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Date: 8/3/2021
AMHERST – The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority’s (PVTA) proposed partnership with Quaboag Connector to create an intercity service that will connect Amherst to Worcester using Route 9 is expected to commence later this month.
The idea, originally proposed as the PVTA and Quaboag Connector on Oct. 30, 2020, will implement a new route that would directly connect PVTA’s service area to Union Station in Worcester.
“The route will operate along the 49-mile segment on the Route 9 Corridor from Amherst to Worcester, in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes,” said PVTA’s Manager of Marketing Brandy Pelletier.
This route will have intermediate stops at the Amherst Center, Belchertown, Ware, West Brookfield, East Brookfield, Spencer, Leicester and Worcester. The route will run three daily round trips on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
In their proposal, PVTA and Quaboag Connector stated their goal was, to “provide connections from rural towns to urban centers in Worcester and the Pioneer Valley.”
PVTA’s Advisory Board has approved the Amherst to Worcester route. “PVTA and Quaboag Connector, who is anticipated to operate the route, is currently finalizing the details,” explained Pelletier. The route had a tentative start date of July 12 but has been pushed back to the end of August. Fares for this new route will be $1.50 within the PVTA service area and range from $3.50 to $9.00 depending on the origin and destination outside of PVTA’s service range.
The Amherst to Worcester route bus will have a different look compared to other PVTA vehicles.
“The Amherst to Worcester route will have a unique bus branding that encompasses landscaping within Pioneer Valley showcased on the vehicle wrap," said Pelletier.
For more information regarding the new Amherst to Worcester route, you can visit PVTA’s website at www.pvta.com.