BRTA's New Purple Paratransit Line Hits the Road Feb. 1
 The new purple BRTA buses are designed especially for riders with mobility challenges. |
"Paratransit is an essential service allowing people with mobility challenges to travel where they need to go, whether it's to the doctor, an appointment or to a social event," said BRTA Administrator Gary Shepard. "While the procedure and price point for services remain the same, patrons will ultimately be more comfortable in these brand-new, efficient mini-buses."
The transit authority fields some 80,000 requests from more than 6,000 people for paratransit service across the Berkshires. This new fleet of 15 buses will be owned and maintained by the BRTA, and operated by County Ambulance.
The mini-buses are identifiable by their purple color scheme. Drivers will wear similarly styled identification badges to help ensure passengers' familiarity and safety.
BRTA purchased the new mini-buses through a grant from the federal Mobility Assistance Program. These vehicles are fully handicapped-accessible and feature a safety camera system. BRTA also seeks to add Mobile Data Terminals and GPS locators for dispatching the vehicles in its final phase of paratransit improvement.
A person's eligibility for paratransit services will be determined by his or her mobility and functional ability regarding access to navigate the fixed-route service. For ADA travelers, fares are $2.50 per town of travel with a maximum fare of $10 for a one-way trip, during days and hours of fixed-route bus operation. Non-ADA service is available in member communities 24/7 for $7.50 initially and $2.50 for each additional town with no maximum fare.
To reserve a ride, call County Ambulance at 413-499-2527. More information is available on the website.
Tags: Berkshire Regional Transportation Authority, transportation,
