BRTA Accepting Public Comments on Route Realignments
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is accepting community comments on its proposed route realignment, developed to address ongoing driver shortages and frequent service cancellations.
The route realignment was first brought up in the authorities meeting in late January.
The BRTA currently has 26 drivers and 36 weekday runs, which means about 10 to 13 runs are open each day. The new plan would reduce weekday services to 30 runs and five open runs a day.
The proposed plan would reduce evening services on certain routes, as well as eliminate routes 1A, 2A, 21A, and 921.
The route realignment proposal can be found here.
Public comments and feedback will be addressed at the next BRTA meeting on March 4.
Since the initial release, BRTA has completed four revised route alignments in response to community feedback received during the comment period.
BRTA Administrator Kathleen Lambert and Deputy Administrator Ben Hansen have made several adjustments in response to public feedback, such as reducing wait times on Route 21 and improving service for Berkshire Community College students after late classes.
"We're trying to fill in the gaps, and if there are more comments you have that you want to forward to us, we are continually trying to make adjustments based on what the community needs," Lambert said.
“So we know this is not perfect. There's nothing perfect about it, but we're going to do our best to make it as good as we can."
Hansen said they plan to accurately measure the duration of BCC's calls by implementing a method to track and record the time. Collaboration with BCC is ongoing to facilitate this process.
They also included ‘trippers’ on Route 999 due to the demand.
"A tripper is when a bus goes out to run a special piece of work, a special part of the route. So, we add an extra bus during the 7:30 hour in the morning, and we add an extra bus during the 5:25 hour in the afternoon," Lambert said.
Lambert said that if they get more drivers they might plan on adding a second bus to the route, if it permits.
Also, Route 34 will be added to Route 3 at the end.
"We've seen there's a number of employees actually in Williams Inn that rely on that last piece of what was the 3. And now we'll have the 34 go out, pick up people along the route to Williamstown, grab that last group of employees from Williams Inn, and then bring it back into Pittsfield where they ultimately live," Hansen said.
Lambert said their goal is to return to full capacity and avoid reducing routes by implementing several initiatives to recruit more drivers, including working with the union and implementing a driving simulator project.
"We were awarded a grant for a driving simulator to train drivers, and we're working on locating that piece of equipment in a facility close by so that we can train there," she said.
Previously, BRTA had to send employees across the state to take their road and Commercial Driver's License tests. Now there is a new facility across from the Berkshire Innovation Center, Lambert said.
"We're very excited to have it here, because it's going to save a lot of time and a lot of cost," she said.
At Wednesday’s informational and public comment session, a number of public officials—including State Rep. Leigh Davis, Great Barrington Train Campaign President Karen Christensen, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Principal Planner Anuja Koirala, and Pittsfield Commission on Disabilities Chair Catherine Carchedi—offered their perspectives on the proposed changes.
Davis raised numerous questions about the routes, noting that her constituents are struggling to follow the new proposals. She requested that revised changes be made more visible—prominently displayed at the top, rather than buried in announcements.
She also asked if it was possible to help improve the Great Barrington to Pittsfield route as well as pick up people from Main Street again instead of at the Price Chopper.
Davis said she and her constituents will feel better if they feel their voices are heard, especially regarding the needs of those who depend on public transportation.
She emphasized the importance of making the system sustainable and providing information as clearly as possible.
“I will feel a lot better, and I know my constituents who rely on public transportation would feel better," she said.
Carchedi said she hopes they are working on the microtransit as it could help fill in a lot of the gaps.
BRTA has applied for a grant to fund intelligent transportation systems that will integrate its fixed route, microtransit, and paratransit services and connect with its existing intercity routes, Lambert said.
The planned system will have a mobile app that allows riders to purchase tickets and track Amtrak arrivals in real time.
"These ITS systems are the only way we're going to be able to serve rural transit," Lambert said, explaining the app will allow riders to request same-day paratransit rides instead of calling 24 hours in advance.
“I think that's a big equity issue, which you've heard me say before. So, we need to have people be able to make same-day reservations in this county, in our rural communities, to connect with whatever they need to do," she said.
Davis expressed concern about the new Link 413 service, believing it took drivers away from the routes.
Lambert says she is considering discontinuing Link 413’s 901 service because of Route 999, but the drivers return to their routes after doing the 413 service.
"If we have the 999 Express, we won't need the 901 piece, so that would take one driver back, at least," she said.
"But the idea is to fill the schedules so that one piece is done, and then you come back, and you continue to drive your second piece, that's the idea."
Public comments and feedback are able to be turned in until March 3. Email info@berkshirerta.gov
comments or submit them online.www.berkshirerta.gov/contact/
The BRTA is currently offering a $1,000 sign-on bonus for new hires, 100 percent employer-paid health insurance premiums, along with other benefits.
It is also offering paid training for a Commercial Driver's License. More information here.
Tags: bus, bus routes, public comment,
