As curtailed off-season service begins on the Island’s only public bus system, the Vineyard Transit Authority is seeing pushback from riders, as well as drivers and their new union.

Citing a potential budget deficit of nearly $1 million for the next fiscal year, the Vineyard Transit Authority administration and advisory board voted unanimously this week to drastically reduce service for the winter season.

Drivers for the Vineyard Transit Authority voted Sunday to ratify a contract with their employer. Drivers are due to return to work on Tuesday.

The union that represents the VTA drivers announced late Thursday that a tentative agreement had been reached with their employer, Transit Connection Inc.

A divided VTA board decided Wednesday after heated public testimony to send their subcontracted hiring company back to the negotiating table.

The current status and powers of of the Vineyard Transit Authority’s advisory board has come into question as the full-time drivers’ strike enters a third week.

In a brief letter sent to the selectmen, Louis Paciello cited a lack of time for the position and other family commitments as the reason.

Bus drivers for the Vineyard Transit Authority entered their second week on strike Friday, with no clear end in sight. The public transit system is set to jump into its peak months.

With the strike dragging on but most buses still running, Vineyard Transit Authority drivers came to the Edgartown selectmen on Monday to request their support. Selectmen listened.

With contract negotiations at a standstill and tensions running high, full-time drivers for the Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) are due to walk off the job beginning Friday.