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Thirteen regional transport companies will be able to continue operating free of charge.

A $30 million grant will allow 13 regional transportation authorities across the state to continue providing free public transportation year-round.

On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced that funding would be provided in the state budget for fiscal year 2025. The grant builds on two years of pilot programs across the state.

“Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents rely on their regional transportation authorities to get to work, the grocery store, doctor appointments and school,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. press release. “We are proud to offer this funding to help ATRs maintain free services. »

Senate President Karen Spilka, who helped champion the initiative, said, “Regional transit unites our state. »

Spilka said the Senate has pushed for funding to help improve access for residents who rely on services and make the state more resilient to the climate crisis.

“Merrimack Valley Transit has been free systemwide since March 2022, and the results have been indisputable,” Noah Berger, administrator of the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, said in a statement.

Since going free, ridership on fixed-route buses has quadrupled and is now more than 60% above pre-pandemic levels, while passenger complaints have fallen by around a third and per-passenger subsidies have declined, he declared.

Additionally, many runners no longer have to ration their travel to medical or educational appointments due to cost and keep more money in their pockets to spend at local businesses in Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill , Berger said.

Michael Lambert, administrator of the Brockton Area Transit Authority, said ridership levels are the highest in a quarter century.

It said in a statement that high ridership “thus advances our goals of supporting the local economy, reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and improving the overall quality of life of our community.”

Working together, the 13 RTAs submitted a joint request to disburse the $30 million based on ridership in their service areas. Previously, RTAs used federal and state funds to provide this free service. From now on, the service will be maintained entirely thanks to state funding.

The 13 ATRs that have requested and will receive funds are:

Worcester Regional Transportation Authority: $5,517,286

Brockton Area Transit Authority: $2,582,274

Berkshire Regional Transit Authority: $699,733

Cape Anne Transportation Authority: $293,054

Franklin Regional Transportation Authority: $218,173

Lowell Regional Transit Authority: $1,170,257

Montachusett Area Regional Transportation: $1,095,279

Merrimack Valley Transportation Authority: $2,575,810

MetroWest regional transportation authority: $812,331

Nantucket Regional Transportation Authority: $484,507

Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority: $9,511,353

South-East regional public transport authority: $3,230,893

Vineyards Transport Authority: $1,809,050

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Beth Treffeisen is a feature reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime and business in the New England region.

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