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Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan and Brockton Area Transit (BAT) Administrator Michael Lambert announced today that from November 25^th through December 31^st BAT’s bus and paratransit services would be free thanks, in part, to a grant included in the state budget and awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The program is designed to encourage new customers to “Try Transit” by offering no cost trips to shop or dine at local businesses, visit with friends and family, and commute to work during the holiday season.

“We are extremely proud to partner with the Department of Transportation and BAT to provide free holiday service so that our City of Champions will be more accessible to all,” Mayor Robert F. Sullivan said. “We have had great success with free and reduced public transit, including discounted commuter rail fares for Brockton residents, free weekend bus service and discounts for the Cape Flyer to Cape Cod this summer. Increasing public transit use is a top priority as we seek to reduce carbon emissions, improve accessibility, and make it more affordable for residents, businesses, workers and visitors to travel to and from Brockton.”

The “Try Transit” initiative will be supported by the state grant that was awarded to all fifteen of the Commonwealth’s Regional Transit Authorities who worked together to submit a joint application and plan for implementation. In BAT’s service area, all fixed route and ADA paratransit services will be offered at no cost to customers. Exceptions include the planned Rockland microtransit service, Rockland Flex, and local Councils on Aging.

“Challenging times, whether due to increased costs or the pandemic, call for creative responses,” said BAT Administrator Michael Lambert. “BAT offers sincere thanks to its state legislative delegation and board of directors for their consistent support over the past three years. I am also personally grateful to my regional transit colleagues across the state for their partnership on this project.”

“MassDOT is pleased to have worked closely with the Commonwealth’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities to utilize the funding awarded in the FY23 state budget for the “Try Transit”program. This initiative is another example of the many efforts where MassDOT and the RTAs collaborate to improve mobility options for Massachusetts transit customers,” added MassDOT Rail & Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger.

Although primarily designed to attract new customers by easing access to services, “Try Transit” will of course also offer a financial reprieve to current riders during these times of high inflation. It is expected that the savings and increased mobility offered by BAT’s services will translate into increased spending at local shops and restaurants.

“It’s wonderful to have this holiday season gift in the form of free bus fare via Brockton Area Transit,” added Chris Cooney, CEO of the Metro South Chamber of Commerce. “This service will help workers, employers, and shoppers while they celebrate the holidays working and shopping throughout the region. Thank you BAT for this important gift.”

The ‘Try Transit’ initiative is expected to be particularly effective in downtown Brockton with its high concentration of small businesses and transit amenities.

“With an influx of residents and new businesses in the downtown area and along Main Street, the ‘Try Transit’ initiative will be a great resource for our commercial centers, including Campello, Montello, and Westgate, as well as the rest of Brockton and the entire BAT service area. The Brockton Holiday Parade is on Saturday November 26^th and taking BAT would be an ideal way to travel to downtown for the celebration, pictures with Santa, food trucks, and of course, the parade itself,” concluded Mary Waldron, Executive Director of the Old Colony Planning Council.

Questions regarding the “Try Transit” program should be directed to Brockton Area Transit at 508.588.2240 or info@ridebat.com.  Happy Holidays!

BAT is updating its Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan and we need your input. Go to surveymonkey.com/r/BATsurvey2020 to tell us your thoughts and help shape the future of BAT. Please note, this survey closes on July 31, 2020.

Service is now extended to 9:00 PM for all city routes and frequencies have been increased:

• Brockton Weekday Schedule
• Brockton Saturday Schedule
• Brockton Sunday Schedule

Additional service and express runs have been added to Route 12 Ashmont:

• Weekday Ashmont Outbound Schedule – Toward Ashmont
• Weekday Ashmont Inbound Schedule – Toward Brockton

Stoughton routes will continue to run on a reduced schedule:

• Stoughton Weekday and Saturday Schedules

Routes 10/11 continue to run a combined route and Mini-Maller service has been suspended until further notice.

• BAT will be continues to offer rear door boarding whenever safe to do so. Customers that require the use of the ramp or “kneeling” feature of the bus may continue to board through the front door. Whenever possible, please continue to exit through the front of the bus.  Please allow all passengers to exit safely before boarding.  If exiting, through the rear door, please use extreme caution. Move away from the bus and allow it to clear the area before continuing on to your destination.
• Seating capacity will be reduced on most buses and customers are asked to maintain distance between them and others whenever possible. Additional buses will be on stand-by should buses begin to fill up.
• The BAT Centre is closed to customers. Customer service will be available via phone at 508-638-5920 and in-person at the BAT Administrative Offices, 155 Court Street.

Brockton Area Transit Authority has been closely monitoring the escalating Coronavirus situation. BAT has committed to dispersing information to the public that will help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like the flu and COVID-19. Posters are displayed on all BAT vehicles and at all BAT facilities, including the BAT Centre. In addition, all vehicles are cleaned and disinfected thoroughly at least once a day. Ticket Vending Machines in the BAT Centre will be disinfected multiple times a day.

Brockton Area Transit continues to follow guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, with BAT encouraging its riders and the public to:

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Stay home if sick
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
• Clean areas that are frequently touched with sanitizing spray or wipes

MassDOT recently awarded Brockton Area Transit Authority a grant to launch a “pay by phone” mobile ticketing app.

Read more at https://www.enterprisenews.com/news/20200106/bat-bus-riders-can-pay-by-phone-starting-this-spring?fbclid=IwAR3q2zKsgVWWhutIh1woiwjviFRFQjDgrvvv-VXYkM0mcYCAxFsHQt0HBrs

Stop by Brockton Area Transit Authority on Friday, October 4th from 12:30 to 3:00 PM for hot dogs, entertainment and ice cream in appreciation of all our customers.

Brockton, MA’s Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT) was recently awarded $297,250 in additional funding through a competitive discretionary grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MassDOT announced the awards of $5.1 million for Regional Transit Authorities across the Commonwealth to implement best practices and innovative services designed to benefit customers. This includes $4 million in operating funding allocated in the Fiscal Year 2019 state budget signed by Governor Baker as well as an additional $1.1 million in capital funding for new equipment and technology.

BAT was the only Regional Transit Authority to receive three separate grants and will use the funding to increase service from downtown Brockton to Ashmont Station (MBTA Red Line), Stoughton, and Bridgewater State University.

Grants were determined based on projected increases to ridership, innovative approaches to service provision, and the ability to serve priority populations. The performance of each project will be evaluated by MassDOT regularly.

“BAT’s application for funds and subsequent award are consistent with our Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan and recognize the need for additional service for the growing population of our region.” said BAT’s Administrator, Reinald G. Ledoux, Jr.

BAT’s awards:

• Brockton – Ashmont – Increases service on BAT’s busiest route, Ashmont Station (MBTA Red Line). BAT will add two additional round trips to its current daily service of twenty express and thirty-six local round trips. This service travels from BAT’s downtown intermodal center through the densely populated neighborhoods of Brockton, Avon, Randolph and Milton to Dorchester. BAT identified a need for increased service in order to best accommodate the more than 2,100 daily passengers.
• Brockton – Stoughton – Increases direct service from BAT’s intermodal center to downtown Stoughton and on to Cobbs Corner. This service will improve connections between two different commuter rail lines, integrate an underserved, but growing, central business district, and connect densely populated neighborhoods in both Brockton and Stoughton. BAT’s more frequent service and a realigned route will improve the choices currently available to rail customers and reduce the need to use a car for commuting.
• Brockton – Bridgewater & BSU “ Increases frequency of trips from BAT’s intermodal center to Bridgewater State University (BSU by providing four additional trips per day. This change supports the consistent growth in ridership to BSU and improves customer service by accommodating demand from both students and local residents. BAT has maintained a successful partnership with BSU for over 30 years that has been identified as a best practice state-wide. BAT provides buses, training, and maintenance, while BSU provides student drivers, student managers, fuel, and professional administration. While classes are in session, BSU drivers provide continuous free service around the campus until 2 a.m. daily.