MWRTA To Consider Collecting Fares Again

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The MetroWest area's largest bus transit provider will soon begin discussions about collecting fares, a practice that was suspended more than a year ago during the first wave of coronavirus.

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) Advisory Board will meet Monday to discuss whether to start collecting fares again beginning July 1. A decision on collecting fares likely won't be made until a meeting slated for June, according to the agency.

MWRTA buses have been fare-free since April 6, 2020. At the time, MWRTA said it wanted to reduce contact between riders and bus drivers. The MWRTA board is not looking at a fare increase, but a return to the $1.50 regular rate.

Over the past year, MWRTA has expanded service, offering special routes for shopping during the pandemic, a new on-demand service called CatchConnect and the resumption of nighttime service.

Other local transit agencies stopped collecting fares during the pandemic. Transit advocates are pushing for the Worcester Regional Transit Authority to remain free for good. However, the WRTA board is also looking at collecting fares again beginning in July at the earliest.

The MWRTA advisory board consists of 16 officials from each town the agency serves, from Wellesley to Hopedale.