Transportation

Public Transportation in Acton 

Acton provides free transportation within town and further out, all ages, all incomes - full overview here:

• Cross-Acton Transit (the CAT)  is a free bus with a fixed route and schedule within the town Acton.  It is available to all residents.  Children can ride with an adult, and as of age 12 can ride alone with parent/guardian permission slip.  The Cross-Acton Transit (CAT) operates Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.   The bus stops at residential and business centers along major corridors, including the South Acton MBTA station, K-Mart Plaza (near AB Schools), Acton Plaza (Roche Brothers), Trader Joe's (new!), Nagog Woods, Avalon Drive and Great Road Condos,  Town Hall and the Memorial Library.  The route connects with the new Boxborough MART bus at the Acton Plaza and South Acton MBTA station stops. To view the CAT schedule, click here.   

• Crosstown Connect service is a free bus  traveling to Market Basket in Littleton and the Acton Food Pantry.  Rides to Market Basket are available on the first and third Thursday or Friday (depending on when the van is available)  of each month, while Food Pantry service is offered on Wednesdays, with the exception of the fourth Wednesday of each month when the Pantry is closed.         Find the schedule here.   

• An on-demand van (all wheelchair accessible) (Minuteman Dial-a-Ride and COA van) can bring you from your home/office/.. in Acton to anywhere in Acton, Boxborough, Littleton, Maynard and medical facilities in Concord as well as other select locations.  Operates Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM.  Priority will be given to medical appointments.  If capacity is available, it can also be used for work, shopping, social and recreational reasons.    Reservations are made on a first-come first-served basis and must be made minimum 24 hours in advance.  You can book  up to 1 month in advance.  Call 978-844-6809 (call Monday to Friday 8 a.m. and 4 p.m) or book online here.   Children under the age of 12 can ride with an adult, and children 12 to 18 may ride alone with their parent’s permission.  

• The Acton Council on Aging has more transportation options for Acton seniors - see https://actoncoa.com/138/Transportation 

Boxborough MART Bus

Boxborough has partnered with Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) to establish a new local fixed bus route along Massachusetts Ave (Route 111). Rides are $1 per person, one way.  The MART bus operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m, with Thursdays pick up and drop off at the food pantry. Running from just outside 495  in Boxborough into Acton's Kelly's Corner district,  the route connects with the Acton CAT bus at the Acton Plaza (Roche Bros) and South Acton MBTA station stops. Contact Wendy Trinks or Alec Wade with questions at 978-264-1700. To view the Boxborough MART schedule, click here.

Boxborough seniors can use the COA Van for local transportation.

Acton Rides - Free Taxi Service

The town of Acton provides a free taxi service for eligible residents (grant funded, criteria/restrictions/availability might change).   Find all information here (scroll down).  

Eligible residents: age 50+ or having financial need or having a disability that limits driving or military.  Must apply upfront here.

Limited to 4 one-way rides per month (so going to an appointment and back counts as 2 rides), start or end in Acton, max 20 miles or to/from Boston hospitals

MBTA Train

The South Acton Commuter Rail Station - MBTA  is on the Fitchburg railway line

• • The Littleton Commuter Rail Station is also on the same line - it has some commuter shuttles to Littleton and Westford

  • Children till age 11 ride for free, as well as some others, more info here.

  • Seniors age 65+ are eligible for reduced fares with a Senior CharlieCard

  • Riders with a disability and Medicare cardholders  may be eligible for reduced fares with a Transportation Access Pass (TAP)

  • NEW: Riders  age 18 – 64 who are enrolled in an approved state assistance program may be eligible for the Income-Eligible Reduced Fares Card .

  • See full MBTA map here