Riding the bus on Martha’s Vineyard will be free of charge from Nov. 25 through Dec. 31, according to an announcement Friday from the Vineyard Transportation Authority.
Paratransit services will also be free during the same period.
A state grant, shared by all 15 regional transportation authorities in Massachusetts, is funding the free-ride program — dubbed Try Transit Holiday 2022 — to encourage more people to take local buses.
“Riders can simply hop on and ride without purchasing and presenting fare,” VTA administrator Angela Gompert said in the announcement, which encourages passengers to spend the money at local businesses instead.
Along with riding for free, bus passengers don’t have to worry about parking for activities and shopping, Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce executive director Carolina Cooney said in the announcement, noting that many special events are coming up over the holiday season.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation worked with the 15 regional authorities to distribute funding awarded in the state budget for the Try Transit program, according to a statement in the announcement by MassDOT rail and transit administrator Meredith Slesinger.
