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PVTA experiences major changesNew operator chosen for paratransit services
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD MV Transportation, Inc. is looking for new people to staff their paratransit operation at the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority and they are look to dispel fears about changes to services.
The California-based company will be the sole service provider for the PVTA's paratransit service beginning Oct. 9.
Nikki Frenney, MV Transportation's director of communications, told Reminder Publications the company needs to recruit 145 people for jobs as drivers, dispatchers, reservationists, and schedulers. So, far, she said 85 incumbent employees have been accepted into these jobs and 15 people new to the PVTA are currently in training.
Interviews were being conducted last week at the PVTA's offices on Main Street.
The PVTA sent out a letter signed by Interim Administrator Richard Kos on Sept. 12 inviting them to attend one of a series of meetings to introduce the new service provider.
The meetings include:
Sept. 19 at the Chicopee Council on Aging at 11 a.m.
Sept. 27 for the Kidney Dialysis Centers at the PVTA office at 2808 Main St. at 2 p.m.
Sept. 28 at the Good Life Center in Springfield at 10 a.m.
Oct. 5 at the East Longmeadow Senior Center at 10:30 a.m.
Kos wrote, "The PVTA strongly believes that utilizing one provider will allow us to maximize the use of our vehicles and create efficiencies in service delivery. MV is a professional and innovative contractor who supplies top quality, safe and reliable transit service in over 140 locations throughout the U.S."
Kos added that any rider with questions can call 732-6248, extension 229, 231 or 214 between 8:30 and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Former head of Worcester transit authority chosen to lead PVTA
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD The Board of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) selected Mary Macinnes, the administrator of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority, as the PVTA's new administrator at its meeting on Sept. 13.
Macinnes will replace Gary Shepard who was fired by the Board in the wake of federal investigations of the PVTA. Former Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos has been the interim administrator for the past seven months.
Kos said that no start date has been set for Macinnes as she now will negotiate a contract that will have to be approved by the Board.
Macinnes spoke to Reminder Publications prior to her final interview on Wednesday. She has worked in the public transit field since 1973 when she was hired as the transportation planner for the city of Austin, Texas. She then worked at mass transit positions in Boston for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), in Philadelphia, Penn., for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and in Cambridge for Smart Route Systems, Inc.
She became administrator for the Worcester Authority in 2000 where she said she played a similar role to the role that which she will play in Springfield. In Worcester, she said she had to address situations to help restore the confidence in the Authority.
"The main thing is your reputation," she said.
Macinnes declined to suggest specific changes she would make at the PVTA until she "was on the property."
She did say, though, that one of her first steps would be to work on obtaining forward funding for the PVTA and the other regional transit authorities. Currently all of the Commonwealth's transit authorities, with the exception of the MBTA, get state funding at the end of a fiscal year instead of at the beginning.
Macinnes said that having a "forward budget" would "go a long way in improving fiscal accountability."
There was an effort to secure this change in the last legislative session, but Macinnes said it wasn't successful.
"Hopefully next year we'll get that accomplished," she said.
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