"Boston Mayor Wu Extends Fare-Free Bus Program on Three Routes Until 2026"
Boston Mayor Wu's administration has extended the free bus fare program on three heavily used MBTA routes – 23, 28, and 29 – until March 2026, using federal pandemic relief funds to cover the costs. The initiative, which began in March 2022, has saved riders over $6 million on more than 12 million trips and brought the routes close to pre-pandemic ridership levels. The program aims to increase reliability, efficiency, and convenience for riders, with more than half of the riders on these routes qualifying as low-income.