Pioneer Valley Transit Authority

Infobox Bus transit
name = Pioneer Valley Transit Authority/
UMass Transit

logo_size = 202px

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image_size = 250px
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company_slogan = Moving Forward!
parent =
founded = 1974
headquarters = 2808 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01107
locale = Pioneer Valley
service_area = Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.
service_type = Local bus transit
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hubs = 3 (downtown Northampton, Peter Pan headquarters, UMass)
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lounge =
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operator = First Transit, University of Massachusetts Amherst
ceo =
website = [http://www.pvta.com/ pvta.com] The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) oversees and coordinates public transportation in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Currently the PVTA offers fixed-route bus service as well as paratransit service for the elderly and disabled. The PVTA was created by Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws in 1974. It is based in Springfield, Massachusetts and serves Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.

Bus Service

Bus service is provided by two contractors: [http://www.pvta.com/public/contact/] First Transit and UMass Transit. First, as SATCO operates the Springfield based routes which serves the Springfield, Westfield, and Holyoke areas, and as VATCO, operates the Northampton area; and UMass Transit provides service to the Amherst area.

Students attending one of the Five Colleges are able to ride local PVTA buses without paying a fare, as a small transit fee is included in their semester bills.

Paratransit Service

Paratransit service is provided by:
*Hulmes Transportation - Eastern Tier, Belchertown, Granby, Palmer, Ware
*Hulmes Transportation - Western Tier, Agawam, Westfield, and West Springfield
*Hulmes Transportation - Northern Tier, Amherst, Easthampton, Hadley, Northampton, Sunderland, and Williamsburg
*Hulmes Transportation - Southeastern Tier, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham
*Mass Services for Seniors - Springfield Tier
*VOC - Central Tier, Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow, and South Hadley

Accounting Errors Investigation

A recent audit has revealed that the PVTA made more than $10 million in accounting errors during 2005. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17635631/] They may owe the government as much as $4 million. A federal probe also targeted the PVTA, resulting in the firing of director Gary Shepard in 2006. This investigation focused on the spending and contracting practices of the PVTA, as well as oversight of the $115 million redevelopment of the Union Station transit and retail hub in Springfield.

References

External links

* [http://www.pvta.com/ PVTA site]
* [http://www.umass.edu/campus_services/transit/ UMass Transit]