[Massachusetts-NFB] FW: Upcoming Training Sessions for The RIDE app, Extended Service Hours & other Accessibility Updates from the MBTA

Wed Oct 8 01:50:20 UTC 2025

Good evening all I hope everyone is doing great, I am forwarding this email about upcoming zoom times I have already set up to attend the from the mobility center for the MBTA ride about going over the new app .

I am  going to attend the , 10/16/25,  10:00–11:00 AM – Registration

again I'm just forwarding this along if anyone else wants to attend any other session.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday evening talk to all of you soon.

Regards,

Stephen

From: Accessibility at the MBTA <accessibility at mbta.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 2:45 PM
To: SPYERARDI at gmail.com
Subject: Upcoming Training Sessions for The RIDE app, Extended Service Hours & other Accessibility Updates from the MBTA

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Dear Riders, we hope this email finds you well. Thank you for taking some time to read our October newsletter and for your support of accessible public transit.

Read on to learn more about: 

*	Upcoming Training Sessions for The RIDE App
*	Fare Checks
*	MBTA Extended Service Hours
*	October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
*	RTAG October General Meeting
*	White Cane Awareness Celebration

Learn How to Use The RIDE App!

  <https://mcusercontent.com/d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932/images/4f92f360-6676-9eb2-cb92-57a51895da8b.jpg> 

The new MBTA The RIDE app – available on iOS and Google Play app stores.

Join the MBTA Mobility Center for a training on using The RIDE app. This training will cover:

*	Downloading the app
*	Setting up favorite locations
*	Booking a trip
*	Managing scheduled trips
*	Adjusting notifications
*	Funding your RIDE account
*	And more!

Register for a training session
To learn more and register for an upcoming session, please use the links below:

Remote Sessions:

*	 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=5de3a83bda&e=7c617bdb8c> Thursday, 10/16/25,  10:00–11:00 AM – Registration
*	 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=49d2ea6b83&e=7c617bdb8c> Monday,  10/20/25,  1:00–2:00 PM -Registration
*	 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=53ca47c05a&e=7c617bdb8c> Friday, 10/24/25,  11:00 AM–12:00 PM -Registration
*	 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=a49877e342&e=7c617bdb8c> Wednesday, 11/12/25, 1:00–2:00 PM -Registration
*	 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=31ddf7d46d&e=7c617bdb8c> Wednesday, 11/19/25, 1:00–2:00 PM –Registration

For language translation or other accommodation requests,  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=dd14266a04&e=7c617bdb8c> please complete this form after registering. 

In-Person Session 

*	 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=c5cf996e51&e=7c617bdb8c> Friday, 10/31/25,  2:00–3:00 PM – Park Plaza – Conference Room 2 - Occupancy Limit 40-Registration
*	 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=bdf65c81eb&e=7c617bdb8c> Wednesday, 11/05/25, 1:00–2:00 PM Park Plaza – Conference Room 3 - Occupancy Limit 40 Persons Registration

More trainings, including in-person sessions, will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more details or reach out to the Mobility Center at 617-337-2727 to learn more.

 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=4f0818a144&e=7c617bdb8c> Read the full press release about The RIDE app launch.

MBTA Fare Checks

  <https://mcusercontent.com/d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932/images/305a401a-a781-3e7e-341d-51c2d53b6a3b.jpg> 

A Fare Engagement staff member standing near fare gates at a subway station

Beginning on September 8, 2025, the MBTA’s Fare Engagement department began conducting fare checks at subway stations and on board vehicles. Riders who don’t pay their fare will be issued a warning or fare citation.

Fare Engagement staff
You can recognize Fare Engagement staff by their blue polo shirts with the yellow Fare Engagement logo. They will be located at subway station fare gates and on board vehicles.
In addition to conducting fare checks, they're also available to: 

*	Help riders with fare vending machines
*	Answer questions about fare payment in stations and on board vehicles
*	Help riders with trip planning and accessible travel options

Fare check process
Since October 2024, representatives have been in stations educating riders about fare payment options and the upcoming fare check process.
Fare Engagement staff will be present at subway station fare gates and onboard vehicles to make sure riders pay their fare. For riders who communicate using ASL and/or need alternative modes of communication, representatives will use virtual on-demand interpreters and other tools.
Checks will go as follows: 

1.	In the event you don't pay your fare, they'll ask you to do so.
2.	If you choose not to pay your fare, staff will ask for your ID to record a  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=33512d8b05&e=7c617bdb8c> written warning without a fine or issue a citation with a fine. 
3.	If you choose not to present ID, staff will manually enter your information on their MBTA-issued device.
4.	After you’ve been issued a written warning or citation, you may continue your journey. 
5.	If you refuse to pay your fare or provide your information, you'll be asked to leave the station or vehicle.

Staff may also check that riders aren’t using someone else’s reduced fare card. Using someone else’s reduced fare benefits is grounds for a citation.
Representatives won't be present on every trip, but you can expect them on occasion as you travel.
 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=ebb44a6f03&e=7c617bdb8c> Watch this video to learn about fare checks in American Sign Language (ASL).
 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=b5920ad476&e=7c617bdb8c> Read more about fare checks. 

MBTA Service Expanded to Support Haunted Happenings in Salem
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Brick building in Salem, MA with a Jack-O'-Lantern planter and yellow flowers, surrounded by pumpkins.

The MBTA and Keolis will operate increased weekend train service to and from Salem during the month of October. Several extra trains will run on Saturdays and Sundays during peak times on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line. The increase in service will help accommodate visitors to Salem for Haunted Happenings events, and the schedule will be available on the MBTA website.

 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=a6e9babbbb&e=7c617bdb8c> Read the full Salem Haunted Happenings extended service press release.

MBTA Weekend Service Extended on the Fixed Route & The RIDE

As part of the of  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=0d929b1781&e=7c617bdb8c> Fall 2025 service changes, the MBTA announced that all subway lines and eight frequent bus routes are offering extended service on Fridays and Saturdays. Additionally, five of the MBTA’s most frequent bus routes (23, 28, 57, 111, and 116) with the highest number of nighttime riders are offering extended service every day of the week. Trip end times for these lines and routes will be about one hour later compared to prior service end times.

“Safe and reliable transportation is essential and the MBTA wants to do our part with ensuring that the public has access to mass transportation when they need it,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “We are not satisfied with simply restoring our system to what we once provided but pushing ourselves to continuously improve. Extended service is something that we have been working towards and I’m proud that the investments being made in the MBTA allows us to now provide later service on subway, bus, and ferries, giving the public the opportunity to choose transit. We could not have done this without the hard work of the MBTA workforce and the commitment to transportation by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature.” 

The RIDE customers will also benefit from extended service.

 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=583254b489&e=7c617bdb8c> Read the full list of Fall 2025 service changes. Check  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=f53cacd24e&e=7c617bdb8c> mbta.com/schedules for schedules and maps on all routes.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 
  <https://mcusercontent.com/d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932/images/a9f5d10c-5e2c-3934-ea62-3124a5b1ba35.png> 

2025 NDEAM poster shows images of people with disabilities and fireworks with the text, “Celebrating Value and Talent, National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) encourages businesses and organizations across the country to participate. Held annually, NDEAM raises awareness about disability employment topics and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. Although national in scope, NDEAM’s true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level. Employers of all sizes and in all industries can take part.

The  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=aa8a298bff&e=7c617bdb8c> theme for the 80th anniversary of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month this year is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” As we approach America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, NDEAM 2025 will honor the historic and ongoing contributions of American workers with disabilities to our nation’s workforce and economy. The ODEP also offers  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=d281fb31d5&e=7c617bdb8c> year-round employer strategies for advancing disability employment to ensure that highlighting the importance of including disability in all your organization's endeavors doesn’t end in October.

Did you know that more than half of the employees in the MBTA’s Department of System-Wide Accessibility identify as having a disability? Employees with disabilities contribute across the entire MBTA and MassDOT, bringing essential lived experience to decisions that shape accessibility for aging adults and people with disabilities. Accessibility should always include those it impacts most - nothing about us without us!

Visit the  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=8b2123e998&e=7c617bdb8c> NDEAM website for more information, including the history of the NDEAM and more ways to get involved.

RTAG October General Meeting

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Date:  Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 5:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Location: Join us virtually via Zoom
 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=a0c9a71f8e&e=7c617bdb8c> Register in advance for the RTAG virtual meeting.

The Riders' Transportation Access Group (RTAG) is a customer organization with a mission to advise the MBTA on transportation issues that affect people with disabilities and aging adults. Please join us for our upcoming general meeting.

All RTAG meetings are accessible to people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency. Real-time captioning (CART) and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter will be provided for this meeting. Other accessibility accommodations and language services will be provided free of charge upon request, as available.

To request reasonable accommodation or language services, please email  <mailto:rtagboston at bostoncil.org> rtagboston at bostoncil.org or call Kat at 978-893-8100 at least two weeks before the meeting.

 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=19f1256a5c&e=7c617bdb8c> Sign up for the RTAG newsletter. 

2025 White Cane Awareness Day Celebration

  <https://mcusercontent.com/d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932/images/1581af2c-7097-93d9-6e06-6b9d7d39c5f9.jpg> 

Join the  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=766247db72&e=7c617bdb8c> Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) to celebrate the independence of the white cane and help raise awareness of the White Cane Law in Massachusetts which requires drivers to identify and yield to pedestrians using a white cane or dog guide at street crossings.

Date: Friday October 24, 2025, from 10:30 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Location: Massachusetts State House - Great Hall, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108

Visit the MCB website to  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=bd11a10ae8&e=7c617bdb8c> register for the event and  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=7fca24b28b&e=7c617bdb8c> learn more about the independence, safety, and freedom the white cane provides.

Safe & Accessible Travels,
The Department of System-Wide Accessibility 

 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=ab3acfdd01&e=7c617bdb8c> Subscribe 

Find Out how the MBTA Mobility Center can Help You

The Mobility Center,  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=2af7131e26&e=7c617bdb8c> located in Boston at 1000 Massachusetts Ave, is available to anyone looking to explore accessible transit options and other community transport resources. Give us a call at  <tel:%20617-337-2727> 617-337-2727. 

Send Us Your Feedback 

We want to hear from you! To share your concerns, questions, or positive experiences with us, please visit  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=c88da50cbe&e=7c617bdb8c> mbta.com/customer-support or call Customer Service at 617-222-3200 (TTY: 617-222-5146).

MBTA.com/alerts has information about current, ongoing, and future service disruptions. 

Learn More about Accessibility at the MBTA

We have numerous efforts underway to improve accessibility at the MBTA. Visit  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=04b2e92031&e=7c617bdb8c> mbta.com/accessibility to learn more.

Get Involved with the Riders’ Transportation Access Group

The Riders’ Transportation Access Group (RTAG) is a customer organization that advises the MBTA on issues of transportation and accessibility. Membership is open to the general public. To learn more, click the link below or attend an upcoming RTAG meeting.

 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=d4613b7a69&e=7c617bdb8c> Learn about RTAG

Check Service Alerts

 <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=6f48fdd19b&e=7c617bdb8c> MBTA.com/alerts has information about current, ongoing and future service disruptions including  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=46c8b6ee38&e=7c617bdb8c> bus stop closures and detours. 

Don't want to receive this email?  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=5929ae2e24&t=b&e=7c617bdb8c&c=ab61964905> Unsubscribe from this list. 

  <https://mbta.us19.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=d69747d5fc9f30fa7321ea932&id=ab61964905&e=7c617bdb8c> 

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