WESTERN MASS – The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) recently received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to begin a pilot Northampton-Holyoke-Springfield Express route.

The new service would consist of hourly service between Northampton and the Holyoke Mall, hourly service between Northampton and Union Station, and half-hourly service between Holyoke Mall and Union Station from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, utilizing electric buses.

Brandy Pelletier, PVTA’s manager of marketing, advertising & public relations and clerk to its Advisory Board, explained the new route would significantly cut down on travel time and increase reliability.

“PVTA currently provides regular service between Northampton and Holyoke on the B48 and R41, with regular service between the Academy of Music and the Holyoke Transportation [Center] provided as frequently as every half hour on the B48,” she said. “Four additional routes provide regular service between Holyoke and Springfield with varying service frequency. Because there is currently no direct route, travel times can vary widely but often exceed an hour and a half.  The new express service travels between Northampton and Union Station in 35 minutes.”

The grant was part of $3.5 million awarded by MassDOT to regional transit authorities across Massachusetts intended to be used “to implement best practices and innovative services to benefit customers,” according to a release from MassDOT.

Gov. Charlie Baker said, “The funding helps RTAs meet their identified goals of improving customer service, develop pilot programs and micro transit opportunities to further extend service locations, and to provide more efficient transportation options that are specific to each regional area.”

Recipients of the funding were selected based upon factors such as whether projects will increase ridership, demonstrate innovation, serve a priority population, be financially sustainable, and provide cost savings or operational efficiencies, MassDOT shared.

They added, “The awards mark the third round of grants provided by the Baker-Polito Administration for the RTAs to develop innovative services. A total of $7.5 million in RTA grants were previously awarded as follows: $4 million in FY19 and $3.5 million in FY20. Also, the FY21 Discretionary Grant funding for RTAs is in addition to the $90.5 million in operating funding allocated in the FY21 State Budget signed by Governor Baker. There is also an additional $27.8 million in capital funding from MassDOT.”

PVTA’s operating funding request was $487,000.

Local legislators praised the new express services and the positive impact it could offer their constituents and the community as whole.

State Sen. John Velis of the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District said, “Whenever we can increase public transportation routes in our communities, it’s a good thing for residents, especially when we utilize environmentally friendly modes of transportation like electric buses.”

State Sen. Adam Gomez of the Hampden District agreed, “I think this grant for the PVTA will allow citizens in the Hampden District, especially those in Springfield, to have greater access to public transportation and businesses. Not only will it impact the lives of residents, but it will also improve local business which is something cities and towns across the state desperately need after the economic impact the pandemic has made.”

Gomez added, “I am hopeful that these new services will bring us up to speed with what citizens in the eastern part of the state already enjoy.”

State Sen. Jo Comerford of Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester District said, “Kudos to PVTA for launching this with electric buses. Expanded public transit must be the way of the future as we do everything we can to get cars off the road while strengthening our economy and opening opportunities for our people.”

Pelletier shared that the PVTA has plans to host virtual public hearings either at the end of this month or early May. They expect to receive Advisory Board approval for this pilot route at their May meeting to implement service beginning on or about July 1.