10,000 more Boston students will receive free MBTA pass this year
Prior to the start of the new school year, approximately 10,000 additional students living and attending school in Boston will be receiving free passes to ride the MBTA.
The M7 passes are now available for free for all students in grades seven through 12, according to Dan O'Brien, spokesman for Boston Public Schools. While the district and transit authority predict that 10,000 additional passes will be distributed this year, they said that will not translate to 10,000 additional riders on the trains and buses.
District officials believe that most of the students receiving the additional passes are already riding the T or will continue to get to school by foot or bike.
"The 'M7' MBTA passes, now available for free for all students in grades 7-12, will open doors of opportunity for more students to participate in internships, after-school programs, college credit courses, athletics, and jobs," O'Brien wrote in a statement.
M7 passes are paid for by the district during the school year. According to a December 2018 transportation report from City Councilor Michelle Wu's office, the district pays a discounted rate for the passes. During the summer, the cards function as a discounted student pass, giving students half-off bus and subway fares.
"They need to learn, they need to be on time and learn and it’s important," parent Marenda Brown said.
"I’m very concerned, I’m very concerned and it’s based on most recent performance which has been substandard," said Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty.
"There’s a lot of celebration that this is happening in the fall. We certainly have concerns from parents, from students from everyone about the T and that’s across every sector of the economy," said Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu.
Previously, the passes were available only to seventh and eighth-graders who live more than one and a half miles from school and to older students who live more than two miles from school.
The report from Wu's office also found that problems or delays on the MBTA affected student riders.
"By far, the most common consequence of poor MBTA service was tardiness to school. Students planned to leave early, or even chose to take a less convenient but more reliable route—yet, still end up being late at times," the report said.
MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said ridership normally increases in September, when the school year begins and colleges start the fall semester. He said the authority adjusts schedules to accommodate that increase.
"For decades, the T has worked closely with Boston Public Schools to help make sure students get to school and back home safely and efficiently," Pesaturo said. "If any students have questions about using the T, they are encouraged to ask Transit Ambassadors, MBTA personnel or police officers for assistance."
Boston students return to class on Sept. 5.