NORTHFIELD During its first meeting as a five-member board on Tuesday, the Selectboard appointed a new chair and decided on its representatives to town committees, special projects and regional organizations.During the May 4 town election, new.
Local legislators seek moratorium on med rides program consolidation
An FRTA bus arrives at the John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield. STAFF FILE PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
Modified: 5/11/2021 1:53:02 PM
GREENFIELD The governor is looking to consolidate a program of the local transit authority that provides low-income people and those with disabilities with a ride to medical appointments that would mean oversight by an agency about 100 miles away. But the area’s legislators are trying to put a moratorium on any such decision and signing of contracts for the next two years.
Gov. Charlie Baker wants to sign a contract that would consolidate the Human Service Transportation system from six regions run by six regional transit authorities, including the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA), to three regions that would be managed by two transit authorities. The one that would manage Franklin County would be located in the Fitchburg/Leominster area.
Local legislators seek moratorium on med rides program consolidation
An FRTA bus arrives at the John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield. STAFF FILE PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
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GREENFIELD The governor is looking to consolidate a program of the local transit authority that provides low-income people and those with disabilities with a ride to medical appointments that would mean oversight by an agency about 100 miles away. But the area’s legislators are trying to put a moratorium on any such decision and signing of contracts for the next two years.
Gov. Charlie Baker wants to sign a contract that would consolidate the Human Service Transportation system from six regions run by six regional transit authorities, including the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA), to three regions that would be managed by two transit authorities. The one that would manage Franklin County would be located in the Fitchburg/Leominster area.
Editorial: Monday Shorts: Taxi!
Published: 4/25/2021 4:16:50 PM
Here are some brief thoughts on recent happenings in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.
One of the biggest roadblocks to employment in a rural county is transportation. The 101 cities and towns that make up metropolitan Boston boast subways, trains and buses, none of which we have to a practical extent around here, where cars rule.
For want of a car, jobs are lost.
Late-shift workers are especially vulnerable. To address this problem, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) announced a pilot program funded by the Metro Area Planning Council creating a bridge service to allow late-shift workers time to fix or buy a car and thus become self-sufficient, explained FRTA Assistant Administrator Michael Perreault.
Franklin County legislators fight state move to take ride service from transit agency
An FRTA bus at the John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield. STAFF FILE PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
Published: 4/21/2021 5:11:50 PM
A group of Franklin County lawmakers is keeping up the pressure on the Baker administration to back away from its plan to consolidate a state-run transportation service that provides access to health care appointments and other services.
Five legislators, three from the House and two from the Senate, wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders on Friday to express their concern that the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) will no longer be allowed to participate in the Human Service Transportation (HST) program.