March 1

LAWRENCE, MA —The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority will go fare-free March 1 for everything but the Boston Commuter bus and Ring & Ride, the transit agency said in a news release.

The agency's board voted Dec. 1 to run a two-year pilot of free rides on all local fixed routes and EZ Trans paratransit services, according to the release.

A City of Lawrence initiative has covered fares for three local Lawrence routes since Sept. 2019. The agency will be using federal coronavirus relief funds for the expanded pilot program.

"I am really excited about this pilot," MVRTA spokesperson Niorka Mendez said. "Going fare-free will attract new riders, increase patronage of our local businesses, offer economic relief to families that rely on our service, and connect people to jobs and other economic opportunities."

The agency also cited the inefficiency of fare collection as a reason to go fare-free.

“For every dollar we collect in fares, we only see less than 24 cents when the fully allocated costs of collecting fares are factored in," MVRTA Administrator Noah Berger said.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan championed the free-fare pilot, the agency said.

"The decision to waive fares for Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority riders [is] a game-changer for folks across the region who rely on public transit for their commutes," Trahan said in a statement. "I was proud to vote for the CARES Act last year and applaud the Board for putting funding from the relief package to use helping Merrimack Valley residents and small businesses working to recover from the pandemic."

Fares will still be collected on the Boston Commuter bus, which costs $6 cash or $5 with a Charlie Card, and for Ring & Ride, which sits $1 to 5 depending on the route.

The agency serves Haverhill, Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Methuen, Merrimac, Amesbury, Newburyport, Boxford, Groveland, Salisbury, Georgetown and West Newbury.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.