WESTFIELD – The City Council voted Thursday night to request the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to rescind its decision to cut routes through several neighbors where low-income residents rely on public transportation.
The issue was raised during public participation by Carl Vincent of South Maple Street who presented details of proposed route changes throughout the PVTA service area.
Vincent also reported that the PVTA was conducting a number of public meetings in all of the major population centers serviced by the PVTA, except Westfield.
“Westfield is one of the larger partners with the PVTA which is conducting a number of hearings, but no place is there a hearing slated in Westfield,” Vincent said. “It is very disconcerting to me that they will be eliminating a very important service and we haven’t even had a public hearing.”
Vincent presented the council members with PVTA informational packets, showing the proposed route which cuts service to Union and Meadow streets and the East Mountain Road route to the area of Western Massachusetts Hospital.
“The PVTA routes are supposed to increase service to communities, help businesses by getting their employees to work and reduce the flow of traffic,” Vincent said.
At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty asked if the PVTA would consider adding a public meeting in Westfield to provide details of the route changes and hear public responses to the proposal.
Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Crean thanked Vincent for bringing the issue to the attention of the City Council and suggested that the council contact the PVTA.
“I’m concerned about the (service cuts) to Union and Meadow streets,” Crean said Thursday.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy said the PVTA “is kowtowing to WSU which has its own shuttle service.”
Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell called for a motion to have the council vote “to protect Westfield interests in this change.”
Crean volunteered to send a formal communication to Mary MacInnes, the administrator of the regional transit authority. MacInnes is appointed by the PVTA Advisory Board, which consists of the mayor (including Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik) or city or town manager of each 24-member community.
“I’m asking for reconsideration of the route changes,” Crean said this morning, “to justify the reduction in route services.
“This is a serious reduction in service to Union and Meadow streets where there is a significant population of people most in need of public transportation,” Crean said. “It irked me that we have the largest cut in service and no public hearing.”
“It is important to note that the PVTA service proposals remain only recommendations and are subject to change,” said Knapik. “I have been in communication with the PVTA’s administrator and we will be meeting next week to discuss these proposals. I agree with the sentiments expressed by the City Council relative to importance of the Union Street and Meadow Street neighborhoods and their service needs. The City is represented on the Route Committee of the PVTA’s Regional Advisory Board, and we will continue to advocate on behalf of Westfield riders to ensure our needs are being met.”
The PVTA has scheduled four (4) public meetings in Springfield; two (2) in Holyoke; two (2) in Chicopee, one (1) in Northampton and Amherst each, as well as plans to schedule meetings in Agawam, East Longmeadow, South Hadley, Wilbraham, Ware, and Palmer.
There is no PVTA route through Southwick at all. Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said a route study was done several years ago and the PVTA found there was not enough need for a bus in Southwick at that time.
The PVTA is the largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts with 174 buses, 144 vans and 24 participating member communities. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority was created by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 161B in 1974 as a funding source and to provide oversight and coordination of public transportation within the Pioneer Valley region.
Funding for the PVTA comes from federal, state and local governments and farebox and advertising revenues. The cities and towns that are served by the PVTA pay an assessed amount, depending on the number of fixed route miles and paratransit passengers served in that city or town. For FY 2014, the City of Westfield was assessed an amount of $313,486.
Federal funds must be used for capital projects. Capital funds may only be spent on tangible items such as equipment, preventative maintenance of vehicles, facilities and equipment, ADA services, facility improvements and the purchase of vehicles.
Operating expenses must come from grants, state and local funding and farebox revenue. Operating expenses covers salaries, benefits, advertising and marketing expenses and other cash needs.
The 24-member communities that make up the PVTA are Agawam, Amherst, Belchertown, Chicopee, Easthampton, East Longmeadow, Granby, Hadley, Hampden, Holyoke, Leverett, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Northampton, Palmer, Pelham, South Hadley, Springfield, Sunderland, Ware, Westfield, West Springfield, Wilbraham, Williamsburg.
Though not the biggest transit authority in Massachusetts, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority covers the largest (1,121.08 square miles) and the most rural geographical area in the state. The Franklin Regional Transit Authority currently has a fleet of 46 vehicles. We operate 8 buses, 32 vans and provide service for 40 participating member communities, including the hilltowns of Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Montgomery, Russell and Southampton.
