Affordable public transit opens doors to better jobs, healthcare, and a cleaner environment for all. Photo: Jarvis Chen.
At the end of each month, many of us review our bills – mortgage or rent, groceries, healthcare, and school expenses. On top of these essentials, we often factor in another cost: getting around. Whether it’s fueling up a car or buying a train ticket or bus fare, transportation expenses can stretch already tight budgets. For many New Englanders who rely on public transit, particularly those with low incomes, buying that ticket can require some belt-tightening. When transportation costs add up, it can make it harder to see a doctor, get to work, or even look for a better job. That’s why making public transit more affordable can make such a big difference in people’s lives.
Public transit serves as a gateway to opportunity. Making it more affordable benefits everyone. Here’s how transit agencies can make that happen:
1. Affordable Commutes Boost Our Economy
Millions across New England rely on public transit to get to work, but high fares can make the journey costly.
Take Providence, Rhode Island, for example. With a minimum wage of $13 an hour, the $4 cost of a roundtrip bus ride can take a chunk out of a family’s budget. Recognizing this, in 2022, Rhode Island’s Public Transit Authority launched the R-Line pilot program, offering free bus service along key routes through the end of 2023. The results spoke for themselves: ridership jumped by 40%. Lowering costs helps make transit more attainable, a critical step to connect low-income communities to opportunity.
Making transit more affordable eases commutes, frees up resources for families to spend on other necessities, and boosts the overall economy.
2. Low-Cost Transit Improves Health and Well-being
Reliable and affordable transit is crucial for health equity, especially in rural and underserved areas. First, it helps people reach important healthcare resources. Vulnerable community members—such as children, pregnant individuals, and older adults—can attend preventive care appointments and other services. This leads to better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs for everyone. Second, public transit encourages healthier lifestyles. Hopping aboard a bus or train leads to more physical activity, fewer car crashes, and lower air pollution.
Connecticut’s free fare program, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and extended through March 2024, is a prime example. Free fares significantly increased ridership. That means thousands of commuters got more exercise and avoided the risk of car crashes. Switching to public transit reduces a person’s chance of being in a car accident by more than 90%.
Affordable transit means a more active lifestyle and greater ease in reaching health services without breaking the bank, which benefits everyone.
3. Affordable Transit Expands Culture and Entertainment Opportunities
Budget-friendly transportation helps level the playing field by providing everyone with the chance to enjoy cultural and social activities.
Consider the MBTA’s $10 weekend commuter rail pass. For people outside Boston, it offers a way to experience free cultural and social events—from Shakespeare on the Common to concerts on the waterfront. And, for families in the Greater Boston area, the weekend pass allows them to explore the beauty of the Commonwealth without spending a fortune.
When transportation is reasonably priced and reliable, communities become more vibrant and cohesive, enhancing everyone’s quality of life.
4. Low-Cost Transit Eases Traffic on Roads
According to the 2023 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, Bostonians spent an average of 88 hours in traffic last year, costing each driver about $1,543 in lost wages. Encouraging more people to take public transit by making it more affordable can free up our roads. Pedestrians and cyclists feel safer, buses run more punctually, and emergency vehicles navigate less congested streets. And think about people getting back nearly 90 hours of time because they’re not sitting in traffic.
The MBTA’s new low-income fare program could be a game-changer. The agency estimates that low-income riders will take 30% more trips, benefiting over 60,000 people. With fewer cars on the road, traffic congestion could drop significantly. That’s how investing in affordable transit creates a safer, more efficient city for all.
When more people have the financial means to use public transit, fewer private vehicles clog the roads, leading to smoother traffic flow and less time wasted in jams.
5. Affordable Transit Slashes Carbon Pollution
Public transportation offers a cleaner alternative to private cars. Currently, transportation accounts for nearly 30% of all toxic emissions in New England and across the U.S., making it our largest source of pollution. Allowing commuters to opt for cleaner modes of transit – like buses and trains – takes thousands of cars off the road and reduces pollution in one move.
For example, a single Green Mountain Transit bus in Vermont transports 40 to 60 passengers. It would take over a dozen cars to move that many people. Public transportation in the U.S. cuts 63 million tons of toxic emissions annually. That’s like shutting down 16 coal power plants for a year.
Changing how we move around means cleaner air and a step forward in fighting climate change. When our environment is healthier, everyone benefits from a more sustainable future.
Building Stronger, Inclusive Communities
Supporting affordable transportation is about more than just money. It’s about connecting people to opportunities, protecting the environment, and enhancing everyone’s quality of life. By investing in affordable transit, we can build stronger, more inclusive communities and a brighter future. And when we go through our monthly budgets, we’ll have one less worry and one more reason to thrive.
