PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Robert Malnati's been getting people on the bus for more than two decades — and he's hoping to see ridership on the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority hit a record before he retires next year. 

 

"We might be over 600,000 riders this year. That's huge. That is huge," said the BRTA administrator. "We probably haven't seen that number since probably the '70s."

 

Malnati became the transportation agency's sixth director in its 50-year history in 2014, succeeding Gary Shepard. He started as deputy administrator in 2002; his contract will be expiring next year after 23 years. 

 

"It's a learning experience. It's a humbling experience, because you don't know how many lives you touch. And the impact that this system can have ... I mean, you hear stories here and there. The person that doesn't drive any longer ... and now can become more mobile with their friends. That's huge," he said. "How many of those stories are out there that don't get told, finding out that you can now take the bus because it's later in the evening to go to work or to come home from work, or you get home from working, you go to the grocery store. 

 

"Before those options weren't there. So, yeah, I just like to see that whole thing prosper, become stronger."

 

He'd like to see the ridership continue to grow, and hear from riders how routes can be augmented to make them work a little better or easier.

 

"Or are there different pockets that are now using the bus that didn't six months ago because it wasn't free, and now that they've found that it's free, that that does work for them?" Malnati said. "Let's see what we can do so to maintain that higher ridership."

 

During his tenure, he's seen the BRTA add accessible vehicles, extend fare-free services, add five eco-friendly buses, restructure routes to better serve riders and begin studies to bring microtransit to the county.

 

Malnati is working toward figuring out his fleet of buses and what needs to be changed or updated, now that ridership is gaining.

 

"Every day's been different. It's been a great experience. It's been fun. There's ups, there's downs, budget season is terrible, but you know, you deal with it and I think it's a very rewarding experience here, dealing with customers on a daily basis," he said. "Like I said, every day is different. You can have a plan, but you know, life changes those real quick."

 

Malnati celebrated the BRTA's 50th anniversary last year with a fleet of hybrid buses and free rides for customers.