MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Riders in Martin County can now hop on the bus for free.

The county’s public transit system, MARTY, is officially fare-free. County leaders say the goal is to make public transportation more accessible and help people get where they need to go without worrying about the cost.

Commissioners voted to drop the $1.50 fare November 4th.

“It’s pretty good, everybody’s excited about it,” said Greg Morford, a MARTY rider who takes the bus every day.

Another rider, Bobby, who often loads his bike on the front rack, says he relies on MARTY to get around without a car.

“Usually every day, it’s very reliable,” Bobby said.

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Now their trip doesn’t cost a dime. County officials hope the new fare-free system will make transportation easier and reduce traffic by encouraging more people to use public transit.

“Personal vehicles are very expensive. Traffic congestion is a hassle. Dump the pump. Get on the MARTY. Give it a try,” said Ash Beecher, Martin County’s Transit Administrator.

Beecher says the MARTY system stretches from the St. Lucie County line to Hobe Sound, with 67 stops, 14 full-size buses, and five paratransit vehicles serving riders across the county.

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in ridership over the years while the fares were in place,” Beecher said. “We can only imagine what’s next with this new fare-free system.”

The program is funded through a state transportation grant tied to ridership meaning the more people who ride, the more funding the county can receive from the state to keep it going.

Riders can track buses in real time using the MARTY Transit app or by scanning the QR code posted at bus stops to see how far away the next one is.

“I grew up utilizing public transportation. I know the importance of it,” Beecher said.

MARTY is expected to remain fare-free for the foreseeable future, and county officials hope the new system will keep more people moving across Martin County — without the cost.

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