Gateway Link: New Service
The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority, Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, and Brockton Area Transit Authority recently launched the Gateway Link, a joint service to connect the three Regional Transit Authority Service areas to provide access to important community resources, employment, education, and medical services. The Gateway Link provides service between SRTA’s Fall River Terminal, GATRA’s Taunton Terminal, and BAT Centre in Brockton with stops that include Brockton VA Hospital, Stonehill College and Bristol Community College’s Fall River campus. Launched on August 4th, 2025, the service saw over 1,000 rides in the first month. Service is currently fare free and runs hourly from 6:00am – 7:00pm Monday-Friday with express service between Fall River and Brockton running every two hours. Operated by Yankee Bus Lines, the service features distinct bright yellow buses. Funding was provided through the FY24 Regional Transit Innovation Grant with additional funding through FY25 Transit Connectivity Grant Program.
Three MassDOT Grants Currently Open!
Three transit grant opportunities are now open and accepting applications!
• Microtransit/Last Mile Transit Grant - due November 7
• FY26 Community Transit Grant Program Operating & Mobility Management Grants - due November 7
• FY26 Community Transit Grant Program Accessible Vehicle Grants - due November 21
Pre-application training was held in September for each grant program. If you would like to apply but did not attend the training, please contact us at Molly.A.Belanger@dot.state.ma.us to request the pre-application training materials.
Let us know which grant or grants you are interested in so that we send you the correct training materials.
In addition, we will also be holding informal, drop-in "office hours" on Zoom three times in October:
Monday, October 6, 3-4pm - budget focus! We will go over the budget templates for the Microtransit/Last Mile grants and CTGP operating & mobility management grants and answer questions about developing your budget
Thursday, October 16, 2-3pm - any topics related to any of the three grant programs
Monday, October 27, 10-11am - any topics related to any of the three grant programs
Contact us at Molly.A.Belanger@dot.state.ma.us to sign up for Zoom office hours.
While you are working on your applications, we welcome your questions anytime by email or phone, or we are happy to set up a video meeting with you.
Upcoming Webinars and Classes
RideSheet: Dispatching Technology for Rural Transit
On October 14th at 3:00PM, The Association of Mobility Managers (AMM) is holding a webinar on RideSheet: Dispatching Technology for Rural Transit. Participants will learn about a pilot program in Kansas from Mobility Managers Michael Wilson and Michelle Coats. They will discuss how agencies moved from largely paper based systems to a technology based system to help streamline operations.
Empowering Mobility Managers to Lead
On October 21st 12:00-2:00PM, Easter Seals Project Action will host the webinar Empowering Mobility Managers to Lead. This session will cover strategies a mobility manager needs to succeed. It discuss how Mobility Managers can effectively engage stakeholders, coordinate efforts across sectors, process complex information and be able to explain it simply, engage in advocacy efforts, and understand how to align mobility management with other efforts. The webinar cost is $50.
News and Reports
Reduced Fares: Lessons from Across the Country
The Regional Planning Association of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut Metropolitan Area recently released Reduced Fares: Lessons from Across the Country. The report looked at 18 reduced fare programs across the country and provides a snapshot of each along with a series of best practices to help agencies promote their programs. The document also points to the link between transportation access and health outcomes. The MBTA income eligible reduced fare program was one of the transit authorities highlighted in the report.
Carsharing and Mobility Hubs at Affordable Housing Sites
TransformCA recently published a report Carsharing and Mobility Hubs in Affordable Housing: Process, Results, and Lessons Learned on establishing mobility hub services at affordable housing sites in multiple locations in California. For this pilot, a mobility hub was “a strategically located site within a community that integrate[d] multiple transportation options and services — such as EV carsharing, transit passes, bike storage, ride credits, and educational resources — designed to make sustainable, affordable mobility more accessible to residents.” The report details community engagement work, needs assessments, and the procurement and installation of transportation service. The document also includes a robust lessons learned section -- including how to integrate community members into the planning and implementation process and think holistically about the needs of residents.
Video: Boston’s E-Bike Program Lets Mattapan Couple Regain Their Mobility
This videofrom the City of Boston via Streetsblog describes the benefits of the City’s e-bike voucher program for one couple. Dr. Steven Leonard had been unable to get out of the house due to bad back surgery, but with the assistance of the City’s e-bike voucher program, he was able to obtain a pedal assisted recumbent e-bike and now he and his wife, Muriel Leonard are able to ride together. Applications for the e-bike voucher program are currently open for eligible City of Boston residents.
Video: Moving Forward: Age-Friendly Transportation Solutions
This video from the AARP Age Friendly Livable Community Network highlights communities across the country who are solving transportation challenges with local solutions. Both the towns of Amesbury and Arlington Massachusetts are highlighted for their work partnering with community based organizations and citizens to extend accessibility to transportation and community resources!
National Aging and Disability Transportation Center transition
After 10 years, the Federal Transit Administration’s cooperative agreement for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) expired on September 30, 2025. NADTC resources and materials will remain accessible on the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC) website. NADTC published a guide to resources created by the organization that can be found on the latest blog post Your Guide to Lasting NADTC Resources.
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