The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) oversees and coordinates public transportation in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Currently the PVTA offers fixed-route bus service as well as paratransit service for the elderly and disabled. The PVTA was created by Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws in 1974. It is based in Springfield, Massachusetts and serves Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.
Video Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Organizational structure
As per Section 25, Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws, regional transit authorities in Massachusetts are not permitted to directly operate their service, but must instead contract with other entities to operate the buses. As such, the PVTA contracts with two entities to provide fixed-route service in the service area: First Transit and UMass Transit Services. The contractors run semi-autonomous garages that act as vehicle depots for the surrounding areas.
Springfield Area Transit Company
The Springfield Area Transit Company (SATCo) operates the southern portion of PVTA's service area, servicing Hampden County. SATCo, located at 2840 Main Street in Springfield, is managed by First Transit. SATCo is located adjacent to the PVTA's headquarters at 2808 Main Street. All SATCo fixed-route buses are numbered in the 1000 series. SATCo transports more than 9 million passengers annually.
Fleet (Fixed Route Vehicles)
UMass Transit Services
UMass Transit Services operates PVTA's routes through the Five Colleges area in eastern Hampshire County and neighboring towns, with most of the routes centered around UMass Amherst, the largest ridership generator in the service area. UMass Transit Services is a department within the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The UMass Transit garage is located on-campus at 255 Governors Drive, Amherst. All UMass Transit fixed-route buses are numbered in the 3000 series. UMass Transit is a student-based organization with more than 90% of the employees (i.e. bus drivers, mechanics, dispatchers) being UMass students. Amherst PVTA is operated by one of the oldest student driver groups in the country, having been founded in 1969 as a demonstration grant from the Urban Mass Transit Administration. Today, UMass Transit Services operates 10 routes with a fleet of 40 transit vehicles (35' - 60'). Service runs 12 months a year, 20 hours per day, seven days per week, and is driven by over 150 student operators. UMass Transit Services transports more than 3.5 million passengers annually.
Fleet (Fixed Route Vehicles)
Valley Area Transit Company
The Valley Area Transit Company (VATCo) operates the central portion of PVTA's service area. All of its routes originate from Northampton, providing connections to the UMass Transit service area via Route 9, and to the SATCo service area on the other side of the Mount Tom Range via Routes 5 and 10. VATCo, located at 54 Industrial Drive in Northampton, is managed by First Transit. All VATCo fixed-route buses are numbered in the 7000 series.
Fleet (Fixed Route Vehicles)
Hulmes Transportation Services (Paratransit Service and Community Shuttles)
ADA Paratransit Service is provided by Hulmes Transportation Services for the entire service area, except for the University of Massachusetts, where the UMass Special Transportation Service (operated by UMass Transit Services) provides service for University members. Amherst-area paratransit passengers who are not members of the University community are served by Hulmes.
All paratransit vehicles are numbered in the 5000 series, including the Palmer, Ware, and Nashawannuck Express shuttle buses.
Maps Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Routes
Hampden County
These routes are operated by the Springfield Area Transit Company (SATCo), except for the Ware Shuttle and Palmer Village shuttle, which are operated by Hulmes Transportation Services.
Amherst/UMass
These routes are operated by UMass Transit Services (UMTS).
Northampton
These routes are operated by the Valley Area Transit Company (VATCo), except for the Nashawannuck Express, which is operated by Hulmes Transportation Services.
Connections
PVTA offers connections to the following regional transportation agencies:
- Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA), for service to Greenfield, in Franklin County:
- PVTA Route 31 connects with FRTA Route 23 at Sugarloaf Estates in Sunderland.
- PVTA Northampton-area routes connect with FRTA Route 31 at the Academy of Music Theater in Northampton. PVTA Route 46 connects with FRTA Route 31 at the Whately Park and Ride.
- CTtransit, for service to Enfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, and Hartford, CT:
- PVTA Route G5 connects with CTtransit Route 905 (Windsor Locks - Enfield Express) and 915 (Windsor Express) at MassMutual - Bright Meadow Campus, Enfield, CT.
Fares
One-way
One-way fixed-route fares are noted below.
NOTE: UMass Amherst buses (3000-series) do not have fareboxes and operate via a proof-of-payment system (see UMass Transit buses below).
One-way fares for adults 13 and older are $1.15 if purchased at the PVTA Customer Service Center at Springfield Union Station. Transfers for children 6-12 are $0.25, and transfers for mobility impaired passengers and seniors are $0.10.
Passes
All passes are good through the end of the service day.
- 1-Day passes are sold only on PVTA Springfield and Northampton buses at the fareboxes.
- 7- and 31-day passes are sold at Big Y supermarkets in the service area, at the PVTA Customer Service Center, at the Holyoke Transportation Center, and by the Western New England University's bursar office.
- The 31-day pass is also sold on the PVTA website.
Routes operated by UMass Transit Services
PVTA buses operated by UMass Transit operate via a proof-of-payment system. See here for more details.
Ridership increase
Ridership is up 12% in September 2014 and 9% in October. Springfield mayor Domenic Sarno stated that people who choose to live without a car in city centre in market rate housing can step out and get transit virtually everywhere in New England.
Accounting errors investigation
An audit in 2005 revealed that the PVTA made approximately $10 million in accounting errors on a transportation development project at Springfield's Union Station. Initial reports said PVTA could owe the federal government as much as $4 million. That amount was reduced in 2009 to less than $1 million. A federal probe in 2006 also targeted some PVTA employees. Subsequently, Administrator Gary Shepard resigned in 2006 after being put on leave by the Advisory Board, but he was never charged with any offense.
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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