Audit of the Franklin Regional Transit Authority Overview of Audited Entity

This section describes the makeup and responsibilities of the Franklin Regional Transit Authority.

Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities

Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws established regional transit authorities (RTAs) and defined the roles and responsibilities for these authorities, the municipalities in which they operate, and the Commonwealth. According to Chapter 161B of the General Laws, RTAs are controlled by the municipalities in which they operate. Each RTA is governed by an advisory board composed of elected officials in the community (e.g., selectperson or mayor), as well as one representative of the disabled commuter population¹ and one representative of the local rider community. The advisory boards appoint administrators, establish bylaws, and approve budgets and changes to RTA services.

Section 53 of Chapter 6C of the General Laws makes the Rail and Transit Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation “responsible for overseeing, coordinating and planning all transit and rail matters throughout the commonwealth,” including intercity buses, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and RTAs.

Source: Massachusetts Department of Transportation—Rail and Transit Division (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/public-transportation-in-massachusetts)

Currently, there is a network of 15 RTAs operating in the Commonwealth, in addition to the transit services provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. These RTAs serve a total of 272 cities and towns outside the greater Boston area. RTAs are funded through a combination of state appropriations, federal grants, local governments, transit fares, and other sources. State appropriations for the 15 RTAs increased from approximately $80 million in fiscal year 2018 to approximately $94 million in fiscal years 2021 and 2022.

Americans with Disabilities Act–Required Paratransit Services

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 recognized that some individuals’ disabilities prevent them from using a fixed-route transit system.² Section 37(F) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which covers the transportation and related stipulations of the ADA, states,

Each public entity operating a fixed route system shall provide paratransit or other special service to individuals with disabilities that is comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without disabilities who use the fixed route system.

The above regulation also establishes minimum levels of service that RTAs must provide for complementary paratransit services.

Franklin Regional Transit Authority

The Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) was established in 1978 and reports to the Rail and Transit Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation under Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2009. According to FRTA’s “Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan Update,” its mission statement is as follows:

FRTA has established a rural transit system that will improve the quality of life, environmental sustainability, and economic health of the region and its residents through cost-effective, accessible, safe, dependable, and courteous transportation services. FRTA is committed to finding ways to assist those living in the 41 member communities throughout Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester Counties so that they will have access to transit needed to nurture independence in all stages of life and allow less dependency on owning a vehicle. By educating consumers on the benefits of public transit, FRTA hopes to reduce the carbon footprint in their service area and surrounding communities.

FRTA’s operations are overseen by an advisory board. FRTA’s administrator, hired by the advisory board, is responsible for day-to-day administration of the agency.

FRTA provides transportation services to 41 cities and towns in Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties: Ashfield, Bernardston, Blanford, Buckland, Charlemont, Chester, Chesterfield, Colrain, Conway, Cummington, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Goshen, Granville, Greenfield, Hatfield, Hawley, Heath, Huntington, Leyden, Middlefield, Montague, Montgomery, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Plainfield, Rowe, Russell, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Southampton, Southwick, Warwick, Wendell, Westampton, Whately, and Worthington.

During our audit period, FRTA contracted with First Transit, a privately operated company, to provide transit management and operation services for its demand-response transportation services³ provided to paratransit riders and the older population and its fixed-route bus services. First Transit managed all ADA‑required paratransit and demand-response services provided during the audit period using a transit scheduling and dispatching system. Franklin Transit Management operates all transit services and is a wholly owned subsidy of First Transit.

On-Time Performance for ADA-Required Paratransit Services

According to FRTA’s ADA Complementary Paratransit Policies and Procedures, FRTA uses a 30-minute on‑time pickup window (15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the scheduled pickup time) to calculate on‑time performance. This 30-minute pickup window determines whether a trip is on time or late. It also defines the period during which the rider is expected to be ready and waiting for the driver to arrive.

FRTA has a memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation that includes on-time performance metrics. These metrics cover required minimum percentages for on-time trips.

ADA Paratransit Complaints

ADA paratransit complaints are complaints related to ADA-required paratransit services. According to Section 27.13 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, transportation programs that receive federal funding must adopt complaint procedures and designate a responsible employee to coordinate these procedures.

ADA paratransit complaints, submitted by riders and the general public, can be filed orally, in writing, or electronically with FRTA or First Transit. FRTA’s ADA administrator documents, reviews, verifies, and resolves complaints. FRTA’s ADA administrator provides a written determination and a description of the resolution, if any, to the complainant no later than 21 calendar days after the complaint was filed. A complainant can make a request for reconsideration within 7 calendar days of the complaint determination date, and FRTA’s assistant administrator responds to the complainant’s request within 10 calendar days.

FRTA Paratransit Ridership Information

The table below summarizes FRTA’s paratransit information for fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021.

	Fiscal Year 2019	Fiscal Year 2020	Fiscal Year 2021
Number of Active Riders	24	20	9
Number of Trips	2,027	1,403	536
Number of Miles	8,268	4,449	3,313
Number of Drivers	25	22	12
Number of Vehicles Used	11	13	16

 

FRTA Funding Sources

In fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021, FRTA received revenue from a variety of sources, including fares and federal, state, and local assistance. The table below shows the types of funding FRTA received during fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Type of Funding	Fiscal Year 2019	Fiscal Year 2020	Fiscal Year 2021
State and Contract Assistance	$    975,775	$ 1,117,428	$  1,300,235
Local Assistance	474,207	495,591	507,981
Federal Assistance	1,180,585	1,003,343	631,109
Fixed-Route Income	132,520	98,580	7,597
Demand-Response Income*	120,445	111,345	103,183
Other Assistance	37,698	193,568	49,935
Other Revenue**	138,051	126,975	126,729
Total	$ 3,059,281	$ 3,146,830	$  2,726,769

*    This includes paratransit income.

**  Other revenue is from advertising, interest, rental income, and miscellaneous sources.

1.    According to Section 5 of Chapter 161B of the General Laws, “This representative shall be mobility impaired, have a family member who is mobility impaired, be a caretaker of a person who is mobility impaired or work for an organization that serves the needs of the physically disabled.”

2.    Fixed-route transportation services have established routes, schedules, and stops.

3.    Demand-response transportation services are non-fixed route services that must be requested by riders and scheduled by dispatchers through a transportation service.

Date published:	August 23, 2023