Public Transit Facing Serious Cuts-Take Action!

March 2018

Speak Out Against PVTA Cuts

PVTA Facing Serious Cuts

Regional Transit Authorities are facing an $88 million cut in funds through the proposed state FY19 budget.Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) is estimating a $3.1 million deficit in their FY2019 budget that begins on July 1 ^st 2018. This deficit will result in a reduction in services and a 25% fare increase.

Transportation is essential for creating communities of opportunity for everyone!

Many people in our region depend on public transportation for their basic needs, such as grocery shopping, medical visits, and getting to work. It is also an essential strategy in reducing Green House Gas Emissions and resilience to extreme weather events. Low income communities and communities are disproportionately affected when cuts like those underway to our MA Regional Transit Authorities occur. This is especially serious given that transportation has been identified as a regional community health need particularly for low income and rural people. Public transportation is good for communities and good for health!

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TAKE ACTION

Please take a few minutes to do one of these things to help save PVTA and then talk to other people about the issue and them to act too!!

1.Call, email , take an online survey , AND attend a public hearing by PVTA – They share all the testimony with the State, so it is worth going if you can. All the info you need to do any one of these things can be found at http://pvta.com/meetingNotices.php

2. Call or email the Ways and Means Committee that considers all matters related to finances of the Commonwealth.

Senate: (617) 722-1481
House: (617) 722-2380
Find out who is on the Ways & Means Committee
Contact a local legislator
Sample letter to legislators

3. Attend a Rally in Amherst on Monday, February 26 ^th at 9:30 am before a public hearing of the Ways and Means Committee.

4.Attend the Public Hearing of the Ways and Means Committee on February 26 ^th at 10:00 in the UMass Old Chapel building.

5. Learn more, get talking points and more background or use this sample letter.