Community Transportation News: August 2026

Massachusetts Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 08/12/2026 01:05 PM EDT

Community Transportation News

August 2026

If you have comments or questions about community transportation in Massachusetts, please reach out to us anytime at massmobility@dot.state.ma.us. Please do not reply to this newsletter, as your email will bounce.

Welcome to the August issue of Community Transportation News!

MassDOT Rail and Transit is looking forward to the FY 27 Community Transit Grant Program, Operating and Mobility Management grant cycle which will open on September 1. These grants provide funding to operate transportation or promote mobility management to expand mobility for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income people. There are several pre-application trainings available that will include more information on the grant process and include time to ask questions about the application cycle. Pre-applicaiton training will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 1:00-2:30pm and Thursday, September 3, 10:30am-12:00pm. The same material will be covered both days. To sign-up, please fill out this form with your date of choice.

I am also looking forward to the fall conference season! We will be attending or presenting at the following conferences: the 2026 Independent Living Conference in September, and the Massachusetts Councils on Aging 2026 Fall Conference and the Arc of Massachusetts Conference, Transitions Journies in October. Also, see information below on the MassDOT Moving Together Conference.

If you are attending any of these, please say hello!

Maria Foster, Statewide Mobility Lead

In this issue

Moving Together Conference
MBTA announces new fare discounts
National RTAP updated resources
Upcoming Webinars
Funding Opportunity

Moving Together Conference

MassDOT has announced early registration for the Moving Together Conference, October 27 2026, that brings together transportation leaders and individuals involved in planning, public health, bicyclist and pedestrian safety, transit, advocacy, elected office, law enforcement and education. Early registration ends August 28, 2026.

MBTA announces new fare discounts

The MBTA has announced new fare discounts for Fall 2026. In addition to unlimited two-hour transfer windows and the elimination of express bus fares, Massachusetts residents age 75 years or older who do not have a driver’s license are now eligible for free travel across the MBTA bus, subway, and ferry services. In partnership with the RMV, applicants will be able to apply for the free service online.

National RTAP Resources

National RTAP has updated the Older Adults Topic Guide with new resources including CCAM-TAC's Older Adults web page and Vermont Agency of Transportation's Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities (O&D) Transportation Program web page. Also, the Rural Transit Day Zoom Chat on rural transit successes and challenges which took place on July 16th has been posted. Access the recording and the Q&A summary.

Upcoming Webinars

Building on the success of the Tech & Data Hub at the MassDOT Transportation Innovation Conference, this MassDOT Innovations webinar on August 26th at 2:00pm will highlight innovative technologies, data-driven solutions, and interactive demonstrations shaping the future of transportation. The webinar will include: Using Accessibility & Vulnerability Analysis which will explore tools that evaluate transportation vulnerability, destination access, and land use to support smarter planning.

On September 3, 12-1:30pm, Easter Seals is offering a 90-minute webinar on Passenger-Centered Public Transportation that will explore practical strategies for providing service to reflect the needs, preferences, and experiences of riders of fixed route and paratransit service. Participants will use a customer focused approach to service planning with a special emphasis on supporting people with disabilities, older adults, and other riders who rely on transit services. The registration fee is $50.

Funding Opportunity

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is accepting applications for the Catalyst Fund to provide one-time non-renewable grants up to $7,500. The purpose of the grant is to help community-based organizations strengthen their capacity to expand access to health and health care in Massachusetts. The Catalyst Fund is intended to help organizations pay for activities that strengthen their infrastructure, build capacity, or plan for the future. There are four deadlines throughout the year. The next deadline is September 8, 2026.

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If this information is needed in another language, please contact the MassDOT Title VI Specialist at 857-368-8580.

Caso esta informação seja necessária em outro idioma, favor contar o Especialista em Título VI do MassDOT pelo telefone 857-368-8580.

Si necesita esta información en otro idioma, por favor contacte al especialista de MassDOT del Título VI al 857-368-8580.

如果需要使用其它语言了解信息，请联系马萨诸塞州交通部（MassDOT）《民权法案》第六章专员，电话857-368-8580。

如果需要使用其它語言了解信息，請聯繫馬薩諸塞州交通部（MassDOT）《民權法案》第六章專員，電話857-368-8580。

Если Вам необходима данная информация на любом другом языке, пожалуйста, свяжитесь со cпециалистом по Титулу VI Департамента Транспорта штата Массачусетс (MassDOT) по тел: 857-368-8580.

Si yon moun vle genyen enfòmasyon sa yo nan yon lòt lang, tanpri kontakte Espesyalis MassDOT Title VI la nan nimewo 857-368-8580.

Nếu quý vị cần thông tin này bằng tiếng khác, vui lòng liên hệ Chuyên viên Luật VI của MassDOT theo số điện thoại 857-368-8580.

Si vous avez besoin d'obtenir une copie de la présente dans une autre langue, veuillez contacter le spécialiste du Titre VI de MassDOT en composant le 857-368-8580.

Se ha bisogno di ricevere queste informazioni in un’altra lingua si prega di contattare lo Specialista MassDOT del Titolo VI al numero 857-368-8580.

ប្រសិនបើលោក-អ្នកត្រូវការបកប្រែព័ត៌មាននេះ សូមទាក់ទកអ្នកឯកទេសលើជំពូកទី6 របស់MassDot តាមរយៈលេខទូរស័ព្ទ 857-368-8580

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