In consideration of the increasing number of passengers and the proportionately small contribution of ticket revenue to operational expenses, the transportation department of Worcester, the second-largest city in Massachusetts, has decided to implement a policy of free public buses for the fifth consecutive year.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) suspended bus fares. At a meeting on April 18th this year, the WRTA commission unanimously voted to extend the free policy until June 2025.
The public buses operated by WRTA serve Worcester and 36 surrounding towns. Local media reports indicate that the number of passengers on these buses in 2023 increased by approximately 30% compared to pre-pandemic levels. This has made WRTA stand out among the 15 regional transit authorities in Massachusetts.
According to information from “Streets Blog Mass,” prior to the pandemic, only about 14% of WRTA’s operating funds came from passenger fares.
Since the implementation of the free policy, WRTA has used federal pandemic relief funds to supplement approximately 9% of its operating funds. Additionally, the Massachusetts government has also provided assistance to Worcester.
In the upcoming 2025 fiscal year budget proposal by the Massachusetts governor, $15 million is earmarked to support the free bus project. This will aid Worcester in continuing to operate free buses in the new fiscal year.
Currently, Worcester still has approximately $23 million in federal aid funds remaining. As these funds are depleted, if WRTA wishes to continue the free policy, they will need to seek new sources of funding.
Joshua Rickman, the government affairs officer of WRTA, stated earlier this year to the media that he is not willing to discuss the situation after the exhaustion of federal aid funds at this time.
“Each regional transit authority goes through a budget process annually. It is too early to discuss how those matters will be resolved now,” he said.