MeVa Community Engagement Strategies
On a recent (snowy) April day, I was able to visit MeVa’s (Merrimack Valley Transit) headquarters in Haverhill and hear strategies they are using to engage consumers to continue to build ridership and refine regional transit service. MeVa has engaged with a broad spectrum of consumers to provide information, training, and support on their family of transit services as well as gather feedback to continually improve the system in response to community needs.
MeVa utilizes a multi faceted approach to training they call Let’s Go with MeVa/Vamos con MeVa. Through this program they meet riders (and future riders) where they are - at housing developments, COAs, libraries, food pantries etc. Through this program they engage in traditional travel training (where consumers are trained one on one and in small groups on how to ride the public transit system), as well as group “classroom” training sessions, tabling events, and open office hours. However, despite extensive outreach, they knew they weren’t even scratching the surface. Knowing that the residents of their service area rely heavily on trusted relationships, MeVa leaned into their own network with a goal of building transit champions within community based organizations across the region, Through these partnerships, they created their “Lunch and Learn” training module, offering 15 minutes – 1 hour virtual and in-person trainings, to educate staff at community-based organizations about MeVa’s transit service and its range of programs and initiatives.
While the program is only around a year old, the impact has been significant, reaching 100s of front-line staff across the region. Training service providers gives organizations a deep knowledge of MeVa’s free transit and provides staff with the tools to close gaps in transportation information -- especially for seniors, youth, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals that have limited access to transportation. According to Christina Minicucci, Development Director, “it is exciting to see the impact of these trainings on the lives of our community members. Last summer, the Lawrence History Center used information from their staff training to help low-income students without transportation, access a free summer camp at the Center. Because of their training, staff at the organization felt comfortable planning trips for their students. One staff member went so far as to meet a group of students every day at a central neighborhood meeting spot. They would walk together to the bus stop and ride as a group to camp.”
Not only have the trainings been useful for participants, they have also led MeVa to evaluate service. As Lawrence General Hospital and Holy Family Hospitals merged to become Merrimack Health – MeVa trained hospital staff on transportation services available to their three hospital locations. Through this partnership, staff received schedules and maps for how patients could access care with public transportation. MeVa was able to utilize feedback to streamline fixed bus routes to help staff and patients travel more efficiently between hospital locations, and created customized flyers and maps to improve wayfinding and inter-facility travel for patients and families.
These engagement strategies have been accompanied by a large-scale re-design of the MeVa brand that was developed to reflect community vibrancy and values and build awareness of public transit in the Merrimack Valley. Thanks to the MeVa team for hosting me!
MassDOT Announcements
MassDOT celebrates FY26 Community Transit Grant Program
On April 29th, MassDOT staff gathered with grantees in Leominster at the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) to celebrate the FY26 Community Transit Grant Awards – including 131 fully accessible vans and minivans, and $5.48 million in funding to operate services or fund mobility management activities. The Community Transit Grant Program is an annual grant program that supports organizations in enhancing mobility for older adults and people with disabilities.
The event celebrated all awards across the Commonwealth, from the Berkshires to the Islands, while highlighting grantees from North Central Massachusetts for their efforts, accomplishments, and collaboration and coordination. MassDOT Undersecretary Samantha Silverberg and Rail and Transit Division Administrator Meredith Slesinger recognized the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority, Montachusett Enterprise Center, Health Equity Partnership, Town of Winchendon, and Arc of Opportunity of North Central Massachusetts. Many of the North Central grantees work together on their projects, which Administrator Slesinger applauded in her remarks: “In particular, we want to recognize and celebrate your partnerships with each other, coordinating efforts, and supporting each other’s work. When transportation is coordinated, riders and potential riders can more easily learn about and access the transportation options they need, and public resources go further when we all work together.”
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella and State Senator John Cronin’s District Director also offered remarks, as did MRPC Transportation Projects Director Brian Doherty. Chelsey Patriss, Executive Director of the Health Equity Partnership, read a statement from advocate Ann Berube and rider and advocate Jillian Berube about the importance of transportation for people with disabilities, their experiences advocating for expanded service, and their use of new services recently piloted by Winchendon and MART with funding from MassDOT grant programs. The Berubes have been "advocating at every opportunity—participating in regional committees, public meetings, and state-level discussions. We became actively involved in local and regional discussions, consistently highlighting the gaps in service for rural communities and questioning inefficiencies we observed in existing systems. Our efforts led us to join a local transportation committee supporting a microtransit initiative in Winchendon. This program offered flexible, on-demand rides to all residents—not just seniors or individuals with disabilities—and demonstrated how responsive, community-based solutions can significantly improve access and quality of life. Through firsthand experience, we saw how effective and impactful these services could be.”
New issue brief
MassDOT’s Environment, Social and Governance Team has published an issue brief looking at transportation access for people with disabilities and the ways in which MassDOT and other transportation decision makers can take steps to proactively improve barriers to access -- specifically looking at infrastructure, cost, wayfinding, and connectivity.
ITN Launches America's Volunteer Driver Center
ITN America has launched America’s Volunteer Driver Center, a database of volunteer driver programs and volunteer drivers. The website hopes to help match willing volunteers to programs in their area. The resource also includes information on demystifying the volunteer driver experience for volunteers.
MassMobility also hosts information on starting and maintaining a volunteer driver program with examples of programs throughout the state.
National Disability Institute: Purchasing an Accessible Vehicle
The National Disability Institute (NDI) created this brief video story of one individual's journey of funding, modifying, and purchasing an accessible vehicle. NDI has additional information and resources on both assistive technology and vehicles on their website.
Upcoming Webinars
America Walks will host a webinar on May 13th at 2:00PM highlighting three walkability champions from diverse communities about their journeys into deeper community work, and their insights on how to inspire people to get involved.
Rural Transit Day is July 16 this year. National Rural Transit Assistance Program will host a Zoom Chat from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, co-moderated by National RTAP Review Board Member John Andoh, Florida RTAP Project Manager Stephanie Lewis, and Cara Marcus, National RTAP Knowledge and Resource Manager. The session will include a discussion on rural transit successes and challenges.
Streetsblog highlights winter accessibility challenges
Via Streetsblog, Naomi Hess examines the extended lack of sidewalk accessibility and real impacts for people with disabilities because of weather related disasters in communities across the country.
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