波士顿市宣布开通五条免费Link Bus公交线 覆盖五个社区
波士顿市长吴弭（Michelle Wu）10月宣布，波士顿市将开通五条免费公开的Link Bus公交线，扩大社区交通选择，加强社区与MBTA（马萨诸塞湾交通局）、就业岗位、学校、医疗机构、本地商户等重要目的地的连接。
五条新线与扩线服务将覆盖马塔潘（Mattapan）、罗克斯伯里（Roxbury）、奥尔斯顿-布莱顿（Allston-Brighton）、查尔斯顿与下米斯蒂克（Charlestown and the Lower Mystic）、南波士顿滨水区（South Boston Waterfront），沿固定路线在住宅社区与交通枢纽之间提供“最后一公里”接驳，乘客免费乘坐。
吴弭说：“波士顿是一座充满机会的城市，但每个家庭都必须有更可靠、更负担得起的交通，才能过上最完整的生活、壮大我们的社区。Link Bus项目将把免费交通服务直接送进我们的社区，加强与MBTA的连接，让上班、上学、看病、去本地商户都更方便。”
该项目获联邦公路管理局（Federal Highway Administration）“拥堵缓解项目”（Congestion Relief Program）约1,150万美元资助，经马萨诸塞州交通部管理。这笔资金是更大的2,160万美元LINKUP Greater Boston拨款的一部分，另有约1,000万美元用于扩大Bluebikes共享单车规模并支持电动单车普及。
联邦拨款将支持免费接驳服务三年的运营。期间市府将评估客流量、深入了解需求，并研究服务的长期可持续方案。这也是吴弭政府推进免费公交承诺的延续。
来源：波士顿市政府官网。
Boston to Launch Five Free Link Bus Routes Across Five Neighborhoods
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced in October that the City of Boston will launch five free, publicly accessible Link Bus routes to expand neighborhood transportation options and strengthen connections to the MBTA, jobs, schools, healthcare, local businesses and other essential destinations.
The new and expanded services will operate in Mattapan, Roxbury, Allston-Brighton, Charlestown and the Lower Mystic, and the South Boston Waterfront, providing last-mile service along established routes between residential neighborhoods and transit stops at no cost for users.
"Boston is a city of incredible opportunities, but residents must have more reliable and affordable transportation for every family to build their fullest lives and strengthen our community," said Mayor Wu. "The Link Bus program will bring free transportation services directly into our neighborhoods, strengthen connections to the MBTA, and make it easier to get to work, school, appointments, and local businesses."
The Link Bus program is supported by approximately $11.5 million from the Federal Highway Administration's Congestion Relief Program, administered through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The funding is part of the broader $21.6 million LINKUP Greater Boston award, which also includes approximately $10 million to expand Bluebikes and support greater access to e-bikes.
The federal grant will support three years of operations for the free shuttle services. During that time, the City will evaluate ridership, better understand demand, and identify opportunities to support the services' long-term sustainability, continuing the Wu administration's push for fare-free transit.
Source: City of Boston official website.
图片来源：图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，4300streetcar 摄，CC BY 4.0 授权（MBTA公交车实景）
