From Nov. 24 to March 31, rides on the Vineyard Transit Authority will be free. Insteading of paying $1.25 per town for a ride, passengers can hop on the Island’s bus system without paying any fares as part of the “try transit” program sponsored by the state legislature.
Starting Black Friday, a new kind of sale will be sweeping the Vineyard.
From Nov. 24 to March 31, rides on the Vineyard Transit Authority will be free. Insteading of paying $1.25 per town for a ride, passengers can hop on the Island’s bus system without paying any fares as part of the “try transit” program sponsored by the state legislature.
The program started last year but only ran for about a month. This year it has been expanded to last about 18 weeks, and the VTA hopes it will help boost ridership and reintroduce people to the bus system.
“Our hope is to bring back more ridership through the holidays so people can have a little more money in the economy to help local businesses,” said Angie Gompert, the VTA administrator.
The VTA ridership still hasn’t fully recovered from the pandemic, but is slowly climbing back. Last fiscal year, just shy of 900,000 people rode the Island bus system. It was a 16 per cent increase above the prior year, but still shy of pre-pandemic numbers that were as high as 1.3 million riders.
With the new expanded free fares, which extends to all fixed routes and other services, Ms. Gompert urged people to give the bus system a try.
“It’s an attempt to raise awareness overall for the services we provide,” she said. “It’s a nice break to give folks that opportunity to do it for free.”
The state funds come through a competitive grant process, and the VTA will be back paid for the loss of revenue during the free fare program. Up to $288,836 would be covered, according to Ms. Gompert.
Last December, about 27,400 people rode the bus during the program, a 9.4 per cent increase from the year prior.
Comments
It is a misleading headline
Bob EdgartownIt is a misleading headline as nothing is free. These are all tax dollars paying for this. Now our tax dollars are going to pay for mostly empty buses driving around the island all winter and you wonder why our taxes are so high and we have a problem with government spending.
As someone who does not drive
Laurence Vaughn EdgartownAs someone who does not drive and relies in the VTA to get around, I can tell you that the busses are already pretty empty and almost every rider is using a digital or card pass.There is only an insignificant amount of revenue is coming in.
Larry, I use VTA, they do a
Kate EdgartownLarry, I use VTA, they do a great job! Yes of course the ridership is not like the summer.
I’m love the VTA!!
I agree Bob, but I rather
Jim EdgartownI agree Bob, but I rather spend my tax dollars on this instead of so many other things we waste money on.
My point is that most users
Laurence Vaughn EdgartownMy point is that most users over the winter have PREPAID for annual passes. There is little money to be gained but fewer cars on the roads.
Still too big, too fast, too
Sara Piazza EdgartownStill too big, too fast, too many, and too empty.
Fir many of us, the VTA is
Laurence Vaughn EdgartownFor many of us, the VTA is our only way around, in those busses that do the speed limit, have bus schedules cut by 75%, and are mostly electric in the off season.
Should they be eliminated?
Albert GosnoldShould they be eliminated? Cars are also too big, too fast, and too empty.
I would rather deal with one bus than one car, the bus driver always know where he is going.
The bus is not going to take a parking spot.
Come sit on my porch in the
Sara Piazza EdgartownCome sit on my porch in the summer and watch 30 buses an hour go back and forth in and out of downtown Edgartown, bullying bikes, tearing down fences, clogging up traffic because they can't get around the corner coming out of Pease's Point Way, nearly running people over in crosswalks. And where are those quiet electric buses they were ranting about? The predominant buses I saw this past summer were a new wide diesel version. And who needs to go to South Beach at 9:00 at night? And why does every visitor to Martha's Vineyard have to get dropped off at Church Street so they can walk around the corner and buy an ice cream cone? And the idea that the buses will cut down on the number of cars on the road is a canard. People who own cars are going to drive their cars. Period. I am not anti-public transportation, but the VTA is run very poorly. The buses are way too big for the number of riders and for the island roads. The buses they use are designed for cities.
Cant wait for the 24th. They
Ken Edg.Cant wait for the 24th. They have free bus on the cape wednesday and friday for seniors. Thnks.
We would utilize the bus more
Kate EdgartownWe would utilize the bus more but it’s much cheaper to take the car. We will definitely use the bus more now that’s it’s free. Hope more people take advantage of this opportunity !
Excited for the free bus
Billy Sunday Gay HeadExcited for the free bus rides this winter. Thanks VTA!
I applaud this initiative —
Islander EdgartownI applaud this initiative — anything to get cars off the road and drives on public transit.
Here’s an idea: make public transit free ALL year round; other tourist locations do it — Vail, Aspen, Park City — which considerably reduces traffic and congestion (park it and jump on the bus). Wouldn’t that be great? At worst, tack on a small amount (25 cents) on SSA passenger tickets to offset the revenue loss?
Add new comment