WORCESTER, Mass. - There are more calls in Worcester for the continuation of fare free services for WRTA bus riders.

The Zero Fare Coalition met Friday with political and business leaders in the city at an event hosted by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. The WRTA has been offering fare free services since March of 2020 and last year extended the service through June of 2023.

Supporters for the free fares said that the program has benefited the WRTA and would like to see it continue.

"Through the pandemic, the Worcester Regional Transit Authority was one of the top regional transit authorities in ridership and it's hard not to escape the fact that it's due to fare free service,” said Paul Matthews, executive director and CEO of The Research Bureau. “So between its service levels and the fare free service, it's been at the top of the list compared to peers across the state."

"We really want to make sure that folks know how important it is and how big it is for just, not just our residents but our businesses,” said Alex Guardiola, VP of government affairs and public policy for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We have to get our folks to work, we got to get our folks to appointments, and a very robust WRTA system would be a benefit for the city."

WRTA administrator Dennis Lipka said last year that ridership levels had returned to pre-pandemic levels.