> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > PVTA head: service is back on track
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PVTA head: service is back on track
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD Mary McInnes, the new Administrator for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), told Reminder Publications on Friday that many of the problems surrounding the PVTA's paratransit system should be solved.
McInnes and the PVTA have been under fire since Oct. 9 when MV Transportation, Inc. took over the management contract for the paratransit service. Senior citizens and disabled people throughout the Pioneer Valley who depend upon the service complained about cancelled rides and drivers unfamiliar with the area.
At a press conference on Oct. 25 State Representative Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee) called the problems with the paratransit service "absolutely inexcusable."
Wagner, who is the House chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, said the problems with MV were part of a larger situation at the PVTA, which included a lack of leadership from the PVTA Advisory Board and little accountability for state funding.
Wagner said that a national company, such as MV, that had since July to prepare shouldn't have had any problems.
"This company set themselves up to fail," Wagner charged.
Last week, though, McInnes said the problems over cancelled rides has been addressed with the hiring of a full staff of drivers.
She noted that the number of cancelled rides dropped from 170 during the week of Oct. 16 to 70 the week of Oct. 23 to 28 at the beginning of the week of Oct. 30.
She said she has been told by MV that there will not be any cancelled rides now, although McInnes said that improvement to the service is on going.
"Each day and each week, we're heading in the right direction," she said.
She added that she has personally received compliments from riders on the paratransit service under the MV management.
Wagner said that he will file legislation that would enable the state to receive greater accountability about how funds are spent by the PVTA and the other Regional Transit Authorities (RTA). He noted a spending bill filed in April in the Legislature called for $90 million to be spent on new services, "wanted no strings attached."
Wagner questioned whether it is necessary or cost efficient to have 15 RTAs throughout the state. He believes the state needs to play a more prominent role in the management of the RTAs by appointing a representative to each RTA advisory board. Currently each city and town served by a RTA appoints a representative to an advisory board.
"If these folks don't want reform, they may get something they haven't bargained for," Wagner said.
McInnes declined to comment on Wagner's proposal at this time, but did say she would be lobbying for the passage of the previous spending bill that is going to be re-filed by State Senator Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst).
Sandra Lopollo sees the paratransit situation from two roles. She is the head of the Chicopee Council on Aging and she is Chicopee's representative to the PVTA Advisory Board.
She told Reminder Publications that McInnes "has a very good handle [on the problem]. Service is improving and there are more and more rides everyday."
She confirmed the problems arose to a lack of drivers.
"It's unfortunate to say the least the transition was so poor and disruptive," Lopollo said. "If nothing else it shows how critically important paratransit is."
Lopollo explained the service normally can be affected by variances in the length of doctor's appointments, traffic, and whether or not the riders are ready at the pick-up time.
"It's not an easy service," she said of the scheduling demands.
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> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > PVTA head: service is back on track
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