Pioneer Valley Transit Authority

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, serves Hampden and Hampshire counties, and provides connecting service to the FRTA in Franklin County. It is the largest regional transit authority, and second largest public transit system in Massachusetts after the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, providing service to over 11 million riders annually across 24 municipalities in the region,[1] with about 70% of all riders using the system as their primary mode of transit.[2]

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
The newly opened Union Station, a multi-modal transportation center in Springfield featuring local and intercity bus, train, and taxi service, as well as a parking garage.
Founded1974
Headquarters2808 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01107
LocalePioneer Valley, Massachusetts
Service areaHampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties
Service typePublic Transportation
Routes43 (as of September 2018)
Hubs
Fleet186 buses, 144 vans
Annual ridership11.3 million (2018)
OperatorSee organizational structure below
Chief executiveSandra Sheehan (administrator)
WebsitePioneer Valley Transit Authority
University of Massachusetts Transit

Organizational structure

As per Section 25, Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws, regional transit authorities in Massachusetts are not permitted to directly operate their service, but must instead contract with other entities to operate the buses. As such, the PVTA contracts with two entities to provide fixed-route service in the service area:[3] First Transit and UMass Transit Services. The contractors run semi-autonomous garages that act as vehicle depots for the surrounding areas.[4]

Springfield Area Transit Company

The Springfield Area Transit Company (SATCo) operates the southern portion of PVTA's service area, servicing Hampden County. SATCo, located at 665 Cottage Street in Springfield, is managed by First Transit. All SATCo fixed-route buses are numbered in the 1000 series. SATCo transports more than 9 million passengers annually.

Fleet (Fixed Route Vehicles)
Manufacturer/ Model Order Year Series
(Qty.)		 Powertrain Notes
Gillig Advantage 40' Hybrid 2005 1310 (1) Cummins ISB/ Allison Ep40 Active
Gillig Advantage 29' 2006 1401-1407 (7) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-300R5
  • Active
  • Appears a few times a day for trippers on various SATCo routes.
Gillig Advantage 35' 2006 1508-1517 (10) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2006 1618-1621 (4) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2007 1630-1636 (7) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2008 1640-1649 (10) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
Gillig Advantage 35' 2008 1550-1559 (10) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
Gillig Advantage 35' 2010 1560-1578 (19) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2010 1650-1664 (15) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40 2011 1801-1805 (5) Cummins ISB/ BAE HybriDrive
  • Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 2011 1701 (1) Cummins ISL9/ Allison B-400R6
  • Active
  • Designated for the R24: Paper City Express
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 2011-12 1810-1819, 1821-1826 (15) Cummins ISL9/ Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 2014 1830-1837 (8) Cummins ISL9/Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 2015 1840-1849 (10) Cummins ISL9/Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 2015 1710-1715 (6) Cummins ISL9/Allison B-400R6 Active
ProTerra Catalyst BE40 2016 1410-1412 (3) UQM HD220 electric motor/ Eaton EEV-7202
  • Active
  • Designated for the P21E and Loop Routes
Gillig Advantage 40' 2018 1670-1673 (4) Cummins L9/ Allison B-400R6
New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 2020 1716-1719 (4) Cummins L9/Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 2020 1850-1854 (4) Cummins L9/Allison B-400R6 Active

UMass Transit Services
Main article: University of Massachusetts Transportation Services
A route 31 PVTA/UMass bus at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center

UMass Transit Services operates PVTA's routes through the Five Colleges area in eastern Hampshire County and neighboring towns, with most of the routes centered around UMass Amherst, the largest ridership generator in the service area. UMass Transit Services is a department within the University of Massachusetts Amherst.[5] The UMass Transit garage is located on-campus at 255 Governors Drive, Amherst. All UMass Transit fixed-route buses are numbered in the 3000 series. UMass Transit is a student-based organization with more than 90% of the employees (i.e. bus drivers, mechanics, dispatchers) being UMass students. Amherst PVTA is operated by one of the oldest student driver groups in the country, having been founded in 1969 as a demonstration grant from the Urban Mass Transit Administration. Today, UMass Transit Services operates 10 routes with a fleet of 40 transit vehicles (35' - 60'). Service runs 12 months a year, 20 hours per day, seven days per week, and is driven by over 150 student operators. UMass Transit Services transports more than 3.5 million passengers annually.

Fleet (Fixed Route Vehicles)
Manufacturer/ Model Order Year Series
(Qty.)		 Powertrain Notes
TMC RTS T80-606 1990 1070 (1) Detroit Diesel Series 92/ Allison VR-731
  • Active
  • Used for special events / local field trips only
  • Ex-SATCo unit
  • Exx-Disney Transport
NovaBus RTS T80-606 1995 3030, 3040 (2) Detroit Diesel Series 50/ Allison VR-731
  • Active
  • Used for special events / local field trips only
NovaBus RTS T70-206 1995 1109, 1122 (2) Detroit Diesel Series 50/ Allison VR-731
  • Used for special events only / local field trips
  • Ex-SATCo unit
Gillig Advantage 40' 2006 3201-3205 (5) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2007 3211-3215 (5) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2008 3221-3225 (5) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2009 3226-3228 (3) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40 2011 3301-3305 (5) Cummins ISB/ BAE HybriDrive Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 2011 3306-3310 (5) Cummins ISL9/ Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60 2013 3401-3402 (2) Cummins ISL9/ Allison H 50 EP
  • Active; Used only on core routes.
  • First articulated vehicles outside of Boston
New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 2014 3311-3315 (5) Cummins ISL9/Allison B-400R6 Active

Valley Area Transit Company

The Valley Area Transit Company (VATCo) operates the central portion of PVTA's service area. All of its routes originate from Northampton, providing connections to the UMass Transit service area via Route 9, and to the SATCo service area on the other side of the Mount Tom Range via Routes 5 and 10. VATCo, located at 54 Industrial Drive in Northampton, is managed by First Transit. All VATCo fixed-route buses are numbered in the 7000 series.

Fleet (Fixed Route Vehicles)
Manufacturer/ Model Order Year Series
(Qty.)		 Powertrain Notes
Gillig Advantage 29' 2006 7401-7403 (3) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-300R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 35' 2008 7550-7552 (3) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2006 7604 (1) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2007 7610 (1) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R5 Active
Gillig Advantage 40' 2009 7660-7662 (3) Cummins ISL/ Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 2011 7801-7802 (2) Cummins ISL9/ Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 2012 7811-7815 (5) Cummins ISL9/ Allison B-400R6 Active
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60 2013 7901-7902 (2) Cummins ISL9/ Allison H 50 EP
  • Active
  • First articulated vehicles outside of Boston
Ford E-350 2007(?) 5574 --
  • Active
  • Used only on the Nashwannuck Express
Ford E-450 2014(?) 1204 --
  • Active
  • Used only on the X98 Crosstown

National Express Transit (Paratransit Service)

ADA Paratransit Service is provided by National Express Transit (NEXT) for the entire service area, except for the University of Massachusetts, where the UMass Special Transportation Service (operated by UMass Transit Services) provides service for University members. Amherst-area paratransit passengers who are not members of the University community are served by NEXT. All paratransit vehicles are numbered in the 5000 series.

Hulmes Transportation Services (Community Shuttles)

The fixed-route van shuttles (Ware-Palmer Circulator, Ware-Palmer Express, and Nashawannuck-Easthampton Express) are operated by Hulmes Transportation Services. These routes are operated by vans numbered in the 1200 series.

Routes

Hampden County

These routes are operated by the Springfield Area Transit Company (SATCo), except for the Ware-Palmer Circulator and Ware-Palmer Express, which are operated by Hulmes Transportation Services.

Route Route Name Notes
LOOP[6] The Loop Serves Union Station, MGM Springfield, Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield Museums, and other downtown attractions and hotels. Free fare.
G1[7] Chicopee / Sumner Avenue - Allen Street / Canon Circle
G2[8] East Springfield via Carew St / Belmont Avenue - Dwight St
G2E[9] East Springfield Express Serves Union Station, State Offices at Industry Ave and Cottage St, and Memorial Industrial Park. Express via I-291.
G3[10] Springfield Plaza via Liberty St / King St - Westford Circle Also serves Springfield Registry of Motor Vehicles. Trips on Sundays extend to Chicopee Falls.
B4[11] Plainfield Street Serves Wason Medical Offices.
G5[12] Dickinson Street - Jewish Home / Maple St / Longmeadow Connects with CTtransit 905 (Windsor Locks - Enfield Express) and 915 (Windsor Express) at MassMutual - Bright Meadow Campus, Enfield, CT.
B6[13] Ludlow via Bay St
B7[14] Eastfield Mall via State St / Boston Rd
OWL[15] Westfield State University Shuttle Connects to R10 at Westfield State University - Scanlon Hall. Only operates when WSU is in session.
R10[16] Westfield / WSU / West Springfield via Route 20
P11[17] Holyoke Community College Express
B12[18] Stonybrook Express Serves Hampden County Correctional Facility at Stonybrook.
R14[19] Feeding Hills Some trips serve Heritage Nursing Home and Agawam Industrial Park.
B17[20] Eastfield Mall via Worthington St / Wilbraham Rd
P20[21] Holyoke via Riverdale St / Holyoke Mall
P20E[22] Holyoke Mall via I-91 Express
P21[23] Holyoke via Chicopee Center
P21E[24] Holyoke via I-391 Express
B23[25] Holyoke / Westfield via Holyoke Community College Runs on weekdays only.
R24[26] Paper City Express Holyoke Shuttle: Holyoke Transportation Center - Cabot St - Pleasant St - Holyoke Medical Center - Sargeant St - Holyoke Mall. Also serves Holyoke Train Station. Deviates on request to Soldiers' Home, Holyoke Shopping Center, and Mont Marie.
R29[27] Amherst / Holyoke via Route 116 Serves Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, Amherst College and UMass. Transfer to P20, P21, or P21E at Holyoke Transportation Center for service to Springfield Union Station.
Two trips per day on weekends as of 8/27/17.
X90[28] Inner Crosstown A – trips in Chicopee Falls serve Canterbury Arms Apartments. From Chicopee Big Y, these trips serve Montgomery St., Granby Rd., and Memorial Dr. to New Ludlow Rd., and Montcalm St., then travel to Holyoke Transportation Center via Memorial and James St. to South Hadley Falls, then Bridge, Lyman, Dwight and High Streets.

B – trips in Chicopee Falls serve Grove, Church, Court, and Main Streets. From Chicopee Big Y, these trips serve Montgomery, Grattan, and Chicopee Streets and travel to Holyoke Transportation Center via South Hadley Falls, then Bridge, N. Canal, Cabot, and High Streets.

X92[29] Mid-City Crosstown Serves Union Station, Mill Street, Island Pond Rd, Independence House, Raymond Jordan Senior Center, and East Springfield Memorial Industrial Park.
WP[30] Ware-Palmer Circulator Combination of previous Palmer Village Shuttle and Ware Shuttle. Connects to B7 and B17 at Eastfield Mall. Operated by Hulmes Transportation Services.
WPE[31] Ware-Palmer Express Provides express service between Palmer and Springfield Union Station. Operated by Hulmes Transportation Services.

Amherst/UMass

These routes are operated by UMass Transit Services (UMTS). See UMass Transit fixed routes for more information.

Route Route Name Notes
30[32] North Amherst / Old Belchertown Road Serves Valley Medical Center from 7:30am-7:30pm on weekdays and noon-4:30pm on weekends.
31[33] Sunderland / South Amherst Transfers with FRTA Route 23 at Sugarloaf Estates for service to Greenfield.
33[34] Puffers Pond / Big Y and Stop & Shop
34[35] Campus Shuttle (Northbound): Mullins Center via Computer Science Building / Orchard Hill via Sylvan Only operated during full service periods.
35[36] Campus Shuttle (Southbound): Orchard Hill via Butterfield / Mullins Center via Southwest Only operated during full service periods.
36[37] Olympia Drive / Atkins Farm Only operated during reduced service periods (Thanksgiving Week, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer).
38[38] UMass (Haigis Mall) / Amherst College / Hampshire College / Mount Holyoke College Only operated during full service periods and wintersession (January).
39[39] Smith College / Hampshire College Only operated during full service periods and wintersession (January).

On evenings and weekends, also provides service to Hampshire Mall.

On weekdays, two trips are operated directly between Smith College and Mount Holyoke College as an express variant of Route 39 (mimicking Route 39E).

On wintersession weekdays, provides service between Smith College and Mount Holyoke College via Hampshire College. The Hampshire College–Mt. Holyoke portion is shared with the Route 38.

45[40] UMass / Belchertown Center via Gatehouse Rd Operates Monday - Friday.
46[41] UMass / Whately Park & Ride via South Deerfield Center Operates Monday - Friday.

Connection available to FRTA Route 31 at Whately Park and Ride.

Currently mostly eliminated; interlined with Route 31, with a Route 31 bus providing service via Sunderland Road in the morning, and via Townhouse Apartments during the late afternoon, for a total of two trips to South Deerfield and Whately.[42]

Northampton

These routes are operated by the Valley Area Transit Company (VATCo), except for the Nashawannuck Express, which is operated by Hulmes Transportation Services.

Route Route Name Notes
39E[43] Smith College / Mount Holyoke College Express Only operated during weekdays when Smith College and Mount Holyoke College classes are in session.
R41[44] Northampton / Easthampton / Holyoke Community College / Holyoke Mall Additional service to Easthampton available on the Easthampton Nashawannuck Express.

Continues to Route R42.

R42[45] Northampton / Williamsburg Continues to Route R41.
B43[46] Northampton / Hadley / Amherst Serves Hampshire Mall and Mountain Farms Mall in Hadley.

Combined with former M40. Operates express trips on weekdays between Smith College and UMass, effective September 5, 2017.[47]

R44[48] Florence Heights via King St and Bridge Rd Serves Hampshire Plaza and the Hampshire County Correctional Facility.
B48[49] Northampton / Holyoke via Route 5
NE[50] Nashawannuck Express (Easthampton) Operated by Hulmes Transportation Services.

Connections

PVTA offers connections to the following transit agencies:

Fares

One-way

One-way fixed-route fares are noted below.

NOTE: UMass Amherst buses (3000-series) do not have fareboxes and operate via a proof-of-payment system (see UMass Transit buses below).

Adults 13 and older Children 6 to 12 Children under 6 Seniors 60 and older Transfer
$1.50 $0.75 Free; accompanied by adult $0.75 $0.25

One-way fares for adults 13 and older are $1.15 if purchased at the PVTA Customer Service Center at Springfield Union Station. Transfers for children 6-12 are $0.25, and transfers for mobility impaired passengers and seniors are $0.10.

Passes

All passes are good through the end of the service day.

  • 1-Day passes are sold on PVTA Springfield and Northampton buses at the fareboxes, as well as at ticket vending machines at Springfield Union Station, Holyoke Transportation Center, and Westfield Olver Transit Pavilion.
  • 7- and 31-day passes are sold at Big Y supermarkets in the service area, at Springfield Union Station (at the PVTA Customer Service Center as well as the ticket vending machines), at the Holyoke Transportation Center (at the customer service center as well as the ticket vending machine), at the Westfield Olver Transit Pavilion (ticket vending machines only), and by the Western New England University's bursar office.
  • The 31-day pass is also sold on the PVTA website.
1-Day Pass 7-Day Pass 31 Day Pass
$3.50 $15.00 $54.00
($52.00 with Big Y card at Big Y stores)

Routes operated by UMass Transit Services

PVTA buses operated by UMass Transit operate via a proof-of-payment system. See here for more details.

Ridership increase

Ridership is up 12% in September 2014 and 9% in October.[51] Springfield mayor Domenic Sarno stated that people who choose to live without a car in city centre in market rate housing can step out and get transit virtually everywhere in New England.

Accounting errors investigation

An audit in 2005 revealed that the PVTA made approximately $10 million in accounting errors on a transportation development project at Springfield's Union Station. Initial reports said PVTA could owe the federal government as much as $4 million.[52] That amount was reduced in 2009 to less than $1 million.[53] A federal probe in 2006 also targeted some PVTA employees. Subsequently, Administrator Gary Shepard resigned in 2006 after being put on leave by the Advisory Board, but he was never charged with any offense.[54][55]

References
  1. 2018 MassDOT Annual Report on Regional Transit Authorities (PDF) (Report). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-03.
  2. "Funding for Pioneer Valley Public Transit Improvements Restored". CLF Blog. Boston: Conservation Law Foundation. June 22, 2016. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019.
  3. "PVTA Annual Report". Pvta.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20100726170348/http://www.pvta.com/maps.php. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "Transit - Transportation Services - UMass Amherst". Umass.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  6. "The Loop" (PDF).
  7. "G1" (PDF).
  8. "G2" (PDF).
  9. "G2E" (PDF).
  10. "G3" (PDF).
  11. "B4" (PDF).
  12. "G5" (PDF).
  13. "B6" (PDF).
  14. "B7" (PDF).
  15. "OWL" (PDF).
  16. "R10" (PDF).
  17. "P11" (PDF).
  18. "B12" (PDF).
  19. "R14" (PDF).
  20. "B17" (PDF).
  21. "P20" (PDF).
  22. "P20E" (PDF). Pioneer Valley Transit Authority.
  23. "P21" (PDF).
  24. "P21E" (PDF). Pioneer Valley Transit Authority.
  25. "B23" (PDF).
  26. "R24" (PDF).
  27. "R29" (PDF).
  28. "X90" (PDF).
  29. "X92" (PDF).
  30. "Ware-Palmer" (PDF).
  31. "Ware-Palmer" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  32. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127112957/http://pvta.com/schedules/G_Lines/G30.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127120457/http://pvta.com/schedules/P_Lines/P31.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. "Route 33 : Puffers Pond / Shopper Shuttle : Weekday" (PDF). Pvta.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  35. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127115005/http://pvta.com/schedules/B_Lines/B34.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127120201/http://pvta.com/schedules/B_Lines/B35.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. "Route 36 : Olympia Crive / Atkins Fam : Weekday" (PDF). Pvta.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  38. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127113428/http://pvta.com/schedules/Other/O38.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127120215/http://pvta.com/schedules/Other/O39.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  40. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127120038/http://pvta.com/schedules/G_Lines/G45.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  41. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127115107/http://pvta.com/schedules/G_Lines/G46.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  42. {{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402040346/http://www.pvta.com/schedules/Rt31.pdf
  43. "39E" (PDF).
  44. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127114742/http://pvta.com/schedules/R_Lines/R41.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127115913/http://pvta.com/schedules/R_Lines/R42.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  46. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127113123/http://pvta.com/schedules/B_Lines/B43.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  47. "B43" (PDF).
  48. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127115820/http://pvta.com/schedules/R_Lines/R44.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  49. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101127114842/http://pvta.com/schedules/B_Lines/B48.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  50. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20101011175131/http://pvta.com/schedules/Other/NE.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  51. Tuthill, Paul (December 5, 2014). "Public Transit Is Becoming More Popular". WAMC. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  52. "MV transportation loses contract bid: awarding practices spark federal investigation". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  53. "Pioneer Valley Transit Authority gives up $1 million in funding to settle Union Station audit". Masslive.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  54. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717140746/http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/pvta-2297-shepard-board.html. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  55. Stephanie Barry (2009-11-05). "PVTA pays $175,000 to former counsel Kevin Walkowski, who said he was fired for cooperating with FBI investigation". Masslive.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
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