GREENFIELD — The Franklin Regional Transit Authority has closed the John W. Olver Transit Center to customers, and will operate transit with reduced schedules for fixed routes in compliance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
According to Assistant Administrator Michael Perreault, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority began operating with reduced service on its fixed routes on March 25, eliminating extremely low ridership runs. The guidelines the authority is following focus on precautionary measures, including social distancing, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We continue to encourage riders to stay home when possible and only utilize public transit for essential travel,” Perreault said.
Routes now running on reduced service schedules include bus routes 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32 and 41. Seating capacity will be decreased on most buses, and customers are asked to maintain distance between themselves and others whenever possible. Additional buses will be on standby should buses begin to fill up.
In light of COVID-19, Franklin Regional Transit Authority staff will work rotating schedules. The reduced service on fixed routes is also intended to enhance the safety of drivers.
“In lieu of layoffs, drivers affected are being offered comparable shift hours dedicated to assisting fleet maintenance staff with cleaning and disinfecting buses and equipment, and to help support existing operations when needed,” Perreault said.
Demand Response (curb-to-curb service offered to seniors and veterans) and paratransit operations remain fully staffed and are continuing to operate normally. Any riders affected by the service reductions on fixed routes may contact the dispatch office to temporarily arrange transportation through a Demand Response or paratransit program.
More specific information, including full scheduling changes, can be found at frta.org and on the Franklin Regional Transit Authority Facebook page. Customer service related to fixed-route operations will be available through the dispatch office at 413-773-8090, ext. 103, from 4:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
When it comes to train service, a statement on Amtrak’s website states the company will continue to operate across the nation but has adjusted some services due to significantly reduced demand in key markets. Service routes operating on reduced schedules include the Valley Flyer, which runs between Greenfield and New Haven, Conn.
The most up-to-date schedules are available online and on the company’s mobile app. Other reduced Amtrak routes are: the Northeast Corridor (serving Boston, New York, Washington D.C. and Virginia); the Adirondack (serving New York and Montreal) with no service north of Albany, N.Y.; the Hartford Line (serving New Haven, Conn. and Springfield); the Maple Leaf (serving New York and Toronto) with no service west of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; and Keystone Service (serving Harrisburg and New York).