'More Problems Than We Thought': WRTA Bus Cuts Blasted By Worcester Councilors

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Regional Transit Authority will begin a period of service reductions Friday, deleting trips and one whole route every Friday until further notice.

The transit system announced the cuts Jan. 20 on social media. Several Worcester city councilors reacted to the news at Tuesday's meeting, dinging the bus system for making the cuts just a few weeks after a council hearing that involved a request to increase bus service to parts of Worcester.

During a portion of Tuesday's council meeting seeking reports about the WRTA's operations — including the addition of a stop near the EcoTarium museum — At-Large Councilor Morris Bergman said it was "problematic" that the public didn't have any input on the route cuts. He requested a report from the city manager's office about how the new cuts came about.

"We have more problems than we thought — and we've got plenty — when it comes to the RTA," Bergman said.

WRTA Administrator Dennis Lipka did preview the cuts at a WRTA board meeting on Jan. 19 — one day before the WRTA notified the public at large.

At-Large Councilor Thu Nguyen followed up by asking for a report on whether WRTA conducted an equity audit before deciding which routes to cut. Equity audits typically weigh the fairness of policy decisions across different social groups.

Starting Jan. 27, WRTA will cut the new 825 route — a combined route that runs from the Greendale YMCA down Park Avenue to Webster Square — and will reduce the trips on routes 11, 14, 19, 24, 26, 27 and 30 every Friday. Except for the 30, 27 and 19 routes, all the cuts will impact bus lines that operate only inside Worcester. WRTA includes close to 40 cities and towns in the area, and runs buses and other routes to towns including Shrewsbury, West Boylston, Spencer, Grafton, East Brookfield and Southbridge. WRTA recently extended the Route 12 into Shrewsbury to serve the new Market Basket development along Route 20.

Lipka has said the cuts are due to driver shortages that typically occur on Fridays. Lipka has said the system has a full supply of bus drivers, but has said drivers who take intermittent paid leave with short notice have caused a lack of available drivers.

Here's a look at the cuts starting Jan. 27: