Brookline Joins MBTA Youth Pass Program

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline just joined eight nearby cities and towns in offering Youth Pass, a program that provides reduced MBTA fares for young adults with low income or enrolled in nontraditional education programs, thanks to one Brookline resident who asked a question.

The reduced fare would mean those riders would pay $1.10 per subway ride, rather than the $2.25 or $30 for a monthly pass rather than $84.50.

Young people between the ages of 12 and 18 and who are not enrolled in middle or high school can participate in Youth Pass.

Also eligible are those between 19 and 25 years old who are enrolled in an accepted GED program, a job training program, or who are participating in a state or federal benefit program such as MassHealth, WIC, SNAP, or who live in subsidized housing.

Residents between 12 and 18 who are enrolled in middle or high school are eligible for Student Charlie Cards. Children 11 and younger are free on the T when accompanied by a paying adult.

The program began in 2017, but Brookline joined thanks to a Village Way resident who simply asked newly elected State Rep. Tommy Vitolo to champion it.

Jake MacMillan, who takes the T an hour to college in Charlestown told Vitolo that it would make a difference in his life.

“Having a discounted T Pass would allow me to know that I don't have to stress out so much about having enough money to get back and forth to Bunker Hill Community College," said MacMillan in a release. "It's been hard knowing that some of my friends could get one and I couldn't because I live in Brookline.”

So Vitolo brought it up to the Brookline Transportation Division, Transportation Board, and Select Board.

"The MBTA's Green Line and buses are critical to making our community work," said Chris Dempsey, chair of the Transportation Board in a release. "We are proud to be the latest municipality to offer the MBTA Youth Pass, which will make public transportation easier to use for the next generation of our workforce."

Applications for the Youth Pass Program should be available at the Transportation Division, on the fourth floor of Brookline Town Hall in the coming weeks.

Information about the program can also be found at www.mbta.com/fares/reduced/youth-pass.