Service Advisories
NO BUS SERVICE FOR LABOR DAY
All Berkshire Regional Transit Authority offices will be closed and regular bus service will not be provided on Monday, September 6, 2010 to observe the Labor Day holiday. All regularly scheduled bus service will resume at 5:45 AM, Tuesday September 7, 2010 with the administrative office reopening at 8 AM. Specific schedule and/or route information may be obtained by calling the operations department at 1-800-292-BRTA.
The new BRTA route schedules, which are in effect as of Tuesday July 6, 2010,
click on the links below.
Route 1 Schedule (PDF) Route 2 Schedule(PDF)
Route 3 Schedule (PDF) Route 4-11 Schedule(PDF)
Route 5-15 Schedule (PDF) Route 6 Schedule(PDF)
Route 12-14 Schedule (PDF) Route 13-16 Schedule(PDF)
Route 21 Schedule (PDF) Route 31-33 Schedule(PDF)
Beginning July 6, Riders will Experience Timelier, More Efficient Transportation
The BRTA will offer expanded and improved service beginning July 6. Changes include redesigned routes, including two new circular loops in Pittsfield, and new loop service to Lenox's largest employers. "We examined our existing systems and listened to potential and current riders, employers, drivers, and educational institutions about what they wanted and needed in terms of bus service," said Gary Shepard, BRTA Administrator. "We've taken their input into account and created a new and better BRTA." Some of the old routes, he said, were rarely used; others didn't go where riders wanted to go. "We're still traveling all the roads we've traveled before; we've changed the routes so our passengers' journeys will be timely and efficient," he added, referring to two of the new loops. Most importantly, the new BRTA service will also ensure that passengers can rely on the schedules for accurate pick-up and drop-off times.
The North East Shopping Loop in Pittsfield will include the current Crane Avenue route plus areas formerly served by the Downing Industrial Park trip.
The South East Shopping Loop, also in Pittsfield, will have bi-directional service with buses running each way along the route, creating stops on the opposite sides of the street. This loop will also provide service to new locations, including Dalton Division Road in Dalton, April Lane in Pittsfield, with new stops on East Street in Pittsfield, including the Adult Learning Center and Johnson Ford.
The loop will triple the service to Wal-Mart and Stop & Shop and double the service to Downing Industrial Park, the Allendale Shopping Center, and Wahconah Street.
The Resort Loop in Lenox connects with buses running to and from Pittsfield and Lee/Stockbridge/Great Barrington. Within Lenox, it begins at Town Hall and stops at Canyon Ranch, Cranwell, Kimball Farms, heads back to Town Hall, then continues on to Tanglewood, and Kripalu before returning to Town Hall.
Other changes include an additional evening run from Great Barrington to Lee, service to Park Street in Adams, an additional evening run to Mohawk Forest in North Adams, and bi-directional service to the Williamstown Senior Center.
Fares remain the same: $1.25 per zone, with a maximum charge of four zones. Bus service runs from 5:45 am to 7:20 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 7:15 am to 7 pm on Saturdays.
Another B-Cool Summer is about to kick off. The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority's popular summer pass will be available for purchase beginning June 4, 2010. The B-Cool program offers area youth, 21 years and under, a safe, reliable, and affordable mode of summertime travel without relying upon family members for transportation.
For less than a tank of gasoline, the $25 B-Cool pass provides unlimited rides on the BRTA bus system from June 14 through September 4, 2010. All BRTA buses are equipped with bike racks all year round and accommodate 2 bicycles. BRTA bus routes throughout the county provide access to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Onota Lake, Windsor Lake, and other bike friendly locations.
Last year 319 youth purchased the B-Cool pass and used the bus a total of 7,471 trips from June 6 through September 5, for an average of 23 rides per person.
B-Cool passes are available at the BRTA administrative office at One Columbus Avenue, the operations office at 67 Downing Parkway, or from any BRTA bus driver. Group discounts are available.