TriTown Connector Transit Program Continues with Additional State Funding
The Town of Great Barrington has been awarded more funds from MassDOT for the continuation of the highly successful and low-cost TriTown Connector microtransit program.
The "microtransit" program serves Great Barrington and six other communities, including Egremont, Monterey, New Marlborough, Sheffield, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge, and these partner towns also contribute operating funds and vehicles to the program. Riders in these towns can call (413) 591-3826 to book rides. For more information including service hours and updates, visit tritown.org.
The Town will receive two grants totaling $235,004 to fund the TriTown Connector, which serves older adults and people with disabilities in Southern Berkshire, as well as the area workforce. The first grant of $215,004 will fund the operations, and a second grant of $20,000 will fund the rideshare technology and dispatch/scheduling software. Great Barrington was one of 43 organizations across the Commonwealth to receive grants from the state's Community Transit Grant Program (CTGP).
Assistant Town Manager and Director of Planning and Community Development Christopher Rembold thanked the Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassDOT for their assistance. “These grants will reinforce our commitment to providing transportation to our seniors and the disabled, and it allows us to continue to support our area workforce and employers,” he said.
Microtransit Program Director Tate Coleman said, “We are extremely grateful to MassDOT for these grants, and for recognizing how important a flexible and low-cost transportation service like this is for our area. This funding is critical to continuing what has proved to be an extremely successful pilot program.”
Great Barrington Council on Aging Director Joan Peters said, “Our transportation service is a lifeline for our seniors, and we are thrilled that we can continue to meet their needs.”
Coleman noted that the TriTown Connector began operations in May 2023 as an expansion of the successful senior transportation program, which the town Council on Aging established during the pandemic. The expansion means the program is also open to the general public as well as seniors. It currently operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week, and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends. In the last two months, the program has provided over 1,200 rides each month, evidence of the tremendous needs in the area.
The CTGP program is an annual competitive grant program, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The program supports operating and mobility management projects for Regional Transit Authorities, municipalities, and nonprofits to expand mobility for older adults and people with disabilities. In this funding round, CTGP has awarded a total of more than $4.7 million in funding awards to 43 organizations for 55 projects in the Community Transit Grant Program.