Some riders are eligible for reduced fares. Military personnel and children under 11 ride for free.
No matter which type of reduced fare card you have, all reduced fare prices are the same.
Who Rides for Free?
Children age 11 and under ride the MBTA for free. Groups including 10 or more children (regardless of the number of chaperones), must register their travel using the field trip form.
People who are legally blind, as well as an accompanying guide, ride the MBTA for free with a Blind Access CharlieCard. Service animals are always allowed on the MBTA.
Apply for a Blind Access CharlieCard
Active-duty military personnel ride the MBTA for free. If in plainclothes, please present a valid military ID to MBTA staff. If in uniform, no identification is necessary.
Massachusetts State Police troopers and police officers and firefighters in towns within the MBTA’s service area ride for free when in full uniform and wearing an official badge. Plainclothes detectives ride for free if they present their official badge.
Commonwealth Department of Public Utilities employees, anyone accompanying them, and state elevator inspectors ride the MBTA for free when they present a Public Official ID.
Who is Eligible for Reduced Fares?
You can now apply online for a reduced fare card. Find your pass type below to start the application process.
People with disabilities and Medicare cardholders
If you’re a person with a disability or a Medicare cardholder, you may be eligible for reduced fares with a Transportation Access Pass (TAP).
Learn more about the Transportation Access Pass (TAP)
People 65 and older
If you are 65 or older, you are eligible for reduced fares with a Senior CharlieCard.
Learn more about the Senior CharlieCard
Some middle and high school students
If you attend one of the schools enrolled in the MBTA’s Student Pass Program, you are eligible for an S-Card or M7 Card.
Learn more aboutStudent Cards
People 18 – 25 with low income
If you are a young adult with low income and live in a participating city or town, you may be eligible for a Youth Pass CharlieCard.
Note: The Youth Pass program will be retired and replaced by the new income-eligible reduced fares program on October 31, 2024.
Learn more about the Youth Pass CharlieCard
People 18 – 64 enrolled in state assistance
If you're between the ages of 18 – 64 and are enrolled in an approved state assistance program, you may qualify for income-eligible reduced fares.
Learn more about income-eligible reduced fares
Income-Eligible Reduced Fares
If you’re between the ages of 18 – 64 and are enrolled in a state assistance program, you may be income-eligible for reduced fares.
Learn more about income-eligible reduced fares
Need Help Accessing This Service?
The Mobility Center,located in Boston at 1000 Massachusetts Ave, can help you plan trips, apply for reduced fare passes, sign up for The RIDE, and more.
Learn more about the Mobility Center
Use Your EBT Card to Pay Your Fare
You can use your EBT card to load value or passes onto CharlieCards and CharlieTickets.
Learn more about paying with your EBT card
Reduced One-Way Fares
Riders enrolled in reduced fare programs can link their benefits to their contactless payment method for reduced one-way fares on bus and subway.
Learn more about linking your reduced fare card
Subway One-Way
$1.10
with reduced fare card
Subway One-Way
with reduced fare card
$1.10
Local Bus One-Way
$0.85
with reduced fare card
Local Bus One-Way
with reduced fare card
$0.85
Express Bus One-Way
$2.10
with reduced fare card
Express Bus One-Way
with reduced fare card
$2.10
Express Bus Routes:354, 426, 428,450,501, 504, 505
Commuter Rail One-Way
$1.10 – $6.50
with CharlieTicket or mTicket App
Commuter Rail One-Way
with CharlieTicket or mTicket App
$1.10 – $6.50
Ferry One-Way
$1.10 – $4.85
with mTicket App or paper ferry ticket
Ferry One-Way
with mTicket App or paper ferry ticket
$1.10 – $4.85
ADA Ride One-Way
$1.70
With income-eligible reduced fare card
ADA Ride One-Way
With income-eligible reduced fare card
$1.70
Premium Ride One-Way
$2.80
With income-eligible reduced fare card
Premium Ride One-Way
With income-eligible reduced fare card
$2.80
Note: RIDE customers enrolled in the income-eligible reduced fare programs can receive discounts on ADA/standard and Premium trips.
Learn more about reduced fares on The RIDE
Transfers
Subway and Bus
For Local Bus, Express Bus, Silver Line, and/or Subway, transfer up to two times and pay only the cost of the highest-priced service.
Commuter Rail and Ferry
Certain monthly Commuter Rail passes printed on a CharlieTicket include unlimited transfers to any mode. Single-ride Commuter Rail and ferry tickets generally do not include free transfers.
Note: Transfers are not available with store value CharlieTickets or cash payments. Transfer rules still apply to travel with contactless payment.
Learn more about transfers
Reduced Subway and Bus Passes
Reduced subway and bus passes can be purchased on either a CharlieCard or a CharlieTicket.
Reduced Monthly LinkPass
$30.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
CharlieCardand CharlieTicketvalid on:
- Subway
- Local Bus
- Silver Line
CharlieTicketalso valid on:- Commuter Rail Zone 1A
- Charlestown Ferry
- East Boston Ferry (seasonal)
Reduced 7-Day LinkPass
$10.00
Unlimited travel for seven days.
CharlieCardand CharlieTicketvalid on:
- Subway
- Local Bus
- Silver Line
Commuter Rail Zone 1A Pass on CharlieTicket also valid on:- Commuter Rail Zone 1A
- Charlestown Ferry
- East Boston Ferry (seasonal)
Reduced Monthly Express Bus Pass
$67.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
- Local and Express Bus
- Subway
- Silver Line
CharlieTicket also valid on:
- Commuter Rail Zone 1A
- Charlestown Ferry
- East Boston Ferry (seasonal)
Reduced Commuter Rail Passes
Reduced Commuter Rail passes can be purchased on either a CharlieTicket or through the mTicket app.
Reduced Monthly Commuter Rail Pass
$30.00 – $209.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month on:
- Commuter Rail
- Local Bus
- Subway
- Charlestown Inner Harbor Ferry
- East Boston Ferry (seasonal)
- Hingham/Hull Ferry with Zone 6 passes and up
Reduced Monthly Commuter Rail Pass, mTicket
$30.00 – $204.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
Valid on:
Commuter Rail, up to designated pass zone
No transfers to other modes
Reduced Monthly Hingham/Hull Ferry Pass
$164.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month on:
- All MBTA ferries
- Subway
- Silver Line
- Bus
- Commuter Rail Zones 1A – 5
Reduced Monthly Hingham/Hull Ferry Pass, mTicket
$159.00
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month on all MBTA ferry routes.
mTicket valid on:
All MBTA ferries
