PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Transit Authority will be seeking public input on service changes for the fiscal 2023.

These include timetable and bus schedule adjustments, route travel pattern adjustments, bus stop location or name changes, limited additions, limited reductions, and discontinued service.

The overarching goal is for BRTA to provide the best transportation services possible to riders.

"This is the foundation to set the stage for some tweaking of the routes to realign better with each other," Executive Director Robert Malnati said.

Virtual public meeting sessions are planned for next month on March 14 at 10:30 a.m., March 16 at 6:30 p.m., and March 18 at 1:30 p.m. BRTA also plans to have an in-person meeting on March 24 at 10:30 a.m. — the location of which has not yet been determined — and on March 30 at 2:30 p.m. in the BRTA hub.

Public comment will be finalized on April 15 with proposals finished a month later on May 15.  Final plans will be published on June 1 for an effective date of July 1.

On the table are changes that apply to routes 1-5, 11, 12, 14-16, 21, 21x, 22, and 34. With the proposals, BRTA aims to make improvements such as maximizing customer use of existing services, retaining as much pilot evening service as possible, making revisions to support future electric vehicles, and accommodating new potential service types.

Planning was fueled by a service planning survey conducted in December and January.  It showed that customers would like faster travel options within and between communities, expanded evening service, and support a transition to electric vehicles.

"We're just trying to set the stage for future things," Malnati said.

"We did a study beginning couple months ago and we actually took what some of the results were and implemented them in this iteration of service changes, they said they wanted to fix what we have first before we expand, evening service was important, and then there are some routes that are not performing the way they should, and can we provide service to those areas in a different manner?"

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission will review the proposals and provide input if needed.

Malnati explained that one aim is to make the Saturday services more consistent with services offered during the week.

BRTA would also like to set the stage for future endeavors such as electrifying the fleet. In the recent survey, 60 percent of respondents indicated a desire for BRTA to use alternative energy vehicles.

In addition, the majority claimed they would be more likely to travel with BRTA with the greener option and pay a higher fee.

"If we were to go down the path of fleet electrification, do we have a spot where we can do on the road charging?" Malnati said. "Where vehicles might dwell for a few minutes at a time rather than charging all at once at the garage down at Downing Parkway?"

Though no formal planning has been made with North Adams, the transit authority has considered creating a micro hub on Main Street.

BRTA encourages feedback from every person who wants to be heard. Feedback can also be submitted online through the "Contact Us" form at www.berkshirerta.com/contact/, by email to info@berkshirerta.com, by phone at 1 (800) 292-2782 ext. 2895.

Comments can also be submitted by mail to:

Berkshire Regional Transit Authority
Attn: Proposed Service Changes
1 Columbus Ave, Suite 201
Pittsfield, MA, 01201

 

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