Transit Fare Hikes Rejected

Riders of the largest public transit system in western Massachusetts no longer have a possible fare hike looming.. WAMC’s Paul Tuthill reports.

            Fare increases recommended by the administrator of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority , to take effect a year from now, were rejected Wednesday by the authority’s governing board.  A coalition of groups representing the elderly, the disabled and the poor had organized to campaign against the fare hikes. John Bennett, chapter president with the Massachusetts Senior Action Council pledged to work with PVTA officials to secure more state funding..

            The legislature last week approved a $51 million dollar bailout for the state’s transit authorities to avert steep fare hikes and service cuts that would have affected riders beginning next month..