MetroWest Regional Transit Authority
Encyclopedia
The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) is a regional public transit authority in the state of Massachusetts
providing bus and paratransit
service to eleven communities in the Boston MetroWest
. The MWRTA was formed in 2006 and began service on July 1, 2007 with the purpose of filling a void in public transportation service in the MetroWest. Through a commitment to deliver expanded public transportation service to the business and commercial hubs across the MetroWest region, the goals and purpose of the MWRTA are embodied in its mission statement: "Build a public transportation system to deliver convenient and dependable service that enhances mobility, environmental quality and economic vitality in the region." Funding for the MWRTA comes partially from the state and local governments of the communities it operates within.
The eleven member communities of the MWRTA currently receive varying levels of service: Ashland
, Framingham
, Holliston
, Hopkinton
, Marlborough
, Natick
, and Southborough
receive fixed-route bus spread over ten routes and paratransit service while Sherborn
, Sudbury
, Wayland
, and Weston
receive only paratransit service.
service is a flexible passenger transportation service which does not follow fixed routes or schedules. According to ADA requirements
, the MWRTA must provide paratransit service as a curb-to-curb service to eligible residents having a physical, cognitive, or mental disability within a 3/4 mile radius of a fixed route regular bus service. In addition, MWRTA paratransit service is also provided to eligible residents within any of its eleven member communities. All MWRTA buses are equipped with lift systems to accommodate the physically handicapped along their regular fixed routes. The MWRTA also provides paratransit service to MWRTA service area border towns at an increased fare. The paratransit service is provided in the form of a call-ahead multi-passenger shuttle allowing disabled residents of MWRTA communities to be picked up at their houses and shuttled to any other location within or bordering the MWRTA service region, such as other residences, grocery stores, hospitals, or job sites.
Prior to the creation of the MWRTA, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
provided part of its paratransit service, called The RIDE (see MBTA accessibility
) to the two communities of Framingham and Natick within the current MWRTA service area. The MBTA continue to provide The RIDE to Framingham and Natick until 2009 under contractual obligations. On July 1, 2009, administration of paratransit service to Framingham and Natick switched from the MBTA to MWRTA in alignment with the change in assessments paid to the MWRTA by those communities rather than to the MBTA.
cutaway-based 18-passenger buses. All buses contain lift systems capable of carrying up to 800 pounds for physically disabled passengers.
The MWRTA partnership with GeoGraphics Lab provides live-updates of bus locations via an online map service. The service displays current bus locations on a map with the use of bus-mounted GPS
devices. The map service also allows the individual bus routes to be displayed overlaying the map.
Transfers are provided free of charge between buses with the use of a transfer coupon. Transfer coupons must be requested from the driver of the bus upon exiting the bus and displayed to the driver of the bus to be transferred to upon entry. The transfer coupon must be used within 30 minutes of receipt.
In November 2010, the MWRTA started accepting fares electronically via the MBTA CharlieCard
. Stored Value CharlieCard users are offered a discounted local fare of $1.10 (or a Woodland fare of $2.20). Senior/Disabled passengers are also offered a discounted fare when using the appropriate Senior/Disabled CharlieCards.
10 ride passes are in the process of being phased out.
included legislation pushed by Karen Spilka
and other MetroWest area legislators. The legislation opened the possibility of a new Regional Transit Authority to be formed in the MetroWest region. The legislation states that any community providing an annual assessment to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
but not served directly by the MBTA may form their own Regional Transit Authority (RTA) using that funding instead.
Under the advisement of the legislation, the MWRTA was created in Framingham
with the neighboring communities of Holliston
, Hopkinton
, Natick
, Ashland
, and Wayland
. At the time, Framingham had its own community bus system called The LIFT (Local Inter Framingham Transit), so the newly-formed MWRTA was based on The LIFT. With this system, the communities of the MWRTA would have a basis for their new RTA.
across two routes spanning more than 25 miles combined.
to regions of the Greater Boston Area. Prior to the creation of the MWRTA, the MBTA provided paratransit service to the MWRTA member communities of Framingham and Natick through The RIDE. Due to the formation of the MWRTA as a new Regional Transit Authority (RTA) within the MetroWest, annual assessments can now be funneled toward the MWRTA rather than the MBTA, and, in the future, service will switch hands accordingly. Administration of paratransit service to Framingham and Natick will switch from the MBTA to the MWRTA on July 1, 2009.
Framingham/Worcester Line
which focuses more on Boston inbound traffic during the morning hours, and outbound traffic from Boston to Framingham during the evening hours. Consequently, the commuter rail provides less frequent service in the opposite direction during those respective times. The Green Line shuttle instead links the MWRTA bus system with the MBTA subway system and provides service every twenty-five minutes during morning and evening commute hours.
is a member community of the MWRTA, but does not receive fixed route bus service. Prior to the creation of the MWRTA, Sherborn paid annual assessments to the MBTA although it did not receive public transportation service. Since joining the MWRTA, selectmen conducted surveys through mass mailings to the residents of Sherborn, and responses were mostly positive toward creating a bus route between downtown Sherborn and a Natick commuter-rail station.
and Hudson
joining the MWRTA. However, neither is seen to join in the near future due to fiscal constraints in both communities. Currently, neither community pays local assessments to the MBTA. Thus, unlike the other member communities, funding could not be diverted from the MBTA to the MWRTA; they would need to make additional budgetary allotments to become members of the MWRTA.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
providing bus and paratransit
Paratransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
service to eleven communities in the Boston MetroWest
MetroWest
MetroWest is a cluster of cities and towns lying west of Boston and east of Worcester, in the US state of Massachusetts. The name was coined in the 1980s by a local newspaper....
. The MWRTA was formed in 2006 and began service on July 1, 2007 with the purpose of filling a void in public transportation service in the MetroWest. Through a commitment to deliver expanded public transportation service to the business and commercial hubs across the MetroWest region, the goals and purpose of the MWRTA are embodied in its mission statement: "Build a public transportation system to deliver convenient and dependable service that enhances mobility, environmental quality and economic vitality in the region." Funding for the MWRTA comes partially from the state and local governments of the communities it operates within.
The eleven member communities of the MWRTA currently receive varying levels of service: Ashland
Ashland, Massachusetts
Ashland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the MetroWest region. The population was 16,593 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
, Holliston
Holliston, Massachusetts
Holliston is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Greater Boston area. The population was 13,547 at the 2010 census. It is part of the region known as MetroWest. Holliston is the only town in Middlesex County that borders both Norfolk and Worcester...
, Hopkinton
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, just under 30 miles west and south of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day in April, and as the home of computer storage firm EMC Corporation.For geographic and demographic...
, Marlborough
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...
, Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
, and Southborough
Southborough, Massachusetts
Southborough is an affluent town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It incorporates the smaller villages of Cordaville, Fayville, and Southville. Its name is often informally shortened to Southboro, a usage seen on many area signs and maps. Its population was 9,767 at the 2010...
receive fixed-route bus spread over ten routes and paratransit service while Sherborn
Sherborn, Massachusetts
Sherborn is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is in area code 508 and has the ZIP code 01770. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the town population was 4,119. The assessed value of the town for the fiscal year 2005 is $1,008,146,994....
, Sudbury
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
, Wayland
Wayland, Massachusetts
Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,994 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on Cochituate, which is part of Wayland, please see the article Cochituate, Massachusetts.-History:...
, and Weston
Weston, Massachusetts
Weston is a suburb of Boston located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Boston metro area. The population of Weston, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, is 11,261....
receive only paratransit service.
Paratransit
ParatransitParatransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
service is a flexible passenger transportation service which does not follow fixed routes or schedules. According to ADA requirements
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
, the MWRTA must provide paratransit service as a curb-to-curb service to eligible residents having a physical, cognitive, or mental disability within a 3/4 mile radius of a fixed route regular bus service. In addition, MWRTA paratransit service is also provided to eligible residents within any of its eleven member communities. All MWRTA buses are equipped with lift systems to accommodate the physically handicapped along their regular fixed routes. The MWRTA also provides paratransit service to MWRTA service area border towns at an increased fare. The paratransit service is provided in the form of a call-ahead multi-passenger shuttle allowing disabled residents of MWRTA communities to be picked up at their houses and shuttled to any other location within or bordering the MWRTA service region, such as other residences, grocery stores, hospitals, or job sites.
Prior to the creation of the MWRTA, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
provided part of its paratransit service, called The RIDE (see MBTA accessibility
MBTA accessibility
Physical accessibility on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system is incomplete but improving, with accessibility on all buses , all Orange Line stations, all but 2 Red Line stations, and all but 2 Blue Line stations...
) to the two communities of Framingham and Natick within the current MWRTA service area. The MBTA continue to provide The RIDE to Framingham and Natick until 2009 under contractual obligations. On July 1, 2009, administration of paratransit service to Framingham and Natick switched from the MBTA to MWRTA in alignment with the change in assessments paid to the MWRTA by those communities rather than to the MBTA.
Buses
The MWRTA provides eleven fixed bus routes across a service region including seven of its member communities. The fleet consists of twenty Ford E-SeriesFord E-Series
The Ford E-Series, formerly known as the Econoline or Club Wagon, is a line of full-size vans and truck chassis from the Ford Motor Company. The E-Series is related to the Ford F-Series line of pickup trucks. The line was introduced in 1961 as a compact van and its descendants are still produced...
cutaway-based 18-passenger buses. All buses contain lift systems capable of carrying up to 800 pounds for physically disabled passengers.
Routes
Displayed below is the MWRTA route listing. Following each route entry is a listing of points of interest which can be reached along the route. All routes start and end at the central hub in Framingham except for Route 9.| Route | Destinations of Interest |
|---|---|
| Route 1 - Green Line Shuttle | Staples Drive, MathWorks, Woodland Green Line T Stop Woodland (MBTA station) Woodland is a street-level station on the "D" branch of the MBTA Green Line. The station is located at 1940 Washington Street in Newton. The station is 42 minutes away from Park Street... , 9/27 Plaza, Natick Collection Natick Collection The Natick Mall, formerly named the Natick Collection from February 2007 to July 2011, is a large shopping mall owned by General Growth Properties . It is located between routes 9 and 30 in Natick, Massachusetts and is adjacent to Shoppers World in Framingham, Massachusetts... , and Flutie Pass |
| Route 2 - Framingham Circuit (clockwise) | Downtown Framingham to Saxonville, Nobscot, MetroWest Medical Center MetroWest Medical Center MetroWest Medical Center is a teaching hospital in Framingham and Natick, Massachusetts.It is the largest health care provider in the MetroWest region between Boston and Worcester. MWMC was formed by the merger of two hospitals in neighboring towns: Framingham Union Hospital and Natick's Leonard... , and the Natick Collection mall area |
| Route 3 - Framingham Circuit (counter clockwise) | Downtown Framingham to Saxonville, Nobscot, MetroWest Medical Center MetroWest Medical Center MetroWest Medical Center is a teaching hospital in Framingham and Natick, Massachusetts.It is the largest health care provider in the MetroWest region between Boston and Worcester. MWMC was formed by the merger of two hospitals in neighboring towns: Framingham Union Hospital and Natick's Leonard... , and the Natick Collection mall area (Route 2 counter clockwise) |
| Route 4 - Market Basket / Beaver Park / Natick Mall | Downtown Framingham, to Market Basket, Beaver Park, Shoppers World, Sherwood Plaza, and the Natick Collection mall area |
| Route 5 - Hopkinton Line | Downtown Hopkinton via Ashland to the Framingham Commuter Rail Station |
| Route 6 - Milford Line | Downtown Milford via Holliston and Ashland to the Framingham Commuter Rail station |
| Route 7 - Marlborough Line | Downtown Marlborough via Southborough and Solomon Pond Mall Solomon Pond Mall The Solomon Pond Mall is operated and co-owned by Simon Property Group and is located off Interstate 290, near its terminus at Interstate 495, in Marlborough, Massachusetts.... |
| Route 9 - Route 9 | Various stops along Massachusetts Route 9 from Western Framingham to the Natick Collection mall area |
| Route 10 - Natick Daily Route | Natick Commuter Rail Stations, downtown Natick, and the Natick Collection mall area |
| Route 11 - Natick Mid-Day | Natick Commuter Rail Stations, downtown Natick, and the Natick Collection mall area (Route 10 counter-clockwise) |
| Natick Commuter Shuttle | Both Natick Commuter Rail stations and areas around Natick |
The MWRTA partnership with GeoGraphics Lab provides live-updates of bus locations via an online map service. The service displays current bus locations on a map with the use of bus-mounted GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
devices. The map service also allows the individual bus routes to be displayed overlaying the map.
Fares
Passes may be purchased in single or ten-ride quantities. Fare costs are as follows:| Age Group | Single | Ten-Ride Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | $1.50 | $11.00 |
| Students with ID or under age 18 | $1.00 | $9.00 |
| Elderly age 65 or disabled showing appropriate ID | $0.75 | $7.00 |
| Children under age six accompanied by a paying adult | free | |
Transfers are provided free of charge between buses with the use of a transfer coupon. Transfer coupons must be requested from the driver of the bus upon exiting the bus and displayed to the driver of the bus to be transferred to upon entry. The transfer coupon must be used within 30 minutes of receipt.
In November 2010, the MWRTA started accepting fares electronically via the MBTA CharlieCard
CharlieCard
The CharlieCard is a MIFARE-based, contactless, stored value smart card used for electronic ticketing as part of the Automated Fare Collection system installed by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority at its stations and on its vehicles...
. Stored Value CharlieCard users are offered a discounted local fare of $1.10 (or a Woodland fare of $2.20). Senior/Disabled passengers are also offered a discounted fare when using the appropriate Senior/Disabled CharlieCards.
10 ride passes are in the process of being phased out.
The birth of the MWRTA
In 2006, an Economic Stimulus Bill passed in the Commonwealth of MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
included legislation pushed by Karen Spilka
Karen Spilka
Karen E. Spilka is a Massachusetts State Senator of the Democratic Party. She represents the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District. That includes Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton and Natick, precincts 1 to 5, inclusive, and 8, in the county of Middlesex; Franklin, precincts 1 and 5 to 8,...
and other MetroWest area legislators. The legislation opened the possibility of a new Regional Transit Authority to be formed in the MetroWest region. The legislation states that any community providing an annual assessment to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
but not served directly by the MBTA may form their own Regional Transit Authority (RTA) using that funding instead.
Under the advisement of the legislation, the MWRTA was created in Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
with the neighboring communities of Holliston
Holliston, Massachusetts
Holliston is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Greater Boston area. The population was 13,547 at the 2010 census. It is part of the region known as MetroWest. Holliston is the only town in Middlesex County that borders both Norfolk and Worcester...
, Hopkinton
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, just under 30 miles west and south of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day in April, and as the home of computer storage firm EMC Corporation.For geographic and demographic...
, Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
, Ashland
Ashland, Massachusetts
Ashland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the MetroWest region. The population was 16,593 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, and Wayland
Wayland, Massachusetts
Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,994 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on Cochituate, which is part of Wayland, please see the article Cochituate, Massachusetts.-History:...
. At the time, Framingham had its own community bus system called The LIFT (Local Inter Framingham Transit), so the newly-formed MWRTA was based on The LIFT. With this system, the communities of the MWRTA would have a basis for their new RTA.
Natick neighborhood bus system
As part of the growth of the MWRTA and due to Natick joining the system, Natick's own Neighborhood Bus system was incorporated into the MWRTA in the summer of 2008. Rates rose from $1 to $1.50 for adults with the rate hike justified as allowing residents of Natick to move anywhere in the system, as far out as Marlborough. The incorporation of this system created a link of service from Natick to MarlboroughMarlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...
across two routes spanning more than 25 miles combined.
The RIDE
The RIDE is a paratransit service provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
to regions of the Greater Boston Area. Prior to the creation of the MWRTA, the MBTA provided paratransit service to the MWRTA member communities of Framingham and Natick through The RIDE. Due to the formation of the MWRTA as a new Regional Transit Authority (RTA) within the MetroWest, annual assessments can now be funneled toward the MWRTA rather than the MBTA, and, in the future, service will switch hands accordingly. Administration of paratransit service to Framingham and Natick will switch from the MBTA to the MWRTA on July 1, 2009.
MBTA Green Line shuttle
Green Line shuttle service is targeted at commuters traveling to work in the Metrowest from Boston. It poses an alternative to the MBTA Commuter RailMBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
Framingham/Worcester Line
Framingham/Worcester Line
The Framingham/Worcester Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from Boston, Massachusetts to Worcester, Massachusetts, though some trains terminate at Framingham, Massachusetts...
which focuses more on Boston inbound traffic during the morning hours, and outbound traffic from Boston to Framingham during the evening hours. Consequently, the commuter rail provides less frequent service in the opposite direction during those respective times. The Green Line shuttle instead links the MWRTA bus system with the MBTA subway system and provides service every twenty-five minutes during morning and evening commute hours.
Within the service region
The MWRTA is discussing expansion of bus service within its service region particularly to the four communities which receive only paratransit service. In particular, SherbornSherborn, Massachusetts
Sherborn is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is in area code 508 and has the ZIP code 01770. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the town population was 4,119. The assessed value of the town for the fiscal year 2005 is $1,008,146,994....
is a member community of the MWRTA, but does not receive fixed route bus service. Prior to the creation of the MWRTA, Sherborn paid annual assessments to the MBTA although it did not receive public transportation service. Since joining the MWRTA, selectmen conducted surveys through mass mailings to the residents of Sherborn, and responses were mostly positive toward creating a bus route between downtown Sherborn and a Natick commuter-rail station.
Milford and Hudson
The MWRTA advisory board discussed the idea of MilfordMilford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
and Hudson
Hudson, Massachusetts
Hudson is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,063 at the 2010 census. The town is located in central Massachusetts, about a 40-minute drive, or about , west of Boston, and about a 20-minute drive, or about , northeast of Worcester.Before its...
joining the MWRTA. However, neither is seen to join in the near future due to fiscal constraints in both communities. Currently, neither community pays local assessments to the MBTA. Thus, unlike the other member communities, funding could not be diverted from the MBTA to the MWRTA; they would need to make additional budgetary allotments to become members of the MWRTA.