An Accessible, Affordable MBTA is Critical to Massachusetts’s Recovery

ABOUT

Transit is Essential is a diverse coalition of more than 60 environmental justice, mobility justice, and business organizations working to ensure the MBTA is safe, robustly funded, and affordable for everyone in the region.

Public transit is a public good and is a critical lifeline for many to access essential health services, employment, education, social connections, and opportunities. Unfortunately, the MBTA is underfunded, understaffed, and unable to provide the robust and quality service needed to support the Commonwealth.

Our coalition advocates for practical solutions that will sustain the MBTA long-term. It’s time to get the MBTA off the fiscal cliff and back on track.

OUR PRIORITIES

We are advocating for solutions that will ensure everyone in the region has access to safe, reliable, and affordable MBTA service—and for sustainable and equitable funding for the MBTA.

Our priorities include:

Increase Affordability

We are committed to ensuring that a low-income fare program is successfully implemented in 2024 and fully funded by the legislature

Improving Service

We are working with the MBTA to improve communications and mitigation efforts while critical work is underway to improve the safety of the rail system. We are also working to ensure the MBTA is supported in its efforts to increase and improve bus service throughout the region.

Secure Sustainable Funding

We are identifying sustainable and equitable funding sources that will ensure the MBTA’s long-term viability.

OUR WINS

Winning Low-Income Fares

A 10-year effort by Transit is Essential and our coalition partners succeeded in reducing fares for more than 60,000 riders with lower incomes. The program will offer half-priced fares on every MBTA service, including commuter rail and the RIDE paratransit services.

Protecting essential workers and riders

By beating back massive service cuts and staff reductions during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic.