Score Summer Savings on the Commuter Rail
Tap into discounted fares this June, July, and August on the MBTA Commuter Rail with your Jawnt Pass—on top of Harvard’s 60% transit subsidy.
Massachusetts is buzzing this summer, with major events including the World Cup, MA250, Tall Ships, and the MBTA is making it easier and cheaper to leave your car at home. The MBTA has announced a 50% discount on all Commuter Rail monthly passes this June, July and August.
Stack your savings. Benefits-eligible employees can access even more savings on the MBTA Commuter Rail this summer with their Jawnt Pass (60% Harvard subsidy).
Read on to learn how to make the most of this summer discount with your new commuter benefit.
Ride the T cheaper this summer
Give public transit a try
If you've been thinking about trying public transit, this summer is the perfect time to make the switch to a simpler, more sustainable commute, and enjoy significant cost savings while you're at it.
Why try transit this summer?
💰 Save money on your commute: Stack the MBTA's 50% summer discount with Harvard's 60% benefit for maximum savings
🅿️ Skip the parking costs: Ditch the gas, tolls, and parking fees for the summer
😎 Stress-free commuting: Read, relax, or catch up on podcasts instead of sitting in traffic
🌍 Reduce your carbon footprint: A more sustainable commute all summer long
How much will I save?
Depending on your zone, the 50% discount could save you between $321 and $639 this summer. On top of that, Harvard’s transit subsidy means you save an additional 60% on the cost of the already-discounted pass.
What is Harvard’s new commuter benefit?
Harvard has partnered with Jawnt to roll out a new, more flexible commuter benefit for Harvard employees. With the new Jawnt Pass commuter debit card, you receive a 60% discount on all commuting-related transit trips (MBTA monthly passes, Tap-to-Ride, Amtrak, etc.), plus pre-tax savings on parking expenses. You can also choose to opt into Harvard’s bike benefit, which loads $30/month on the Jawnt Pass debit card. Learn more on the Jawnt Enrollment Guide.
But I have an annual parking permit. What do I need to do?
You will need to cancel your Harvard parking permit before you can enroll in the transit benefit. Please email commuterchoice@harvard.edu to get started as soon as possible.
How do I get started?
- The deadline to enroll or make changes in Jawnt is the 7th of the prior month.
- Use the Jawnt Enrollment Guide to calculate your summer commuting expenses
- Go to jawntpass.com/signin/harvard
- Log in to Jawnt with your Harvard Key credentials
- From the My Passes page, click to enroll in the Jawnt Pass debit card
- Follow the steps to set up your monthly contribution amounts
- Follow these steps to set up your monthly pass with your Jawnt Pass debit card by the 22nd of the prior month.
Already riding transit? Tap into extra savings...
From June through August, MBTA kiosks and the auto-pay process will be updated to reflect the summer fare pricing.
How much will I save?
Depending on your zone, the 50% discount could save you between $321 and $639 this summer. On top of that, Harvard’s transit subsidy means you save an additional 60% on the cost of the already-discounted pass.
What do I need to do if I’ve already ordered my monthly pass?
If you’ve already enrolled in Jawnt and plan to commute by Commuter Rail this summer, you’ll pay even less in June, July, and August. For example, if your monthly transit amount for your Jawnt Pass debit card is normally $360, you can go in and reduce it to $180 for the next three months. If you don’t make any changes, your card will automatically reload with the full retail cost of the pass each month, and any unused funds will roll over into the next month.
I’m enrolled in Jawnt Pass but not currently using a monthly pass. Can I try it out?
If you’ve enrolled in Jawnt and want to try out a Commuter Rail pass for the summer, now is the perfect time! Use the MBTA Summer Discount Calculator to determine which pass is right for you and what to enter as your monthly transit amount in Jawnt
How do I update my Jawnt election?
You can update your Jawnt enrollment anytime, but we recommend making any changes by May 7 to take full advantage of the MBTA’s discount starting in June. Learn how to quickly and easily change your benefit elections.
Important Details
Key Dates
- May 7 (June 7 & July 7): Deadline to update monthly contribution amount in Jawnt
- May 22 (June 22 & July 22): Deadline to buy a monthly pass online
- June – August: Enjoy discounted Commuter Rail monthly passes!
- August 7: Deadline to update monthly contribution amount back to full retail price
About Jawnt
Jawnt is a transit oriented commuter benefits provider that makes it easier than ever to commute to campus. The Jawnt Pass commuter debit card works with the MBTA’s new Tap to Ride technology and gives you more ways to save money on your commute.
Everything you need to know about your new benefit can be found on the Harvard Commuter Benefit Enrollment Guide on Jawnt’s website. Bookmark this guide for easy access to commute calculators, FAQs, and enrollment instructions.
