MBTA extends National Express’ paratransit contract for five additional years

Oct. 7, 2019
National Express Transit was awarded 50 percent of the entire Ride program and plans to increase its fleet by more than 60 percent.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) extended National Express Transit Corp.’s paratransit contract for five years.

National Express Transit will continue to provide The Ride services in MBTA’s south service area. The five-year base contract, with a two-year option, has a potential total value of more than $400 million over seven years. The Ride’s work will be split amongst three providers, including National Express Transit. This new contract awards National Express Transit with more business than any of the other two vendors. National Express Transit was awarded 50 percent of the entire Ride program, another contractor was awarded 30 percent and the other was awarded the remaining 20 percent.

In the past year, National Express Transit transported nearly 600,000 ADA-eligible passengers on behalf of the MBTA, with the number expected to gradually increase over the term of the new contract. The south service area serves more than 20 municipalities, towns and other areas in addition to the city of Boston.

“The MBTA has been a staple in the Greater Boston Community for many years, and we are honored to be awarded this new contract.  We will be ramping up our fleet from 235 vehicles to 384 (equates to a 63.4 percent increase), demonstrating what a significant win this partnership is for our team,” said Judith Crawford, CEO, Transit and Shuttle.