FAB funding not so 'fabulous' at this point in the budget cycle!

Did you know Franklin is served by a Regional Transportation Authority? The Franklin Area Bus (FAB) is operated by the Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA).

"Among the budget items being negotiated on Beacon Hill are increases in funding for the state's Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs). 

The RTAs have not received an increase in state assistance or an inflation adjustment in more than three years, though they have seen increases in operating costs for negotiated wages, health care, fuel, and insurance. Governor Baker has proposed level funding at $80 million, the House version of the budget calls for $82 million, and the Senate's version calls for $88 million. 

Regional transit administrators and their supporters say that if they don't receive the proposed $88 million, there will be further service cuts for the more than 32 million riders who use the 15 RTAs throughout the Commonwealth. Most riders are low-income or elderly people who have few, if any, alternative transportation options."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2018/07/16/regional-transit-authorities-anxiously-await-budget-deal

Updated 7/19/18 noon: email confirmation that $88M was in the budget document sent to the Governor per Rep Jeff Roy

"I have confirmed that the Regional Transit Authorities were funded at $88 million in the budget we passed yesterday. Here is the line item:

1595-6370 For an operating transfer to the regional transit authorities organized under chapter 161B of the General Laws, or any prior laws, under clause (2) of subsection (d) of section 2ZZZ of chapter 29 of the General Laws; provided, that each regional transit authority receiving assistance under this item shall deliver not later than October 1, 2018, a copy of its most recent audited financial statement to the chief financial officer of the Massachusetts department of transportation, the secretary of administration and finance, the treasurer of the commonwealth, the comptroller of the commonwealth, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on transportation ........................... $88,000,00

Franklin Area Bus

What is the FAB schedule?

http://www.gatra.org/index.php/routes/bellingham-franklin/franklin-area-bus/

The archive has several articles on GATRA/FAB going back to 2009

http://www.franklinmatters.org/search?q=gatra

The GATRA home page can be found http://www.gatra.org/

Federal Funds Boost 10 Regional Transit Authorities

Some Federal money can be coming to GATRA according to this

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Federal Funds Boost 10 Regional Transit Authorities

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 10/2/12

Governor Deval Patrick and MassDOT announced today that MassDOT will award $13.2 million to 10 Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to make needed capital investments including new bus purchases and facility repairs.

The funds are available as part of the Obama Administration's "We Can't Wait" initiative that allows states to repurpose unused federal transportation earmarks (from 2003 to 2006) for use on highway and transit projects that are able to obligate the funds by the end of the year.

Projects selected represent RTAs across the Commonwealth and are focused on state of good repair including bus replacements along with customer service improvements, such as Real-time customer information signs for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, above, and major projects already underway such as the Gallagher Terminal Garage in Lowell.

"The Obama Administration has made a smart decision to put unspent dollars into necessary projects that create jobs," said Governor Deval Patrick.  "These projects reflect our commitment to improve public transportation for residents across the Commonwealth."

The repurposed earmark funds are 100% federal funding, require no state match and must be used for capital needs.  MassDOT selected the 11 projects from a list of 28 project requests totaling $45.6 million from the state's 15 RTAs.

The 11 projects were selected based on the likelihood of the individual RTA's ability to obligate funds by the end of December and spend all funds in the near-term.  The funded project list includes the following:

• Berkshire RTA-  Four 14-passenger vans w/ fare boxes, $420,000  
• Berkshire RTA-  Maintenance facility roof, $250,000   
• Brockton Area Transit- Three 35' Hybrid transit buses and two 35' diesel transit buses, $2.6 million                       
• Cape Ann Transportation Authority- Maintenance facility roof, $408,179   
• Greater Attleboro-Taunton RTA- Two 30' transit buses, $740,000    
• Lowell RTA- Gallagher Terminal parking garage replacement, $2.5 million           

• Martha's Vineyard RTA-  Three 27' buses and one 30' bus, $1,085,000     
• Montachusett RTA- Wachusett Commuter Rail Extension, $3.6 million     
• Nantucket RTA-  Four 25' transit buses, $749,000       

• Pioneer Valley Transit Authority- Real-time customer information signs, $450,000         
• Southeastern Regional Transit Authority- Parking deck resurface, fireproofing replacement, $370,000    

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"If you really want us, you gotta ride us"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 18, 2009 @ 10:21 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Franklin may lose its bus service if more people don't start riding the bus, officials warned in a roundtable discussion with the public at the Senior Center yesterday.

"It's been tough. I don't want to say it's going to end, but I do want to say there's some urgency," said George Colajezzi, a marketing consultant for the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority.

GATRA, which provides bus service via the Franklin Area Bus, just finished its 52nd week of service and has fallen short of projected ridership, Colajezzi said.

An average of 149 people ride the bus every week, he said, which is about 100 fewer than what GATRA wants.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

GATRA still needs riders!

Did you know that GATRA has been operating here in Franklin for one year already?

Yes, it is true. They completed 52 weeks of service last week. They have provided free rides, coupons, and the ridership is only an average 149 per week. This is at least 100 below the target they set out with the Town to achieve when they began.

Will they be able to continue?

The decision is pending. Much like a lot of other areas. The resources are being looked at to see if they can justify the usage.
How can you help?

Consider riding GATRA. Look at the schedule here. Consider walking to one of the roads along the route and flag the bus down. Assuming, it is a good place to stop, they will.

Do you have any ideas on how to increase riders?

GATRA would love to hear from you. You can contact them through their web site here

GATRA - Franklin Area Bus

What:

Needs YOUR input to help us determine the future of the Franklin Area Bus

When:

Wednesday, March 18th - 4:00 p.m.

Where:

Franklin Senior Center - 10 Daniel McCahill Street

GATRA - Franklin Area Bus

What:

Needs YOUR input to help us determine the future of the Franklin Area Bus

When:

Wednesday, March 18th - 4:00 p.m.

Where:

Franklin Senior Center - 10 Daniel McCahill Street

GATRA "free ride" coupons

Yes, it is true, there is a "free ride" coupon coming for the GATRA Franklin bus.

Where do you get a coupon?

This Friday’s (November 7, 2008) edition of The Country Gazette will have a 2” x 2” orange coupon also known as an “Ad Note” affixed to the front page of 10,000 copies of the paper. The “Ad Note” is a “peel off” good for a FREE RIDE. The “coupon” is good immediately up to and including Saturday, December 20, 2008.

If your neighbor doesn't want to use it, ask them for it?

If you can't use it, give it to some one who will use it!

That's helping someone get at least one ride free.