Pioneer Valley Transit Authority

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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.

Contents

[edit] Bus Service

Bus service is provided by three contractors:[1] SATCO, VATCO, and Umass Transit. SATCO operates the Springfield based routes which services the Springfield/Westfield/Holyoke areas while VATCO operates the Northampton based routes and UmassTransit provides service to the Amherst based routes.

Students attending the Five Colleges are able to ride local PVTA buses for "free" due to a small transit fee included in their semester bills. Of particular importance to five-college students is the Blue-43 line, which provides primary service between the Northampton and Amherst areas.

[edit] Criticism

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The PVTA has often been criticized by residents of the Pioneer Valley for somewhat poor customer service as well as illogical bus schedules. Both students in the 5 colleges and residents have complained that the infrequent and arbitrary round trips made on certain routes make it difficult to use the PVTA on a regular basis. In a recent poll given to residents of Easthampton, fewer than 1 in 10 residents use the public transportation provided by the PVTA. More than 70% of them ride it only occasionally.[2]

[edit] Paratransit Service

Paratransit service is provided by:

  • Hulmes Transportation - Eastern Tier, Belchertown, Granby, Palmer, Ware
  • Hulmes Transportation - Western Tier, Agawam, Westfield, and West Springfield
  • Hulmes Transportation - Northern Tier, Amherst, Easthampton, Hadley, Northampton, Sunderland, and Williamsburg
  • Hulmes Transportation - Southeastern Tier, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham
  • Mass Services for Seniors - Springfield Tier
  • VOC - Central Tier, Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow, and South Hadley

[edit] Accounting Errors Investigation

A recent audit has revealed that the PVTA made more than $10 million in accounting errors during 2005.[3] They may owe the government as much as $4 million. A federal probe also targeted the PVTA, resulting in the firing of director Gary Shepard in 2006. This investigation focused on the spending and contracting practices of the PVTA, as well as oversight of the $115 million redevelopment of the Union Station transit and retail hub in Springfield.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.pvta.com/public/contact/
  2. ^ Pilon, M. "Easthampton NEXT", The Daily Hampshire Gazette, March 24, 2007.
  3. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17635631/

[edit] External links

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