Transportation Resources
Regional Transportation Authorities
Regional Transportation Authorities (RTAs) are the major suppliers of public transportation in the state of Massachusetts. All of these organizations provide an array of services to their communities including, but not limited to:
- Fixed-route bus service: Buses that follow a regular route and schedule and stop at designated bus stops.
- ADA paratransit: Transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to use the regular fixed-route bus for some or all of their trips. Eligibility requirements may apply.
- Paratransit: Flexible transportation for people who may need additional support using public transportation. Riders usually schedule their trips in advance, and services and eligibility vary by provider.
- Demand-response: Transportation that you request for a specific trip instead of using a bus that follows a regular route. Riders typically schedule a pickup in advance.
All resources listed should be ADA compliant*
Berkshire Regional Transportation Authority (BRTA)
Service Areas:
Adams, Alford, Becket, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Egremont, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, North Adams, Otis, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Savoy, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Washington, West Stockbridge, Williamstown, Windsor
Services Available:
- Fixed Route Bus Service
- ADA Paratransit
- Human Service Transportation/MassHealth Brokerage
Cost:
- All BRTA rides are free until further notice
Schedule:
Service Hours:
- Weekdays: 5:45 a.m. – 7:20 p.m.
- Saturday: 7:15 a.m. – 7:00 p.m
- Select routes are extended until 11 pm (currently in pilot phase)
Contact Information:
- Phone: (413) 499-2782
- Email: info@berkshirerta.gov
- BRTA Website
Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA)
Service Areas:
Ashfield, Bernardston, Blandford, Buckland, Charlemont, Chester, Chesterfield, Colrain, Conway, Cummington, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Goshen, Granville, Greenfield, Hatfield, Hawley, Heath, Huntington, Leyden, Middlefield, Montague, Montgomery, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Plainfield, Rowe, Russell, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Southampton, Southwick, Tolland, Warwick, Wendell, Westhampton, Whately, and Worthington.
Services Available:
- Fixed Route Bus Service
- Demand Response
- ADA Paratransit
- FRTA ACCESS Program: A self-scheduling transportation program.
Cost:
- All FRTA rides are fare free until further notice
Schedule:
- Find the bus schedule & route stops
- For live updates download: Passio Go
Contact Information:
- Phone: 413-774-2262
- FRTA Website
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA)
Service Area:
Agawam, Amherst, Belchertown, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hampden, Holyoke, Leverett, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Northampton, Palmer, Pelham, South Hadley, Springfield, Sunderland, Ware, West Springfield, Westfield, Wilbraham, Williamsburg
- B79 route services from UMass Amherst to Worcester
Services Available:
- Fixed Route Bus Service
- ADA Paratransit
- Senior Van Service
- UMass Transit through PVTA provides free routes across the Amherst community through the University to the five colleges.
Cost:
- All PVTA rides are free until further notice
Schedule:
- Visit PVTA bus schedules to view the live bus schedule or download the BusPlus+ mobile app
Contact Information:
- Phone: 413-781-7882
- English TTY: 877-752-2388
- PVTA Website
Link413
All three western Massacgusetts RTAs are providing comfortable highway bus travel across all four counties in western Massachusetts 5 days a week.
Routes:
- Route 901: Pittsfield to North Adams
- Route 903: North Adams to Greenfield
- Route 904: Pittsfield to Northampton
Schedule:
- Monday - Friday only
- See website for times of departure and arrival for each route
Cost:
- $10 Full Fare per ride
- $5 Reduced Fare available to customers 60+ years of age with a statewide access pass or a medicare card (photo ID required)
- Free Fare for children 5 and under and customers with a Massachusetts Commission for the blind ID card
Riders must use the MassDOT BusPlus+ mobile app to buy tickets for rides. No advanced registration required
Contact:
- Phone: 800-292-2782
- Link413 Website
Microtransit
Microtransit is a new term for services that provide transportation in their communities that the major RTAs cannot cover. They often run a small fleet of vans or cars that can run transportation requests to get you to work, medical appointments, shopping trips, or to other important locations.
All resources listed should be ADA compliant*
Hilltown Easy Ride
Hilltown Easy Ride van services are designed for the convenience of seniors over 60 and veterans. Their primary goal is to provide transportation in the rural hilltown areas lacking other transportation options.
Service Area:
Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Plainfield, Russell, Worthington
Who Can Use This Service?
- Seniors over the age of 60
- Veterans
- Any interested riders must be pre-approved for eligibility using this FRTA form
How to Schedule a Ride:
- Call 413-296-4232 at least 48 hours in advance
- Please leave a detailed message with your name, date, time, and purpose of your request
Cost:
- $1.25 - One way trip within the same town
- $1.75 - One way trip to adjacent towns
- $2.25 - One way trip beyond adjacent towns
- Trips to senior centers are half the cost
*Fares are paid in cash only and drivers cannot make change
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: 413-296-4232
- Email: ride@hilltowncdc.org
- HilltownCDC Website
Hours of Operation:
- 8am-4pm, with some flexibility with these hours
Quaboag Connector
The Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation (QVCDC) and the Town of Ware established the Quaboag Connector, a demand-response shuttle service covering ten towns.
Service Area:
Belchertown,Brookfield, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Monson, North Brookfield, Palmer, Ware, Warren, West Brookfield
Who Can Use This Service?
- Anyone looking to use public transportation in the service area
Hours of Operation
- Monday-Friday: 6AM-7PM
- Saturday: 8AM-4PM
How to Schedule a Ride
- Call 413-544-3401 at least 48 hours in advance.
Cost
- Palmer Rides to work: $1 per ride
- Baystate Health Convenient Care Van: Free
- Ware Senior Van: Free with suggested donation of $2
- Any normal ride is $2 per trip ($4 round trip cost)
- Veterans ride for free
Contact Information
South County Connector
South County Connector is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and accessible transportation that connects residents to necessary life connections and community life, that supports mobility, independence and quality of life for residents of Great Barrington and the surrounding region.
Service Area:
Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, New Marlborough, Sheffield
There is also limited service to Pittsfield, MA and North Canaan, CT
Who Can Use This Service?
- Anyone looking to use public transportation in the region
How to Schedule a Ride:
- South County Connector mobile app for IOS or Android, 24/7
- Call 413-591-3826
- 8am-4pm 7 days a week
Canaan Connector:
MA residents can access on-demand transit service to/from North Canaan, CT
- $6 fare to/from Sheffield or Great Barrington
- $6+ fare for riders from other communities
Cost:
- $3 fare for one way trip within one town
- $6 fare for one way trip between towns including Pittsfield and Canaan, CT
- Up to 2 passengers can accompany a paying adult for no charge
- Learn more about multi-ride discounts
- $20 round trip fare for limited medical appotiment trips to Springfiled, Worcester, or Boston (*for veterans and Volunteers in Medicine patients ONLY)
- Free unlimited fare for veterans through June 2027
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: 413-591-3826
- Email: transit@townofgbma.gov
- South County Connector Website
Transportation For Older Adults
Many Councils on Aging, senior centers, and community organizations offer transportation services that help older adults remain active and independent.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Transportation assistance may be available for healthcare appointments through public insurance programs, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
Travel Training
Travel training helps people learn how to use public transportation safely, confidently, and independently. Free, personalized training is available through PVTA and BRTA and may include learning how to plan a trip, navigate bus routes, safely get on and off the bus, pay fares, and travel to destinations in the community. Programs are available to a range of riders, with a particular focus on older adults and people with disabilities.
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
PVTA offers free, personalized travel training for eligible riders using its fixed-route bus system. Training can focus on general bus-riding skills or traveling to a specific destination. Participants can refer themselves, or a referral can be submitted by someone supporting them.
- Learn more about PVTA Travel Training
- Complete the PVTA Travel Training Referral Form
- Call 413-732-6248 ext. 2235 for more information.
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority
BRTA offers free travel training throughout Berkshire County for individuals, groups, students, people with disabilities, seniors, and other riders. Training is individualized and can cover bus routes, trip planning, street crossing, community safety, wheelchair securement, fares, bicycle racks, and other skills for independent travel.
- Learn more about BRTA Travel Training
- Email traveltraining@berkshirerta.gov or call 413-499-2782 ext. 2900 to learn more or schedule training.
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