MA Commuter Rail Free Fridays, Half-Price Monthy Pass Sale Set For This Summer

MASSACHUSETTS — Those looking to take a tour of the Commonwealth on the rails can share in some deep discounts this summer as part of a $9 million plan Gov. Maura Healey announced on Monday.

The Commuter Rail summer sale includes free Fridays from June through August in all 10 zones, 50 percent off monthly passes, including ferry service, and $1 weekend companion rides for those with monthly passes.

The MBTA and Keolis will also continue its $10 weekend pass for all riders.

Healey said the move is to celebrate Commuter Rail ridership returning to pre-COVID rates faster than any other major system in the country, $8 billion in improvements to rails that included eliminating slow zones and hiring 500 new employees, while she took a swipe at the President Trump Administration for the recent spike in gasoline prices amid the Iran War.

"We want to give people a break from high costs — especially at this time when gas prices are high," Healey said at a North Station news conference. "And also build off the historic turnaround we've had at the T.

"We want to reward our ridership by making transportation more affordable."

MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said the $9 million cost of the summer sale was built into the T's operating expenses for the year and is also meant to introduce riders to the benefits of public transportation for the longer term, while spurring economic activity across the state.

"I hail from Salem, which is the busiest stop in the Commuter Rail system, and we do this little thing every October (Salem Halloween Haunted Happenings) that relies on the Commuter Rail to get people to and from our community," Lt. Gov. and former Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said. "When you come from a city that has such a high Commuter Rail usage, you know the importance of it.

"Between trains and ferries, we are really going to make it easier to come visit Boston. To come here for any of the sporting events, between the Bruins, the Celtics, the Red Sox, people rely on the Commuter Rail system to get to those events. This summer, with all the activity that is going to happen, we know it's going to be more important to have this Commuter Rail, not only functioning but functioning well."

Eng said the pricing on the special "World Cup pass" will be higher than normal train service. He said that the pass will allow passengers a more "robust" travel opportunity that includes unlimited travel throughout the system to account for those staying outside of Boston and traveling to the matches in Foxborough.

He said that pricing was still being finalized and will be "shortly decided," then rolled out to the public.

More on Patch:

• 2 Killed Helicopter Crash In Hawaii + Beverly Mansion Invasion + Bakery Closes After 100+ Years: MA Weekend
• Threatening Political Messages Found On Flyers In Newton
• Boston College Hires UConn's Luke Murray, son of Bill Murray, As Next Basketball Coach