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PVTA reports fare-free trial, rising ridership and expanded electric-charging capacity
Summary
PVTA told the MPO it went fare-free on Nov. 1, reporting ridership increases (Sept. +14%, Oct. +12%) and weekend growth; the agency is upgrading depot charging to support more electric buses and expanding maintenance capacity.
PVTA staff updated the MPO on a series of operational changes and facility upgrades, including a fare‑free pilot, ridership recovery and charging‑infrastructure expansion.
Sandra Sheehan (PVTA) said the authority went fare‑free Nov. 1 and expects the policy to continue through at least June 30, with possible extension if funds remain. Sheehan reported year‑over‑year ridership gains of 14% in September and 12% in October, with particularly strong weekend growth (Saturday +32%, Sunday +36%). Paratransit ridership rose about 12% and PVTA’s recovery rate is approximately 93.5% of 2019 levels.
PVTA has completed phase one of an upgrade at its Cottage Street garage that replaces six 60‑kilowatt chargers with higher‑capacity 180‑kilowatt chargers; the upgrade enables simultaneous charging of up to 18 buses. Phase two, which will be bid in January, will add capacity for an additional 20 pantograph chargers. The agency is also expanding maintenance capacity at the UMass transit facility to service 60‑foot buses and is procuring a mix of electric and hybrid replacement buses.
Sheehan said service additions and frequency improvements (including coordinated service with FRTA) have driven longer‑term ridership growth on specific corridors; she highlighted a route that increased frequency from 60 to 45, and later to 30 minutes, with ridership on that route rising to about 16,000 monthly passengers.
MPO members commended PVTA for the increases and encouraged staff to keep monitoring performance while planning for fleet and facility transitions.
