City prepares to board new bus company
By Angela Greiner Community Reporter

Marlborough - Much to the city's disappointment, the Assabet Valley Council on Aging (AVCOA) Transportation Service is not expected to be one of the bidders for fiscal year 2008 contracts beginning in July. AVCOA, who has been delivering transportation to the city's elderly and disabled population for over 23 years, is expected to dissolve after the city voted in favor of changing its membership from the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) to the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA).

"AVCOA is a known entity and they did a great job," Executive Assistant to the Mayor Karen Kisty said. "… It was never our intention that our vote would put them out of business."

The decision to change servers was prompted by the city's need to increase public transportation services for the community. The future expansion of the city's services would not only provide residents with more convenience when traveling, but also benefit the community financially. The increase in regional transportation would directly result in a reduction in the assessment that the city pays to the MBTA. Kisty explained that Marlborough is responsible for paying the MBTA assessment due to its proximity to the Southborough train station.

The WRTA, whose primary service area is the city of Worcester, was unable to accommodate Marlborough's request.

"We are small potatoes in the WRTA," Kisty said.

The company's inability to expand services was also due to the fact that they are currently suff ering from a budget deficit.

Although Marlborough has considered expanding busing in years past, it was not feasible until recently because of the recent development of the MWRTA.

"Up until last year, there was no other animal for transportation," Kisty said.

When city officials first advocated for a new transportation system, they realized that residents gravitated not toward the Worcester area, but rather to the east.

"We had not dissatisfaction with the service that the WRTA was providing, we just saw an opportunity to align ourselves with communities we do more business with," Kisty said.

The initial plan to change providers was negotiated on the basis that the WRTA would be willing to enter into an interagency agreement, with AVCOA, which is run under the WRTA, continuing to provide service to Westborough, Marlborough, Southborough, Northborough and Shrewsbury. Instead, because Southborough is also expected to follow suit with Marlborough and join the MWRTA, the WRTA has decided to provide the three remaining communities with an in-house service.

Kisty explained that it was both surprising and frustrating that WRTA would not continue to maintain AVCOA and propose an interagency agreement.

Despite the recent obstacles, the city intends to move forward and hopes for a smooth transition. According to Kisty, the MWRTA will be on board for a July 1 start with the service that Marlborough residents have come to expect.