Popular public transportation program, Newton in Motion (NewMo), is no longer available to students or the general public as of Sep. 30 due to a lack of sustainable funding.
“We have not given up on NewMo, and we are still considering other affordable transportation options that can be opened to the general public or more specifically, the high school population, such as Uber for teens,” said Josh Ostroff, director of transportation planning in Newton.
NewMo services were a convenient, and relatively environmentally friendly, carpool-style way for student transportation, but following a reduction in grant funding from the Boston Region Metropolitan Area Planning Organization (MPO) transportation services are now available exclusively to senior citizens, low-income residents, and those with disabilities.
“Unfortunately, continuing to provide rides for the general public is financially unsustainable,” added Ostrof.
Before its discontinuation, many students relied on NewMo as a transportation resource.
“I’m disappointed that students lost this convenient mode of transportation,” said sophomore Melanie Burke.
According to Ethan Lampointe, MPO planning staff member, MPO began funding NewMo three years ago. An expansion of the program’s services from seniors and people with disabilities to the general public was funded from last October to Saturday, Sept. 30. The withdrawal of this funding ultimately contributed to the shutdown of NewMo as a publicly accessible program.
“It is heartbreaking to hear testimonies from individuals who relied on NewMo to get around and are no longer able to do so,” added Ostroff.
All NewMo services will end next year with the withdrawal of MPO funding unless a new revenue source can be found, according to Ostroff.