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MBTA offering free trips to boost Fairmount Line ridership May 8-21


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 April 2017 - 05:46 PM

MBTA news release:

 

 

Discover The Fairmount Commuter Rail Line May 8 through May 21

Fares will not be collected on the Fairmount Line May 8-May21


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Enlarge Image

 

 

BOSTON – Customers of the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line will travel free of charge for a two-week period in May. Customers will be able to board at station stops from Readville to South Stations and not pay a fare between Monday, May 8, and Friday, May 21.

 

"The Fairmount Line offers a fast and convenient way to travel between the neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and into the city’s Financial District," said Acting MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve. "It's only a thirty minute trip from Readville to South Station for weekday morning customers taking the 7:15 train.  For two weeks next month, we hope people take advantage of the fare-free service, and learn the benefits of quick and easy train travel."

 

"It's exciting to showcase the transit solutions afforded by the Fairmount Line," said Keolis General Manager and CEO David Scorey. "We look forward to demonstrating the value of the Commuter Rail to members of the Fairmount Line’s communities who otherwise may not have explored this convenient option."

 

This sponsored two-week period comes with the hope of highlighting the Fairmount Line as a convenient option for residents and employees of businesses. MBTA bus and subway options exist within the Fairmount corridor, but many members of the public may be unaware of the Fairmount Line and its station stops. The MBTA hopes this two-week period showcases the Fairmount Line as an excellent option for travel within the Fairmount corridor communities, to and from downtown, and as a connection to other MBTA services.

 

As the only Commuter Rail line that operates entirely within Boston, the Fairmount Line originates at South Station and station stops include Newmarket, Uphams Corner, Four Corners/Geneva Avenue, Talbot Avenue, Morton Street, Fairmount, and Readville. Seven of the Fairmount Line’s eight stations are zoned for a Zone 1A, which is a $2.25 one-way fare. The Fairmount Line operates seven days per week. An executed contract for the construction of a ninth station on the Fairmount Line at Blue Hill Avenue was approved in January 2017 with an anticipated opening of the station in 2019.

 

 For more information on the Fairmount Line, please visit mbta.com.

 

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 07:26 PM

Progressive Railroading, 5/3/17:

 
MBTA to offer free trips to boost Fairmount Line ridership

 


050317-MBTA-commuter-train.jpg
The Fairmount Line is the only commuter-rail route that operates entirely within Boston. Photo – MBTA

 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) next week will offer free rides on the Fairmount commuter-rail line to attract new passengers.

From May 8 through May 21, the agency won't collect fares on the line, which runs from the Readville Station in western Boston to South Station in the city's downtown.

 

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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 16 June 2017 - 04:37 PM

MBTA news release 6/16/17:

MBTA Releases Sponsored Fairmount Line Service Data

 

BOSTON - The MBTA has released data associated with two weeks of free service on the Fairmount Line in May 2017.

 

From Monday, May 8, through Sunday, May 21, and after a robust marketing campaign that partnered with businesses, civic organizations, and elected officials, the MBTA's Fairmount Commuter Rail Line operated without charging customers fares. The goal of the free Fairmount Line service was to promote the line for prospective riders to consider it as a future transportation option.

 

"MassDOT and the MBTA look forward to continuing to partner with the Coalition, community advocates, and elected officials to improve service for our bus and train customers along the Fairmount Corridor," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.

 

An increase in total trips occurred during the two-week period, though this increase did not extend after the sponsored service expired. During the first week of the program, the number of weekday trips increased by approximately twenty-five percent (an additional 550 one-way trips per day or fourteen passengers per train) compared to the week before. The second week of the free-fare period showed an increase of forty-four percent from the week before the program. This is approximately 1,000 additional one-way trips per day or twenty-five more passengers per train. In the inbound direction, the additional trips were primarily in the morning peak and at 4 p.m. In the outbound direction, the additional trips were primarily in the afternoon peak and early afternoon.

 

"I am pleased, but not surprised, that there was a substantial increase in ridership during the Fairmount Sponsored Service initiative," said Congressman Mike Capuano. "Many dedicated neighborhood and community advocates committed substantial resources to making sure residents in the Fairmount Corridor were aware of the program. My hope is that, between increased ridership during this two-week period and the change in rider count methodology prior to this program, the MBTA is closer to realizing the Fairmount Line's full potential. I encourage the MBTA to continue the broad partnership this initiative fostered, and to continue to promote and improve the Fairmount Line."

 

"The purpose of this initiative was to encourage more residents along this line to try the commuter rail to get to work and enjoy recreational opportunities, and the results show an increase in passengers over a handful of key periods," said Keolis Commuter Services President Gerald Francis. "The increased ridership during this initiative demonstrates the importance of having convenient and reliable transit options in the communities served by the Fairmount Line, and we appreciate the collaboration at all levels to help provide more Fairmount Line residents with an opportunity to experience the commuter rail."

 

"The Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition appreciates Congressman Capuano's bold step of sponsoring free rides to demonstrate the need for strong service on the Fairmount/Indigo Line," said the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition. "The FITC is excited about how our community mobilized to support bringing about a dramatic increase in ridership during the two weeks of sponsored free rides. We look forward to continuing to work with our elected officials, the City, and MassDOT/MBTA to improve service and make the Fairmount Line the best possible."

 

Ridership data was collected via conductors performing manual counts for an entire weekday once during the week prior to program, twice during the program, and once after the program had ended (all counts were conducted on Wednesdays for consistency). The Keolis passenger assistance team also counted passengers getting on and off Fairmount Line trains at South Station in order to support the conductors' manual counts.

 

The MBTA is pleased to have had the opportunity to further introduce and promote the Fairmount Line to the corridor's neighboring communities and looks forward to collaborations with its stakeholders and partners to grow ridership on the line.

 

 






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