Berkshire Regional Transit Authority Offering Free Rides Though Saturday

By Brittany Polito05:01PM / Wednesday, July 14, 2021Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Catch a free bus ride in Berkshire County while you can.

Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is offering free rides from Monday, July 12 through Saturday, July 17 to welcome new riders and thank existing ones for their patronage.

"The BRTA is so happy to see everyone out and about," Deputy Administrator Sarah Vallieres said. "This is a big ‘thank you' to all of our customers who used our services throughout the pandemic and a 'welcome aboard' to anyone who has never traveled with us."

This is a promotion to encourage riders to use the public transportation services they offer through 13 communities in Berkshire County in the hopes of generating more interest and more ridership for the rest of the year.

It is a way to welcome back existing riders and new riders as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to lessen and more people are leaving their homes.

BRTA has made some service changes and some alterations to the transfer policy, Vallieres said, and this free week is also intended to help riders and potential riders familiarize themselves with the transportation system.

This is the first time BRTA has offered such a promotion because the authority, along with the entire world, has never experienced an event like a global pandemic that caused such disruption in life.

"The BRTA does offer free rides on your birthday, but nothing for a full week of service," Vallieres added.

In the month of June, there were 30,468 riders on the fixed-route bus system. The BRTA's numbers are trending upwards as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic lessens.

Specific schedule or route information may be obtained by contacting the operations department at 1-800-292-BRTA extension 1 or by visiting the BRTA website.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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