The NewMo 2.0 ride-on-demand will begin operation on Tuesday, July 6
Here’s how it will work …
NewMo 2.0 (Newton in Motion) dramatically expands access to and from public transit for all residents who live in any village and neighborhood of the City as well as for all employees and visitors in Newton.
Any resident, anyone who works in Newton, and any visitor here can book a $2 on demand, shared ride to connect to the MBTA Green Line or Commuter Rail system, Needham Street and the Wells Avenue Office Park area.
You can start signing up for NewMo 2.0 today. It’s free to sign up. Plus, it’s easier if you’re all set to go before you want to take your first ride.
Download the NewMo app (search for NewMo Newton) on a smartphone or call 617-655-8019 to get started. Those without access to a smartphone can both sign up and book a ride by calling 617-655-8019.
Rides cost $2 (with the first five free) and will be paid directly through the app or charged to your credit card when you use a telephone to call for a ride. Qualifying low-income residents can receive discounted rides for 50 cents. To see if you qualify for discounted rates, contact Nicole Freedman, at [email protected].
NewMo 2.0 builds on the NewMo 1.0 system that has operated for our older residents since 2019. Those already using NewMo will continue to receive the same service.
Trips may begin or end anywhere in Newton provided one leg begins or ends at a designated stop or service areas. These include:
- Newton Center Langley Lot/Newton Centre Green Line,
- Newtonville Commuter Rail Station,
- Chestnut Hill Green Line Station,
- Newton Highlands Green Line Station,
- Needham Street,
- Wells Avenue area (includes the Wells Avenue Office Park, UMass Mt Ida, JCC, Nahanton Woods Condominiums).
- Needham Heights Commuter Rail Station.
While NewMo 2.0 will not do drop offs and pickups at every commuter rail and T station, people anywhere in Newton can get a ride to and from the Green Line or to the Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester line or the Needham line on Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Are you a local business or non-profit interested in rides for patrons or employees? Email [email protected] for more information about community partnerships.
Questions? Visit our website at newtonma.gov/Newmo or email NewMo customer support at [email protected], or call Via at 617-655-8019.
Loaded the app and took my first ride today before reading it launches July 6. Bruce picked me up and it was great.
can you use this new service to get dropped/picked up in west newton for commuter rail and bus service that stops over by route 16 and Saint Bernards church? This area is a big commuter hub for the north/west side of newton and seems appropriate. thank you.
@Rob – It looks like your two Commuter Rail options would be either to/from Newtonville Station or Needham Heights station
PSA: Ran into a little glitch this am (for iPhone)…
1. Downloaded and installed app (from App Store)
2. Began the account creation process
3. Added, email, password and phone number
4. Add Billing information (credit card)
5. Complete account set up
Don’t know if is a glitch this morning or an ongoing one, but you cannot get complete step #4 without step #5. Long story short, when prompted for credit card information during account setup, hit the “skip” button in the upper right corner and come back to add that information AFTER your account setup is complete.
Enjoy!
I’m curious to watch how this develops, especially when you combine it with the expanded Blue Bikes that can fill in gaps between these areas. It has the potential to make getting around without car ownership much easier.
@chuck, I really hope I’m proven wrong but really don’t think biking is going to take off here – not on the scale that you, Sean, Bob, Councilor Bowman, Bike Newton and others hope for.
Biking is great for fitness but New England weather does not allow for 3 let alone 4 season daily biking. For day to day life, most don’t have the luxury of a shower at every destination or carry a family’s worth of groceries on a bike.
And not sure how Blue Bikes will do better than the Lime ones. Again, I would be happy to be wrong, but it feels a little like insanity – doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. ♂️♀️
Will be very interesting to see how NewMo does though. It will very convenient to get one from home to Newton Center (say, for dinner), but it was not clear (to me) if I can get a NewMo from dinner to home. Anyone know?
Any stats on Blue Bike usage? I know they added new bikes so I assume they get some use, but I am not seeing people use them.
Have to laugh at this NewMo 2 program when they can’t even accommodate the Seniors in NewMo 1….It’s been a nightmare just trying to get to a medical appointment or a grocery store.
They supposedly only have 3 drivers for the entire city. Wondering where the drivers for NewMo 2 are coming from.
They’ve removed the geofencing so you can now use this anywhere in the city, and I presume we Needhamites can still use it to get to and from Needham Heights)…well done Newton!
I don’t support using private contractors for public transit, but NewMo/Via’s announcement of:
“Via is always looking for local independent contractor drivers for it’s NewMo service. It might be perfect if you are looking for flexible work hours as an independent contractor. Earn $29-$37 per hour. Choose your own schedule and earn guaranteed amounts”
…certainly sounds more equitable than what workers end up making through evil Uber and Lyft.
On the other hand, it’s regrettable if total compensation+benefits are lower than what MBTA employees make (and I’m sure they are), since this is essentially an MBTA substitute.
(I know that none of you V14’ers give a rat’s behind about how the non-“leaders” of the world earn their sub-$300k salaries but these things obviously matter.)