Author: Angie Constantino

DUE TO EXPECTED BLIZZARD CONDITIONS

ALL GATRA SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 AND SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022

The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA), is excited to announce the addition of six new electric buses to our already environmental friendly fleet. 

Taunton, MA, December 1, 2021 – GATRA is excited to announce the addition of six new electric buses to our already environmentally friendly fleet. Upon their arrival the new buses were welcomed by local officials and residents in an event that was held to introduce the zero-emission vehicles. 

The GATRA team worked to secure funding from the Volkswagen Clean Air Settlement to purchase the new buses from manufacturer, Gillig, based in California. Administrator, Mark Sousa is excited to offer a cleaner alternative to the local riders. “It is important for us to connect with and improve our community by cultivating relationships with those that share the same values,” he said. “We want to be a leader in the community by bringing enhancements to the cities and towns in our service area.” 

Gillig Vice President of Sales, Bill Fay, is excited to partner with GATRA. “These six new battery electric buses will deliver safe reliable and environmentally friendly transit to the greater Taunton and Attleboro communities.” 

Senator Mark Pacheco spoke to the attendees before cutting the ribbon to welcome the new buses. “I am pleased to support this promising clean transportation initiative paid for by the Volkswagen Clean Air Settlement.” 

Before welcoming the new buses to service, Senator Pacheco praised the GATRA team, “I want to thank administrator Mark Sousa and everyone who helped support getting this environmentally friendly alternative to the riders in the area.” 

The GATRA team would like to thank local reps Carol Doherty (Taunton/Easton) and Jim Hawkins (Attleboro) for taking the time to enjoy the first ride in the new incredibly quiet and comfortable carbon free bus. 

About Us: GATRA oversees operations of fixed route bus services in the cities of Attleboro and Taunton, and the towns of Duxbury, Foxborough, Franklin, Kingston, Mansfield, Marshfield, Middleborough, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Plymouth, Raynham, Seekonk, Wareham, and Wrentham. In total, GATRA services over 28 cities and towns – from Southern Norfolk County and Northern Bristol County, all the way to Plymouth County and the South Shore – which all have demand response (Dial-A-Ride) services for people with disabilities and seniors. 

IN PERSON
Thursday, December 2, 2021
3:00PM

Wareham Town Hall
54 Marion Road, Wareham
Auditorium

Meeting will be in person and MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND.

Can’t Come In Person? You Have Options.

If you are unable to attend a meeting but would like to comment on any of the proposed routes or route changes there are several options.

1. Attend the virtual public meeting on Thursday, December 2 at 6:30PM. Zoom link will be posted on the GATRA website the day before the meeting.
2. Call GATRA at 800-483-2500
3. Call 774-406-4911 to leave a voicemail comment
4. Text 774-406-4911
5. Email customercomments@gatra.org
6. Message us on Facebook @GATRATRANSIT

Comments accepted until January 3, 2022

Visit https://www.gatra.org/public-meetings for more information about the changes.

VIRTUAL
Thursday, December 2, 2021
6:30PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89454670475?pwd=NXgxWWt3V3dmL3BxUjFuQ0hKVGJqQT09

Meeting ID: 894 5467 0475
Passcode: 424609
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,89454670475#,,,,424609# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 894 5467 0475
Passcode: 424609

All meetings will be in person and MASKS ARE REQUIRED.

Visit https://www.gatra.org/public-meetings/ to view route changes.

TAUNTON
Monday, October 18
4:00PM
GATRA Terminal, 10 Oak Street, Taunton, Downstairs Lobby 

ATTLEBORO
Tuesday, October 19
4:00PM
Attleboro Train Station Building, 7 Mill Street, Attleboro, Train Station Lobby

PLYMOUTH
Wednesday, October 20
3:00PM
Plymouth Public Library
132 South St., Plymouth
Fehlor Room

WAREHAM
TBA
In order to incorporate comments/feedback we received we are moving the Wareham Public Meeting to a later date.

VIRTUAL
Thursday, October 21
6:30PM
Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86490546492?pwd=WlVFaGcwcDRpKzhuRDJGZVpUSkV0QT09

Meeting ID: 864 9054 6492
Passcode: 409346
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,86490546492#,,,,409346# US (Washington DC)

Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 864 9054 6492
Passcode: 409346

Can’t Come In Person? You have options.

If you are unable to attend a meeting but would like to comment on any of the proposed routes or route changes there are several options.

1. Attend the virtual public meeting on Thursday, October 21 at 6:30PM. Zoom link will be posted on the GATRA website the day before the meeting.
2. Call GATRA at 800-483-2500
3. Call 774-406-4911 to leave a voicemail comment
4. Text 774-406-4911
5. Email customercomments@gatra.org
6. Message us on Facebook @GATRATRANSIT

All meetings will be in person with the option to attend via Zoom. Zoom links will be posted the day before the meetings.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND IN PERSON MEETINGS

Visit https://www.gatra.org/public-meetings/ to view proposed routes and route changes.

TAUNTON
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
4:00PM
GATRA Terminal, 10 Oak Street, Taunton, Downstairs Lobby 

ATTLEBORO
Thursday, September 23, 2021
4:00PM
Attleboro Train Station Building, 7 Mill Street, Attleboro, Train Station Lobby

PLYMOUTH
Monday, September 27, 2021
3:00PM
Plymouth Public Library
132 South St., Plymouth
Fehlor Room

WAREHAM
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
3:00PM
Wareham Town Hall, 54 Marion Rd, Wareham
Auditorium

If you are unable to attend a meeting but would like to comment on any of the proposed routes or route changes there are several options.

1. Call GATRA at 800-483-2500 to speak with someone
2. Call ‪774-406-4911‬ to leave a voicemail comment
3. Text 774-406-4911
4. Email customercomments@gatra.org
5. Message us on Facebook @GATRATRANSIT

As of June 1, 2021 GATRA fixed route vehicles will be at 100% capacity.

Dial-a-Ride/paratransit/GATRA GO services will now follow the following capacity guidance:
– 8-10 Passenger vehicles – 2 riders and 1 person utilizing a wheelchair or 3 total riders
– 12-14 Passenger vehicles – 3 riders and 1 person utilizing a wheelchair or 4 total riders

WAREHAM – Updated schedule will be available soon

ALL ROUTES will return to full service, using the schedule dated January 27, 2020, with the following changes:

Link 2 – Cranberry Plaza to Buzzards Bay

Route will serve Shangri-La via Glen Charlie Road, Onset via Main Ave/Onset Ave, then continue on Cranberry Highway and end at Academy Blvd in Buzzards Bay. Link 2 will no longer go over the Bourne Bridge (pending a public meeting). Link 2 will continue to deviate to the
area as defined on published schedules by request.

Link 3 – Shangri-La to Cranberry Plaza

Link 3 service has been added to the Link 2 schedule.

Wareham-Lakeville Train Connector

The Connector schedule has been incorporated into the Link 4 schedule. Trips to the Lakeville MBTA station have been reduced due to demand and the train schedule.

PLYMOUTH

ALL ROUTES will return to full service using the schedule dated February 4, 2019.

SCITUATE

The SLOOP will return to full service using schedules dated February 4, 2019.

WAREHAM – OWL Service – Link 2

Topic: Wareham Public Meeting
Time: May 27, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94397500742?pwd=L3JOQmFSb2FrOTVEcWNEOWVoNVZBdz09

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 943 9750 0742
Passcode: 560425

---

Link 2 will permanently be changed to end at the Academy Drive stop in Buzzards Bay, effective June 1, 2021

GATRA is holding a virtual public meeting to receive comments regarding this change on
Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 4:00PM

Information to access the meeting will be posted on the GATRA website (www.GATRA.org, homepage under “News”) on May 25th by 4:00PM

If you need accommodations in order to participate contact GATRA at 508-823-8828

SERVICE ADVISORY – Taunton & Attleboro Routes

ALL ROUTES (in Taunton & Attleboro) will return to full service using scheduled times from previous schedules.

CHANGES SPECIFIC TO TAUNTON:

ROUTE 7 – School St./Route 44 Raynham

Route will use existing routing with the following changes:
• Will serve the Aldi/Bed Bath & Beyond Plaza on Route 44 in Raynham
• Will end at Walmart. Pine Hill Estates will be served by the new Route 5.

Route 8 – County St. / Target

Route will use existing routing but will end at Target.
Connections to East Taunton (along Hart St/Middleboro Ave/South St E) and the Raynham Walmart can be made using the new Route 5 (see below).

Route 5 – Walmart / E. Taunton / Target

This new route will connect with the Route 8 at Target, travel
North on County St, East on Hart St/Middleboro Ave, North
on South St E, serve Pine Hill Estates, and connect with the
Route 7 at Walmart in Raynham.

This 5-year Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan (CRTP) update builds on the work of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) 2015 Regional Transit Plan (RTP). This update was recommended by the Task Force on Regional Transit Authority Performance and Funding in its final report issued in April 2019. The report included 24 recommendations in five categories:

• Investment and Performance
• Accountability
• Service Decisions
• Quality of Service
• Environmental Sustainability

The CRTPU recommendation (No. 7) was included in the service decisions grouping. Specifically, recommendation 7 advised that “RTAs will continue to succeed by understanding their markets and by aiming to have their service networks meet the current and future mobility needs of their region as well as support connectivity to other regions where possible. This effort will be guided by (1) the completion or updating of Comprehensive Regional Transit Plans (CRTPs) every five years…”

Download the 2020 CRTP Update Here

Ways for you to provide comment on the report:

• Email us! – customercomments@gatra.org
• Send us a message on Facebook! @GATRATRANSIT
• Call us! – (508) 823-8828

The report is out for public comment until April 16, 2021.