SPRINGFIELD — Free fares will continue on Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses and the state’s other regional transit agencies under the $63.4 billion state budget Gov. Maura T. Healey signed earlier this week.
The new budget includes $40 million for free fares at all 15 regional transit agencies, according to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
In past years, PVTA has received about $7 million a year from the state to subsidize free fares.
Across the state, free fare programs have brought ridership back to pre-pandemic levels.
Covering Hampden and Hampshire counties, PVTA sees more than 9 million passenger trips a year, according to its annual reports.
