Free bus service anticipated to be extended in Worcester
Another year of free public transportation is expected to be offered in Worcester.
The Worcester City Council has supported a resolution to support not charging for fares on the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) buses. Zero fares will expire at the end of this year without this extension from the WRTA.
Moe Bergman, At-Large Councilor who introduced the resolution, said that there should be no fares required on buses because the city has the funds to support it. Bergman added that free buses provide an alternative to driving, helping locals save money on gas.
Some concern has been expressed by Khrystian King, At-Large Councilor, that there has not been enough publicity about the zero-fare policy. Eric Batista, acting city manager, said that the responsibility for such publicity is that of the WRTA and not the city. The WRTA has recently hired a new marketing manager to help with such efforts. Such policies can be promoted and advertised throughout the city with many kinds of printing services, such as flyers, posters, and even mailers to residents.
Over 30 cities and towns across the region are served by the WRTA, including Grafton, Millbury, Shrewsbury, and Clinton, as well as Worcester. King hopes that the zero-fare policy will enable the WRTA to have the most accessed and most used ridership in Massachusetts.
The Worcester City Council has supported a resolution to support not charging for fares on the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) buses. Zero fares will expire at the end of this year without this extension from the WRTA.
Moe Bergman, At-Large Councilor who introduced the resolution, said that there should be no fares required on buses because the city has the funds to support it. Bergman added that free buses provide an alternative to driving, helping locals save money on gas.
Some concern has been expressed by Khrystian King, At-Large Councilor, that there has not been enough publicity about the zero-fare policy. Eric Batista, acting city manager, said that the responsibility for such publicity is that of the WRTA and not the city. The WRTA has recently hired a new marketing manager to help with such efforts. Such policies can be promoted and advertised throughout the city with many kinds of printing services, such as flyers, posters, and even mailers to residents.
Over 30 cities and towns across the region are served by the WRTA, including Grafton, Millbury, Shrewsbury, and Clinton, as well as Worcester. King hopes that the zero-fare policy will enable the WRTA to have the most accessed and most used ridership in Massachusetts.