PITTSFIELD, Mass.—The sleigh bells are ringing, and so are the coins in Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) Riders' pockets thanks to the Try Transit initiative.

 

Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) has again wheeled out the Try Transit initiative, offering free bus and complementary Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services until Dec. 31. 

 

"So it's a way to really see if this is something that will work during this program, and then again afterward," BRTA Administrator Robert Malnati said.

 

BRTA was granted $179,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to fund this state initiative through Dec. 31. The program will return in June and July of this year.

 

Malnati said the program is absolutely a benefit to regular riders who may not own a vehicle but also offers new riders to try out the service 

 

"You can really change your pattern of either going into work or going shopping - say ‘well will the bus work for me to bring me where I want to go in the times that I want to be there'," he said. 

 

He added that it offers a chance for residents who may own a car to save a few dollars during the holiday season. He noted that gas, car insurance, and maintenance is expensive. 

 

For those with a car, BRTA sees an uptick in ridership when there is a snowstorm because drivers may not feel safe to drive in unsafe conditions or want to avoid clearing the snow off their car, Malnati said. 

 

BRTA has run the program in the past but only for days or weeks at a time. Only last year did they start running the program for an entire month of December.

 

The initiative started last year after all 15 Commonwealth regional transit authorities banded together to submit a joint application and implemented a plan. 

 

Last year BRTA set a goal of 55,000 riders and fell a little under 54,000. This year a goal of 60,000 riders seemed attainable because they have seen an increase in riders over the first quarter from what they had last year. 

 

Malnati said over last year they have seen increased ridership of about 10 percent.

 

"It is a smidge over last year, but it is positive," he said.

 

During the summer months, Malnati hopes the fare-free initiative will improve the accessibility of venues in the area and expose both residents and tourists to these locations.