Starting Monday, the Vineyard Transit Authority is piloting a new microtransit service for up-Island passengers, available seven days a week.
It was a busy and profitable year for summer traffic to the Island by ferry and by air.
But the big transportation success story of the summer is the Vineyard Transit Authority which set ridership records in July and August.
Beginning March 1, Vineyard Transit Authority route 1 buses traveling in Edgartown will stop only at designated bus stops. Riders on that route will no longer be encouraged to flag down the bus between stops.
Rising service costs have prompted modest increases to passenger fares, the last of which were approved last week by the advisory board for the Island public transit system. Phased-in fare hikes will continue through 2018.
The Vineyard Transit Authority has unveiled a multi-year plan to increase fares aboard its buses and vans. The proposal incorporates fare hikes in each type of ridership pass, including multi-day, single-ride and annual passes.
Traffic and bus service up-Island will be affected by road closures and rerouting during the president's visit beginning Saturday. Police and public safety officials are advising Islanders and visitors to allow extra time to reach their destinations and to expect traffic delays at times.
Expanding transportation services among airlines, ferries, buses and trains have made the Vineyard more accessible than ever this summer.
Four airlines are now operating summer service between the Island and three major metropolitan areas. And two months ago train service began between Boston and the Cape that connects with a shuttle to the Steamship Authority.
