By Chris Kopacko, Contributing Writer
Westborough – The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) has tentative plans to start offering two routes of shuttle service in the town of Westborough next month. Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) Project Manager Jonathan Church announced the shuttle route plans to the Board of Selectmen during the board's? Nov.? 12 meeting, indicating that specific times and locations may be subject to change.
Poised to begin on Dec. 2, the WRTA will provide direct, non-stop shuttle service from the Westborough Commuter Rail Station, located at Smith Parkway and Fisher Street, to the Westborough Office Park at Computer Drive and Research Drive during weekdays. The commuter shuttle times would be coordinated with specific morning, midday and evening MBTA trains heading to and from Boston and Worcester.
Additionally, the WRTA will be providing a local shuttle route that will run from the McDonald's restaurant located on Route 30 to the Westborough High School, with stops at the Westborough Senior Center and Baystate Commons as well. This shuttle route is tentatively set to run between 8:30 a.m. to ?4:00 p.m. ?on weekdays, and pedestrians will be able to “flag down” the shuttle at any point along the route to get picked up.
WRTA and Westborough officials have been working together to examine the feasibility of commuter transit service in the town for some time now. Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) Project Manager Jonathan Church announced the shuttle route plans to the Board of Selectmen during the board's ?Nov. ?12 meeting, indicating that specific times and locations may be subject to change.
Although the plan is still tentative, the selectmen seemed pleased at the news.
“This will be invaluable to a population that is under-served now,” Selectman George Barrette said.
“This has been talked about for a long time,” Selectman Timothy Dodd said. “Having this kind of model will be a great example for other communities to follow.”
Fares for the new shuttle service will be $1.50, and $0.75 for elderly, disabled and children ages 5-13 accompanied by an adult. Children under 5 may ride free provided they are accompanied by an adult.
A presentation on the proposal will be made by WRTA officials at the Tuesday, Dec. 3 meeting of the Westborough Economic Development Committee, which will be held at 8 a.m. in Room 23 of the Forbes Municipal Building.
