Overview
The MBTA’s Mobility Center, located in Boston at 1000 Massachusetts Ave, is available to older adults and anyone looking to explore accessible transit options and other community transport resources. The Center offers services in multiple languages, at no cost to customers.
Mobility Center Services
Based on an individual’s needs, the Mobility Center staff are ready to help with a variety of tasks, including:
- Free group or one-on-one travel training
- Planning accessible trips on a fixed route or with our paratransit service, The RIDE
- Scheduling a RIDE eligibility appointment
- Applying for reduced fares through the MBTA’s Blind Access CharlieCard, Senior CharlieCard, or Transportation Access Pass (TAP) CharlieCard programs
- Helping learn to use a smart phone or computer to check on elevator outages
- Helping learn to request a rideshare through Lyft or Uber with The RIDE Flex program
- Connecting individuals to additional community transportation options
Objective
The main objective of the Mobility Center is to help ensure older adults and others have the information, tools, and supports they desire to access transportation with confidence – whether it be MBTA services such as the bus or the RIDE, or other local options provided by community partners.
Accomplishments
Over the last two years, the Mobility Center has conducted numerous trainings and outreach events throughout the MBTA service area. Although, these events are open to individuals of all ages, data suggests nearly a quarter of all participants were older adults.
Group and Individual Trainings (all ages) provided by Mobility Center between 7/1/24 – 7/1/26:
| Training | Attendance |
|---|---|
| On-site group trainings | 120 |
| Transit 101 (occurs at MBTA) | 31 |
| Agency staff training | 29 |
| Individual Travel Training | 134 |
In addition, the Mobility Center has provided over 1700 individuals with hands-on support completing reduced-fair applications. Over the last year, there was a 20% increase in senior card applications. Support provided by the Mobility Center was an invaluable resource for those looking to benefit from discounted fares.
Reflection
The Mobility Center and its services continue to evolve and grow. Over the last two years, there has been a clear desire from older adults and others to learn more about accessibility at the MBTA and other transportation options.
Specific to older adults, we have seen good success with a neighborhood-based outreach model, with events clustered around:
- Councils on Aging
- Assisted or Independent Living Residences
- Housing Authority Buildings
- Local Libraries
- Community Centers
This suggests older adults engage most when programming is brought directly to familiar, trusted community spaces. We will be looking to expand programming in these trusted spaces going forward.
ReiMAgine Aging 2030 Goal Alignment
- Goal 2: People & Communities
Contact and Resources
For more information visit the MBTA Mobility Center or contact Jennifer Ross, Deputy Director of Customer Engagement & Coordinated Mobility, at JRoss2@mbta.com.