NORTHAMPTON — New federal funding grants and a new law signed by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey aim to bolster the state’s public transportation systems, including the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority.
The PVTA will receive $4.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Buses & Bus Facilities Program, with the goal of upgrading its Northampton Transit Bus Garage, improving the authority’s ability to maintain its current bus fleet and increase employee safety.
Brandy Pelletier, PVTA spokesperson, said in an email that upgrades to the facility located in the Northampton Industrial Park, also known as the Northampton Operations and Management facility, includes the replacement of three in-ground bus lifts, one of which is no longer operational. The bus lifts are used for routine bus maintenance.
“The working environment in the garage will be overhauled with new floor coating, LED light fixtures, vehicle exhaust reels, code-compliant ventilation, high-flow sprinklers, ADA-compliant doors and restrooms, and various other improvements,” Pelletier stated. “The renovations will be conducted in a single phase to minimize disruption to PVTA operations and passenger travel.”
In addition to the money received from the FTA, the PVTA will also receive $1.1 million in matching funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MAssDOT), according to Pelletier.
The money was part of more than $105 million awarded to transit authorities across the state. Other grants included $8.4 million to the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority for preventive maintenance and to replace four diesel buses in its system with hybrid electric buses. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) received $78.6 million of the total grants awarded, also for the procurement of hybrid buses.
“Reliable, affordable public transit is a lifeline for families in Central and Western Massachusetts,” said U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, whose district includes much of Hampshire and Franklin counties, in a statement regarding the grants. “This federal investment will help our regional transit authorities replace aging buses, cut harmful emissions, and keep riders safe and moving.”
Transit worker protections
In addition to the latest funding, transit workers for the PVTA are also set to received additional protections, after Healey signed a law last week that offers them more legal protections by adding them to the list of public employees under the states assault and battery laws.
According to the PVTA, in fiscal year 2024 the agency had 132 assaults on transit operators. Of those assaults, 113 were verbal assaults and 19 were physical, the agency said.
The bill signed into law by Healey, known as “An act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker” imposes heightened penalties for assault and battery against public employees. The bill also makes it clear that assault and battery include the use of any bodily substance like saliva or urine. Offenders under the new bill face a sentence ranging from 90 days to two and a half years in a house of correction, a fine between $500 to $5,000 or both.
“This law sends a clear message that violence and harassment against those who serve the public will not be tolerated, and the safety of our operators is a top priority,” Pelletier said in a statement.