Vineyard Transit Authority Puts Number of Passengers on Bus Routes
at Roughly 400,000 For July and August Alone
By JOSHUA SABATINI
The Martha's Vineyard Regional Transit Authority carried close
to 400,000 people in the fiscal year from July 1, 2000 through June
30, 2001. Transit authority administrator Angie Gompert said she
estimates 200,000 people were served this July and another 200,000 in
August.
Just a few weeks ago, Vineyard transit officials decided the North Tisbury business district would be the perfect place to relocate their bus transfer hub and put an end to all those complaints about buses ruining the historic character of West Tisbury village. All they needed was a good-sized patch of blacktop in the business district.
After nearly three weeks of turmoil and back-and-forth accusations,
Vineyard school leaders officially severed ties with their school bus
contractor, Island Transport, and have crafted a deal to hire the
Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) and a Florida company to run the school
buses in time for the opening of the school year next month.
Six weeks ago, Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) administrators worried they'd be forced to leave some bus riders stranded on the side of the road this summer.
Now, on the eve of the summer season, VTA officials say they have found enough drivers to meet summer demands.
Last month, the public bus system faced a 30 per cent hole in its summer workforce - the result of a decision by federal immigration officials to enforce a limit on temporary visas (H2Bs) for foreign wor
The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority will shift to its expanded, in-season schedule starting Saturday, May 3. The schedule will be in effect through Monday, Oct. 13.
Despite the rise in fuel costs, the transit authority at this time is not increasing its cash fares or pass prices.
With gas prices on the Vineyard hovering above $4.50 a gallon for regular and almost $5 a gallon for premium — some of the highest fuel costs in the nation — more Islanders are leaving their cars at home and taking the Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority busses.
On Thursday, the Vineyard Transit Authority will mark nationwide Dump the Pump Day — an annual occasion that calls on people to use public transportation to save money, conserve gasoline and reduce greenhouse gases — by cutting its already bargain fares in half and holding a party at the youth hostel in West Tisbury.
The automobile has long been an integral part of American life; there are 40 million more registered motor vehicles in this country than licensed drivers.
Yet on Vineyard sidewalks and bike paths this week, people cruised along on bicycles with no worries about traffic and congestion. The parking lots for the Tisbury and Edgartown park and ride programs were jammed full, while bus stops for the Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority were packed with people waiting to be picked up at all hours of the day.
