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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3431 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3632
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Antonio F. D. Cabral
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to promote commuter rail ridership.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Antonio F. D. Cabral13th Bristol1/17/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/30/2025Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/4/2025Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol2/5/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/12/2025Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester3/5/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3431 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3632
By Representative Cabral of New Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3632) of
Antonio F. D. Cabral and others relative to commuter rail service fares. Transportation.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to promote commuter rail ridership.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 161A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after Section 52 the following new section:-
3 Section 53. Commuter rail service fares
4 Section 1. The General Manager of the Metropolitan Boston Transit Agency (“MBTA”)
5shall create fare structure for the MBTA commuter rail designed to increase ridership among
6residents of transit-oriented areas, including but not limited to the consideration of the following
7fare structure:
8 A $10 all-inclusive weekday fare comparable to the existing $10 weekend and holiday
9fare;
10 One-way fares not to surpass three times the regular subway fare; 2 of 2
11 Monthly passes priced for hybrid workers, for example those who commute three days
12per week rather than five days per week;
13 Discounts for purchasing multiple rides, for example a 10- or 12-pack;
14 Reducing the number of commuter rail zones and simplifying overall fare pricing;
15 Off-setting ticket price reductions with increased parking rates.
16 Section 2. Within 12 months of enactment, the General Manager of the MBTA shall
17submit recommendations for these and other possibilities to the Governor and the Legislature,
18along with estimates for the impact on ridership.
19 Section 3. Within 24 months of enactment, the General Manager of the MBTA shall
20execute pilot programs to test the implementation and impact on commuter rail ridership based
21on the recommendations in section 1.