The Worcester Regional Transit Authority in Massachusetts is making waves in the public transportation sector by offering fare-free rides to its passengers. Starting in March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to combat low ridership, the WRTA moved forward with zero fares, which they had been discussing since 2019. Recently, the WRTA advisory board decided to extend this initiative until June 2025. This move sets the WRTA apart as the longest-running fare-free regional transit system in the nation.
The transportation organization faced challenges earlier this year due to a driver shortage, leading to service cuts on Fridays. Despite efforts to address the issue such as updated routes, riders have expressed concerns about the reliability of the bus service.
The organization recently hired a new administrator, Joshua Rickman, who says he is committed to analyzing and improving the system’s operations. Currently, the WRTA has 85 working operators out of the budgeted 89. With four open positions and a need for ten to twelve additional drivers to address daily shortages, it’s easy to see how problems could arise.
For resident students at WSU, the bus could be their only mode of transportation, given the loss of resident parking lots and the lack of parking combined with the recent boost in enrollment; on the university’s website, Deborah Alvarez O’Neil, author for Worcester State Magazine, writes, “this fall’s [2023] first-year student enrollment of 938 students represents the university’s second-largest first-year class, a boost from last year’s fall enrollment of 825 students.”
The Test
As a Worcester State Student, I wanted to see if, despite its current challenges, the bus system could still be useful for resident students. So, I hopped on a bus at the bus stop in front of the Administration Building in hopes of making it to the Worcester Art Museum and back. There are a few ways to get to the art museum from WSU, but the quickest and most direct route is on bus 3… Which is not the bus I initially got on.
I had only waited five minutes before a bus arrived at the Chandler Street + WSU stop. In some confusion, I got on at 4:18 in the afternoon without checking the bus number. A few moments later, when I was heading in the opposite direction from the museum, I knew I had made a mistake.
The WRTA runs on a spoke-hub system, which means buses from various routes converge at a central hub where passengers can transfer between bus lines. Luckily, the bus I was on arrived at the hub at 4:30. As I got off to transfer, I saw that I had boarded the Route 5 bus. After getting on the correct bus, I was on my way to the museum.
Even with the detour, I arrived at the Worcester Art Museum at 4:41, only twenty-three minutes after initially boarding the bus. To get back to WSU, I got back on the Route 3 bus and, just twelve minutes later, I was back where I started. A trip that took less than an hour, completely free of charge.
According to the WRTA, some unfortunate adjustments will continue to be made, including route changes, service reductions, and the elimination of late-night busing. The organization’s budget of $80 million falls short by approximately $8 million of what transportation authorities deem necessary to sustain the current level of service and meet the growing demands of the community.
Administrator Rickman aims to enhance scheduling and ensure trips are carried out efficiently for the public. As he familiarizes himself with the system, he plans to evaluate and determine the optimal number of operators needed. The bottom line is that more drivers are needed, and the current ones are overworked.
WRTA officials are encouraging individuals to apply for open driver positions. The WRTA currently offers around $22 per hour.
