On February 1, 2017, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) introduced the MBTA Youth Pass Program. This program provides affordable access to public transportation for low-income youth and young adults.
To be eligible for the Youth Pass, the client must:
be 12-18 years of age and not enrolled in middle school or high school (students in school are eligible for the Student Pass)
be 18-25 years of age and enrolled in one of MBTA’s accepted GED/HiSET or job training programs, or be eligible for a state/federal income-based program such as SNAP, TAFDC, EAEDC, WIC, MassHealth, public housing, etc., and
live in a participating city or town - currently in:
Arlington
Beverly
Boston (includes Allston, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury)
Brookline
Cambridge
Chelsea
Danvers
Essex
Everett
Gloucester
Hamilton
Ipswich
Lexington
Lynn
Lynnfield
Malden
Manchester by-the-Sea
Marblehead
Medford
Middleton
Nahant
Peabody
Quincy
Revere
Rockport
Salem
Saugus
Somerville
Swampscott
Topsfield
Watertown, and
Wenham,
The Youth Pass provides the cardholder with these options:
Reduced bus and subwat fares; that include $30 monthly LinkPasses
Half-price tickets for all Commuter Rail zones on board, at ticket windows,m and viz the mTicket app.
Important |
Purchase of half-price tickets for all Commuter Rail zones is available at this time. |
Youth Pass cards can be updated at any MBTA fare vending machine or retail sales terminal. Cardholders’ photos will be displayed on their Youth Pass card.
Clients can apply for MBTA’s Youth Pass Program by enrolling through one of the participating city partners. Annual enrollment is required, and all Youth Pass cards expire on November 1st of every year. The list of city partners and information on the enrollment process can be located on MBTA’s website: www.mbta.com/youthpass. Eligibility determination and Youth Pass card distribution is regulated by each participating city partner.
TAFDC clients with an active EDP and an active ESP activity who have a Youth Pass are eligible for a transportation payment of $80. However, TAFDC clients participating only in community service are not eligible for a transportation payment.
Note |
Youth Pass riders should always keep their Youth Pass CharlieCard with them when they ride the T to present as proof of program membership. |
Last Update: April 15, 2021