BRTA Sets Hearings on Service and Fare Changes

02:53PM / Tuesday, April 03, 2018Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is planning to increase Charlie Card fares and reduce routes because of proposed budget cuts at the state level that has created a nearly $400,000 deficit.

The BRTA, the main public transportation unit serving the Berkshires, is facing an operational budget deficit of $378,400 for the upcoming fiscal year. Transit officials statewide say $88 million is needed to properly fund RTAs after four years of nearly level funding.

The proposed options for the Fixed Route bus service would be to: discontinue the 4:30 p.m. trip on Bus Route 21 Express; eliminate Bus Route 3S, adding demand stops on Bus Route 3 to accommodate customers; combine Bus Routes 5 and 13; reduce to one bus on weekdays for Bus Route 21; reduce to one bus on both Bus Routes 1 and 2 for Saturdays; combine Bus Routes 5, 13, 15, and 16 on Saturdays and discontinue one midday trip; or eliminate all Saturday bus service.

The proposed options for the paratransit service include: align non-ADA service days and hours with Americans with Disabilities Act service days and hours and eliminate all Saturday paratransit service.

The proposal includes fixed-route, cash-fare payments remaining the same, while fares would increase when using a Charlie Card: $1.55 for a local trip, $4 for a systemwide fare, 75 cents for a local reduced fare, and $2 for a systemwide reduced fare.

There would be a potential reduction in purchasing seven- or 30-day passes.

It will be holding public hearings on the changes at the following locations and dates:

North Adams, Terra Nova Church's The Green, 87 Main St., North Adams

Monday, April 9, 11 am. to 1 p.m. and Monday, April 23, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Pittsfield, BRTA offices, second floor, Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center, One Columbus Ave.

Wednesday, April 11, 11 am. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday, April 25, from 3 to 5

Great Barrington, Fire Station, 27 State Road

Thursday, April 12, 11 am. to 1 p.m. and Tuesday, April 24, from 3 to 5

BRTA was advised by the state Department of Transportation to expect level funding of the statewide regional transit authorities' allocation at the fiscal 2015 level of approximately $80.4 million. That is down from $82 million in both fiscal 2016 and 2017. BRTA is slated to receive $2,505,095 instead of the $2,741,895 if the budget for the 15 regional transit authorities was at the $88 million level.

BRTA's Advisory Board authorized public meetings to receive comments on the proposed service and fare changes at the meeting held on March 29. Detailed information on the proposed service and fare changes can be found at www.berkshirerta.com and will be discussed at the public meetings. All public comments will be given to Advisory Board for a final decision to be made in May.

Public comments may be submitted until April 30, 2018, by attending a hearing or sending written comments to BRTA, 1 Columbus Ave. Suite 201, Pittsfield, MA 01201, or at info@berkshirerta.com

Tags: BRTA, bus routes, public hearing, state budget,

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Pittsfield School Committee Sees Budget Calendar, Chapter 70 Concerns

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Monday, January 19, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools kicked off its fiscal year 2027 budget calendar, and are again facing uncertainties with state Chapter 70 funding.

During the first meeting of the new term on Wednesday, the School Committee OK'd an FY27 budget calendar that plans the committee's vote in mid-April. Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips stressed the importance of equity in this process.

"It's really important for us through these next couple of months to look at our different schools, our different needs, different student demographics, and really understand, are we just assigning resources equally, or are we really assigning them based on what different groups of students need?" she said.

The district could lose up to $5 million in Chapter 70 funding from declining enrollment, specifically of low-income students. This is a similar issue that PPS saw in 2024, when the discovery of 11 students meeting those income guidelines put the district in the higher funding category and added $2.4 million to the school budget.

"We are in a funding category, Group 11, for a district with a large percentage of low-income students, and that number could fluctuate depending on who exited the district," Phillips explained.

"So we're going to do our best to understand that, but ultimately, these numbers will impact the budget that is proposed to us by the governor."

According to the budget calendar, a draft budget will be presented in March, followed by a hearing in early April, and the School Committee is set to vote on the budget in mid-April. The City Charter requires it to be adopted before May 1, and a meeting with the City Council must occur no later than May 31.

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland provided an overview of the Chapter 70 funding and budget process. The budget calendar, she said, is designed to really support transparency, coordination, and legal compliance.

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