Frequently Asked Questions about Accessibility on the T
Established in 2007, the Department of System-Wide Accessibility works with all other MBTA departments to execute the T’s mission of becoming the global benchmark for accessible public transportation. Click on the links below to learn about the accessibility services offered on our fixed-route system, as well as exciting developments underway to further expand access to all of our customers.
The MBTA’s Office for Transportation Access (OTA) oversees programs and services for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. The OTA manages the MBTA’s paratransit program, The RIDE; the Call-A-Lift Bus Program; the Senior and Access Pass Program. The office addresses customer concerns regarding station, venicle and program access for the MBTA’s fixed route services: Bus subway, commuter rail, light rail (Green Line) and commuter boat. In addition, OTA staff provides travel information for customers who require an accessible route to get to their destination. The MBTA’s Office for Transportation Access in downtown Boston. Adjacent to the Red and Orange Lines at Downtown Crossing Station.
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5pm.
Call: 617-222-5123 (Voice) or 617-722-5415 (TTY), Toll Free: 800-533-6282 (In MA).
Senior and Transportation Access Pass Program (TAP)
Reduced passes are for eligible persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Call 617-222-3200 or 617-222-5854 (TTY).
THE RIDE paratransit service provides door-to door, shared-ride transportation to eligible people who cannot use fixed-route transit (bus, subway, trolley) all or some of the time because of a physical, cognitive or mental disability. THE RIDE is operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the ADA, paratransit functions as a ‘safety net’ for people whose disabilities prevent them from using public transit. It is not intended to be a comprehensive system of transportation that meets all the needs of persons with disabilities, and it is distinct from medical or human services transportation. You will travel with other customers going in the same general direction.
Accessible vehicles are used to serve persons with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs and scooters. THE RIDE operates 365 days a year generally from 5 AM – 1 AM in sixty (60) cities and towns. For RIDE trips with origin and destination within 3/4 mile of fixed-route service that operates outside of these hours, or in other municipalities within 3/4 miles of MBTA bus service, extended RIDE service is available.The RIDE now operates in 62 cities and towns. Fares as of July 1, 2016. The local one-way ADA fare for each registered passenger or guest when booking 1-7 days in advance is $3.15.
One-way fares for premium non-ADA trips for each registered passenger or guest is $5.25. This applies when the trip origin and/or destination is greater than 3/4 miles from MBTA bus or subway service and outside of the core areas, or for same-day trip requests or changes, except for trip time negotiation. Reservations will confirm the fare when you schedule a trip.
A Personal Care Assistant (PCA) accompanying a registered user is not charged a fare. One other person may travel as a guest. Additional guests are allowed if space is available. Any guest is charged the applicable fare as noted above. PCAs and guests must travel to and from the same destination at the same time as the registered user. Allow twenty one days to process application upon receipt. Call 617-222-5123 or 800-533-6282; TTY 617-222-5415 for information on towns and to receive an application.
The MBTA offers a variety of free travel instruction services to help seniors and people with disabilities travel independently on the bus, train, and Commuter Rail. All services are available in person or digitally (via Zoom) upon request.
The MBTA offers a variety of access features to make your journey on the subway or trolley easier than ever.
The RIDE serves these cities and towns:
Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Beverly, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Everett, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Lexington, Lincoln, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Marblehead, Medfield, Medford, Melrose, Middleton, Milton, Nahant, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Peabody, Quincy, Randolph, Reading, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Sharon, Sharon, Somerville, Stoneham, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wenham, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn.
Portions of Abington, Avon, Billerica, Brockton, Stoughton, and Wellesley are also served.
Eligibility for out of area visitors
Visitors to the Boston area who wish to use THE RIDE should call THE RIDE Eligibility Center at 617-337-2727 (voice/relay) or theride@mbta.com. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows you to travel as a visitor for 21 days in a 12-month period. Please provide a copy of your ADA Paratransit Certificate of Eligibility from your home transit agency, along with your contact information while in the area. Any visitor who does not have certification of ADA paratransit eligibility from their home agency, or if they are in an area without paratransit services or ADA, (i.e. international visitors), THE RIDE Eligibility Center will request additional information such as; the their home place of residence, address where they will be staying along with contact information while in the area, mobility device used, letter from their licensed health care provider, etc.
Reduced Fares for Customers with Disabilities Charlie Card Application (pdf)
Persons with disabilities living in Massachusetts may qualify for a Transportation Access Pass (TAP) CharlieCard. The CharlieCard entitles you to reduced fares on all MBTA services including buses, trains, rapid transit, trackless trolleys, commuter rail and commuter boats. You may obtain an application by mail or in person at the Senior and Access Pass Office located at 10 Boylston Place. If you are a Veteran with a disability rating at or above 70%, have a Medicare Card, or are registered for The RIDE program, you are automatically eligible. (Special instructions are available with the application.) If you have a valid Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Travel Identification Card, you may present the Identification Card to the fare collector and travel free of charge. Call 617-222-3200 for further information. TTY users call 617-222-5854.
MBTA Elevator Update Line
The Elevator Line provides information on the status of elevators at all MBTA stations. The Elevator Update Line telephone number is 617-222-2828 or 800-392-6100. Questions on elevator service can be directed to the MBTA Office for Transportation Access at 617-222-3200 (Voice, Relay).
Escalator and Elevator Alerts – Updates on escalator and elevator closures.
Fitchburg Line – Northside (To/from North Station)
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Wachusett, Fitchburg, North Leominister, Littleton, South Acton, West Concord, Brandeis/Roberts, Waltham Porter Square, and North Station.
Lowell Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Lowell, North Billerica, Anderson.Woburn, Wedsgemere, and North Station.
Haverhill Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Haverhill, Bradford, Lawrence, Andover, Ballardvale, Reading, Melrose Higholands, Malden Center, and North Station.
Newburyport/Rockport Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Rockport, Gloucester, West Gloucester, Manchester, Beverly Farms, Monserrat, Beverly, Salem, Swampscott, Lynn, Newburyport, Rowley, Ipswich, Hamilton/Wenham, North Beverly and North Station.
Framingham/Worcester Line – Southside (To/from South Station)
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Worcester, Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Ashland, Framingham, West Natick, Yawkey, Back Bay, and South Station.
Needham Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Needham Heights, Needham Center, Needham Junction, Hersey, West Roxbury, Highland, Bellevue, Roslindale Village, Forest Hills, Ruggles, Back Bay, and South Station.
Franklin Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Forge Park, Norfolk, Norwood Central, Norwood Depot, Dedham Corp. Center, Readville, Ruggles, Back Bay and South Station. Also, Foxboro Station, open for special events only, is wheelchair accessible.
Providence/Stoughton Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible:Wickford Junction, T. F. Green Airport, Providence, South Attleboro, Attleboro, Mansfield, Stoughton, Canton Center, Canton Junction, Route 128, Hyde Park, Ruggles, Back Bay and South Station. Also, Foxboro Station, open for special events only is wheelchair accessible.
Fairmount Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Readville, Fairmount, Talbot Ave, Uphams Corner, Newmarket, and South Station.
Kingston/Plymouth Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Kingston/Route#3, Plymouth, Halifax, Hanson, Whitman, Abington, South Weymouth, Braintree, JFK/UMASS and South Station.
Middleborough/Lakeville Line
The following stations are wheelchair accessible: Middleborough/Lakeville, Bridgewater, Campello, Brockton, Montello, Holbrook/Randolph, Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMASS and South Station.
Orange Line
The following Orange Line Stations are wheelchair accessible: Roxbury Crossing, Jackson Square, Stonybrook, Green St., Forest Hills, Ruggles, Mass Ave., Back Bay, NE Medical Center, Downtown Crossing, State, Sullivan Square, Wellington, Haymarket and Oak Grove. Also Chinatown Station is wheelchair accessible on the northside only, towards Oak Grove. If you are traveling southbound towards Forest Hills and want to get off at Chinatown, go to New England Medical Center; cross the platform and board a northbound, Oak Grove train; go one stop back to Chinatown Station; exit station on north side.
Blue Line
The following Blue Line Stations are wheelchair accessible: Wonderland, Revere Beach, Beachmont, Suffolk Downs, Orient Heights and Wood Island. State Street Station is accessible on the outbound/to Wonderland side only. If you are traveling inbound towards Bowdoin and want to exit at State Street, get off at Government Center; cross the platform; board an outbound train towards Wonderland; go one stop back to State Street; exit station on north side.
Red Line
All stations are wheelchair accessible: Alewife, Davis, Porter, Harvard, Central, Kendall/MIT, Park, Downtown Crossing, South Station, Broadway, Andrew, JFK/UMAss, Ashmont, North Quincy, Quincy Center, Quincy Adams, Braintree.
Green Line
Currently, very limited wheelchair access is available on the Green Line, the oldest light rail system in the country, however, construction is planned over the next few years at 27 Green Line stations.
The following Green Line stations are wheelchair accessible:
“E” line: Heath ST/VA Hospital, Museum of Fine Arts, Park ST, Haymarket, North Station and Lechmere.
“D” Line: Riverside, Newton Centre, Reservoir, Brookline Village, Fenway, Park ST, Haymarket, North Station and Lechmere.
“C” Line: Cleveland Circle, Coolidge Corner, St. Marys St and Park ST.
“B”Line: Boston College, BU Central and Park ST.
Call the MBTA’s Office for Transportation Access at (617) 222-1542 or (617) 222-5854 (TTY) for updated information on Green Line Access.
For Cities Other Than Metropolitan Boston
Find your local Transit Authority: List of Regional Transportation Authorities
MBTA Subway Access Guide
The MBTA offers a variety of access features to make your journey on the subway or trolley easier than ever.
Beginner’s Guide to the Subway
Last Updated: 8/29/2022
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________Disclaimer: INDEX is pleased to provide you this information. Please note, this information is not comprehensive, nor is it intended to take the place of professional advice. We encourage you to check other resources of such information. No endorsement by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, DisabilityInfo.org, INDEX, or affiliates, should be inferred. We reserve the right to remove, to modify, or to add any information at any time, for any reason, and without notice.
