The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Keolis, MBTA’s operating partner for its commuter rail, announced approximately 584,000 weekend tickets have been sold since its introduction in May 2018.
The special fare allows for unlimited travel across all lines and zones for an entire weekend on the same $10 ticket; up to two children under 12-years old can ride for free with a paying adult.
“Building a better T means meeting our customers’ needs, whether it’s through the five-year, $8 billion Capital Investment Plan, or customer-facing changes like the $10 weekend fare,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “We are pleased by the demand for the weekend fare and look forward to serving these customers on the weekend.”
After a series of pilots, the program was made permanent by the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) in March of 2019. If each of these 584,000 weekend commuter rail journeys were taken by car, an estimated 6,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide would have been emitted into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent to the annual electricity usage of more than 1,000 homes. Personal vehicles are the largest contributor to Massachusetts’ greenhouse gas emissions, but public transportation has the potential to remove vehicles from roadways and reduce CO2 emissions, according to Keolis.
“We’re thrilled that so many riders are choosing the convenience of commuter rail for their weekend activities,” said David Scorey, general manager and CEO, Keolis. “The $10 fare enables travelers to maximize their weekends with a more environmentally-friendly transit option. There is a lot that passengers can see and do without having to fill up the gas tank, worry about traffic and pay for parking, and we have new tools that help people explore restaurants, local festivals and so much more.”
In addition to surpassing half a million ticket sales, Keolis and MBTA recently launched a new marketing campaign that helps to provide passengers with destinations, activities and events easily accessed using commuter rail. The website MBTA.com/massbytrain is frequently updated with seasonal activities and suggested itineraries to help travelers take advantage of $10 weekend fares.
The $10 weekend fare has contributed to both rising commuter rail revenue and ridership. Revenues have grown 25 percent over the last four years and commuter rail ridership has grown on weekends since the special fares were introduced.
Weekend fares may be purchased on mTicket, on board with cash or a credit card, or in ticket offices located at Boston’s Back Bay, North and South Stations. These are valid for one weekend, from the first scheduled train Saturday morning until the last train Sunday evening.
