The Advisory Board of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) will hold official public hearings to receive comments on potential cutbacks or changes to 16 bus routes, including the M40 Minuteman Express, which travels between Amherst, Hadley, and Northampton.
The PVTA has said it faces an operating budget deficit of up to $1.2 million, because the existing state budget for FY18 doesn’t include previous funds set by the Transportation Reform Act.
An estimated 90 people per day would be effected by elimination of the M40, which is not meeting performance standards, according to options listed on the PVTA’s website, at this link: http://www.pvta.com/media/pdfs/PVTA%20FY18%20Deficit%20table%2005-19-17.pdf
The public hearings will begin next Monday, June 19 and continue into early July. On July 19, the PVTA Advisory Board will decide which service changes are needed to balance the budget, based on public comments received and updated state budget information. Changes approved by the board would go into effect August 27 or September 4.
The public will be asked to comment on full or partial changes to the following bus routes: M40 Minute Man Express (Northampton-Hadley-Amherst); P20E Express (Holyoke Mall-Springfield Union Station); P21E Express (Springfield Union Station to Holyoke Transportation Center); Five College Route 39 (Mt Holyoke College to Smith College); Route 46 (Whately-South Deerfield-Sunderland-UMass Amherst); G5 (Dickinson-Jewish Home-Longmeadow-Enfield CT); X98 (Northampton Crosstown); R14E Express (Agawam Industrial Park); R27 (Wilbraham-Eastfield Mall); B23 (Holyoke-Westfield via HCC); R29 (Holyoke-South Hadley-UMass Amherst); B48 (Holyoke-Northampton); B4 (Downtown Springfield-Plainfield Street); X90 (Springfield Inner Crosstown); UMass Amherst Campus Shuttle Routes 34 and 35; and the Tiger Trolley (South Hadley-Holyoke.)
Hearings will begin at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day at these locations:
Monday June 19: Holyoke Transportation Center, 206 Maple St, Holyoke
Tuesday June 20: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 60 Congress St, Springfield
Wednesday June 21: Amherst Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk
Thursday June 22: Bay Path University, 588 Longmeadow St, Longmeadow
Monday June 26: Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper Street
Tuesday June 27: South Hadley Public Library, 2 Canal Street
Wednesday June 28: Wilbraham Senior Center, 45B Post Office Park
Thursday June 29: Northampton City Council Chambers, 212 Main St (behind City Hall)
Wednesday July 5: Sunderland Public Library, 20 School Street
Thursday July 6: Westfield Transit Pavilion, 10 Arnold Street
Saturday, July 10: Chicopee City Hall, Council Chambers, 17 Springfield Street
All comments on possible service changes must be received by Tuesday, July 11th. Those unable to attend a hearing can send letters to:
Sandra E. Sheehan, PVTA Administrator
2808 Main St., Springfield MA 01107
Email: comments@pvta.com
Phone: (413) 732-6248 x235. Callers may leave a recorded message of up to 3 minutes.
The Spectator of Amherst. 