Blogging with the R.A.C. – Page 2 – Riders Action Council

Meet the Route: The 5!

Massachusetts Audubon Broadmeadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary is a sanctuary for the people of Worcester. If you drive up Grafton St and work your way over to Massasoit, it's not hard to find. The parking lot is small and fills up fast on nice days. If you live in Worcester, you can park and walk the trails for free. Out of towners are asked to pay a small fee, mostly on the honor system. Buy a Mass Audubon membership, and you're covered for visits to sanctuaries all around the state. It's a popular, family friendly, well marked system of trails, some of [...]

By Noah Rowan|2021-09-22T20:29:57+00:00September 17, 2021|RideAlong! Blog|Comments Off

Welcome our new Zero Fare Coalition Coordinator!

This week, the Zero Fare Coalition welcomed a new coordinator, Worcester native Mike Baker! Baker is a long time WRTA rider who commutes on transit and relies on buses, but as a current PhD student at UMass Boston in Public Policy, he is uniquely qualified to look for policy and design solutions. His background is in accessible design and he serves as a board member for EPIC, an organization that supports disabled youth. “Zero Fare is a start, but I also want to fight for improved and enhanced transit accessibility in Worcester” Baker’s PhD research has focused on the geographies [...]

By Noah Rowan|2021-09-22T20:30:08+00:00September 9, 2021|RideAlong! Blog, Welcome, Zero Fare|Comments Off

Our new blog: RideAlong!

Week 1 (August 30th) Welcome to RideAlong! As Worcester’s bus advocacy movement has grown, so has the demand for WRTA specific news. Beginning this September, the Worcester Rider’s Action Council has partnered with the Zero Fare WRTA Coalition to produce a weekly blog: RideAlong! RideAlong! is your one-stop-shop for Zero Fare and RAC news developments; we will be covering everything from the daily operations of the WRTA to fare-less transportation projects across the country. Here you’ll find links to meetings, interviews with advocates, summaries of legislative work and much more. Posts will be published weekly on Wednesday evenings, so mark [...]

By Noah Rowan|2021-09-22T20:30:22+00:00September 1, 2021|RideAlong! Blog, Welcome|Comments Off

ZERO FARE Demonstration Speech

Good Afternoon. My name is Nelly Medina. I am the Central Mass regional organizer for Massachusetts Jobs with Justice and a Member of Neighbor 2 Neighbor. I am also a Mom and student who rode the bus to and from college with my young son. Why are we here today? We are here today because the WTRA is not in communion with those of us who rely on the service that they provide. Since before the pandemic, local organizers have advocated for better access and ZERO Fare rides for the cities residents. Our city buses must be more affordable. Public [...]

By admin|2021-05-20T17:09:50+00:00May 20, 2021|Transportation Legislation, Zero Fare|Comments Off

Wheelchairs and Buses…

I recently took a ride on the buses with Monque Girard, a wheelchair user with an encyclopedic knowledge of the inconveniences, discomforts, and perils of the bus stops of the WRTA. I'll give you an example, in her own words: "Saturday, I was on Shrewsbury Street and my battery was running low. I tried to take a bus home. Even though many of the bus stops on Shrewsbury Street are accessible, if there are drivers parking their cars in a way that prevents the bus from reaching the curb, it is impossible for me to board the bus. While I [...]

By admin|2021-04-25T01:55:15+00:00April 25, 2021|Bus Stops, Paratransit, Wheelchair|Comments Off

Pending March 26, 2021 WRTA Advisory Board Audit & Finance Committee Meeting Notice

Pending March 26, 2021 WRTA Advisory Board Audit & Finance Committee Meeting Notice Worcester Regional Transit Authority Open Meeting Notice for the Public. The WRTA Advisory Board Audit & Finance Committee has scheduled a meeting for Friday, March 26, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. via conference call due to the Governor’s State of Emergency provisions for public meetings. Agenda: Discuss FY`22 budget, Prepare a recommendation for the WRTA Advisory Board. Business from Advisory Board Audit and Finance Committee Members. MORE DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN AVAILABLE. The WRTA meetings are conducted in accessible locations. If you need accommodations please contact Carolyn Foley [...]

By admin|2021-03-13T22:58:59+00:00March 26, 2021|EVENTS, Meeting, WRTA Advisory Board|Comments Off

LivableStreets Alliance is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting

Free Buses Convening This meeting will take place on Tuesday, 3/23 at 1pm Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/95763450206?pwd=TDdDbEpqZmlxWE4xMkx1WEVteGUxQT09 Meeting ID: 957 6345 0206 Passcode: 156655 One tap mobile +13126266799,,95763450206#,,,,*156655# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,95763450206#,,,,*156655# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 [...]

By admin|2021-03-20T18:58:32+00:00March 23, 2021|EVENTS, Free Buses, Meeting, ZOOM Meeting|Comments Off

Regional Transit Plan/CSA

The 2020 Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan (CRTP) update process for WRTA builds on the work of the 2015 Regional Transit Plan/CSA Final Report. The 2020 update, funded by MassDOT and conducted by AECOM, was recommended by the Task Force on Regional Transit Authority Performance and Funding. Released in March 2021, the goals of the CRTP update are to: Provide WRTA overview Identify essential markets, gaps in service, and ridership growth opportunities amidst COVID-19 impacts Evaluate performance indicators and assess performance management Provide recommendations for a strategic 5-year vision WRTA Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan Update 2020 WRTA_CRTPU_MASTER_02232021_508

By admin|2021-03-20T21:19:46+00:00March 20, 2021|Uncategorized|Comments Off

TAC on Thursday, March 18th at 4 pm via Zoom

The next TAC meeting will be on Thursday, March 18th at 4 pm via Zoom. Also, please find information on transportation bills attached and below from Alexis Walls. Transportation Advocacy Coalition (TAC) Meeting- Agenda Welcome and Introductions Updates • RAC (Riders' Action Council Meeting) Zero Fare Coalition AAA On-Demand Task Force TPAG (Transportation Planning Advisory Group) City-level advocacy Statewide advocacy New Business: Future WRTA Advisory Board members- Rider and Disability Community Rep. status Researcher information sharing Open floor Closing Joe Bellil is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: TAC Meeting Time: Mar 18, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and [...]

By admin|2021-03-05T02:02:40+00:00March 18, 2021|EVENTS, Meeting|Comments Off

March 18, 2021 WRTA Advisory Board Meeting Notice

March 18, 2021 WRTA Advisory Board Meeting Notice Worcester Regional Transit Authority Open Meeting Notice for the Public. The WRTA Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 8:30am to be via webinar on Zoom due to the Governor’s State of Emergency provisions for public meetings. Please use the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99181065805?pwd=WjBQOGNkcmlMRnozTnptb24zZW16QT09 Passcode: 402385 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16465588656,,99181065805#,,,,*402385# Or Telephone: Dial: US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 991 8106 5805 Passcode: 402385 Agenda: Business from the Public: * Time allotted at the discretion of the Chairperson. Proposed FY`22 Budget [...]

By admin|2021-03-13T22:55:01+00:00March 18, 2021|EVENTS, Meeting, WRTA Advisory Board|Comments Off