BRTA Gets 'Clean Bus' Grant

02:38PM / Wednesday, June 28, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) recived a $2,212,747 grant to purchase diesel-electric hybrid buses to replace older buses and new hydraulic heavy duty vehicle repair lifts at its maintenance facility.

The project will improve transit worker safety, state of good repair, and increase service reliability for riders.?

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Low- and No- Emission Program (Low-No) award of approximately $31.3 million total to four Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) for the purchase of hybrid-electric and battery-electric buses. Funding from this grant award will also be used to purchase vehicle repair and charging equipment, as well as for the development of regional workforce training programs.

The awards are part of the second bus grant package that has been funded by the Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. MassDOT will provide the required matching funds for these FTA awards. ??

"We are grateful for the support from our federal partners at the FTA in funding clean and low-emission buses for several Regional Transit Authorities," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Gina Fiandaca. "This funding will allow our RTAs to make critical upgrades to facilities and vehicles to better serve their communities' transportation needs while working toward the Healey-Driscoll Administration's climate goals."?

FTA's Low- and No-Emission Program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease American-built low- or zero-emission vehicles, including buses and vans, to make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles, and to purchase supporting equipment including chargers for battery electric vehicles.? The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion through FY 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times more than the previous five years of funding combined. For FY 2023, approximately $1.22 billion was available for grants under this program.?

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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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