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SRTA rides into the future
SRTA
RIDES INTO THE FUTURE
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by Steven Froias
It’s no secret that public transportation across the region, nation, and world took it on the chin during the pandemic.
First came the lockdown, then the slow reopening, and then continuing restrictions over the course of a year and more. Even the vaunted 24-hour New York City subway sharply curtailed its service for months before gradually resuming a semblance of normalcy during the Covid-19 crisis. So you would think that the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA), operating fixed-route and on-demand service throughout the South Coast area, spent the pandemic stuck in neutral. But you’d be wrong. In fact, SRTA spent the year adapting to the moment at hand and planning for the road ahead. SRTA implemented or announced new initiatives for a post-pandemic future during 2020 and into 2021, all while offering ridership free fares at first and then reduced fares, which remain in effect. In fact, despite the economic challenges of navigating the pandemic, when full fares resume in October, they will do so at pre-pandemic rates. No fare increases are on the horizon at SRTA despite over a year of lost revenue. Partially, that’s due to federal Covid relief funds. However, some of SRTA’s other recent achievements are due to a dedicated team determined to move forward – despite any roadblocks.
SRTA in Real Time
The first sign that SRTA was still in gear was, literally, a sign. Back in April, SRTA unveiled electronic signs at both its New Bedford and Fall River SRTA bus terminals that display real-time schedule information for all routes operating in its system. It was a project planned before the pandemic, and one that reached its destination despite it. “This technology will help our riders better move through their day as well as our network,” explains SRTA Administrator Erik B. Rousseau. “It takes the guesswork out of waiting for the bus. Especially when our drivers have to deal with inclement weather or a detour due to road work.” The outside sign displays consist of three lines which display time and date, and cycle through the arrivals at each terminal. The inside boards are much larger and have several lines of display – much like departure boards in a train station or airport. They count down the minutes until each bus arrives at the station. In addition to being of benefit to riders, the real-time data will help SRTA better direct its resources and improve its quality of service. Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan commented after the signs were installed, “These upgrades will make it easier for our residents to take advantage of SRTA’s services, which are fundamental to the wellbeing of the Fall River community. This step represents SRTA’s commitment to connecting the Southeastern Massachusetts community through efficiency, accessibility and innovation.”
Intercity life
After that, SRTA made another announcement which reflected Mayor Coogan’s sentiment. In May, SRTA shared the news
that the Intercity Express, traveling between New Bedford and Fall River, will continue through June 2022. The Intercity Express began in 2020 as a pilot program and proved not only useful but popular with SRTA patrons. The Intercity Express was funded through a MassDOT Service Pilot Grant initially intended for another project. However, responding to Covid19 necessitated a change in priority regarding service needs. This included shifting the focus towards reducing the number of passengers on-board vehicles in the interest of social distancing. SRTA successfully negotiated new terms for the funding with MassDOT – which allowed the authority to pilot the Intercity Express. The Route 9 bus between New Bedford and Fall River had historically enjoyed SRTA’s highest single route level of ridership. It is heavily used by the area’s workforce, as well as Bristol Community College and UMass Dartmouth students. During the height of the pandemic, this very need became a challenge. In order to responsibly practice social distancing on the popular line, SRTA administrators realized that enhanced service between the two cities would be necessary. They successfully appealed to MassDOT to redirect funds toward the Intercity Express. Not only did that decision increase capacity, but it also allowed for more frequent buses to travel between the SRTA terminals in both cities. That created a new space for an express service – one that would slash travel time between the Whaling City and the Spindle City by a significant 30 minutes. As the pandemic eased, SRTA administrators sought to continue the Intercity Express for a full further year. The case was made that as the region’s workforce returned to their job sites, this would provide a faster travel time between New Bedford and Fall River and expand job opportunities accessible via public transit. MassDOT agreed, and the Intercity Express will now roll on into June 2022.
Faring well
Finally, as noted above, despite the challenges of operating during a pandemic, SRTA announced in July that when regular fare collection would resume in October, there would be no fare increases behind the wheel. “We’re committed to serving our riders in the best way possible with intelligent and nimble use of our resources,” comments Erik Rousseau, SRTA. “If anything, the pandemic proved how essential our service is to riders throughout the Southeastern Massachusetts region to get to work, do their errands, and remain connected with family and friends. “We want to make sure SRTA fares remain affordable in order to enable more riders to take advantage of our service. That means returning our fares to a pre-pandemic, rather than post-pandemic, level.” You could say that, despite traveling a rough road for a time, SRTA has its wheels on fire into the future.
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