As of October 25,
NewMo – the City of Newton’s microtransit – now allows any rider age 13 and older to travel anywhere in Newton. When NewMo
launched in 2019, it replaced the senior taxi program with on-demand service and was open only to older adults, although the City hoped to eventually expand access to commuters and other groups. This past July, Newton began a soft rollout, opening NewMo to any rider age 13 and older who was connecting to or from a transit stop or employment center. Once the City was confident they could meet demand, they allowed all riders to travel anywhere within Newton.
NewMo is a shared ride service. The vehicles are hybrid sedans – though Newton hopes to shift to electric vehicles in the future – and the fleet includes two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Older adults can access additional perks, such as pre-booking for medical appointments, service on weekend mornings, travel to select destinations outside of Newton, and door-to-door rides (younger riders have to walk to the nearest corner). Rides generally cost $2, but to make the service accessible to low-income riders, Newton offers a 50 cent fare for anyone receiving public assistance, such as MassHealth, SNAP, or other benefits. Nicole Freedman, Director of Transportation Planning in Newton, reports that many residents have applied for the low-income rate, and she has also seen students using the system: “We are seeing very strong ridership among students, commuters, and our low-income community, as we had hoped,” she notes.
NewMo is funded through multiple grants, including the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's Community Connections grant program, MassDOT's Workforce Transportation program, and MassDOT's Community Transit Grant Program, as well as through City funding.
