The FRTA was established in 1978 with then implementation of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 161B, which gave rise to several regional transit authorities throughout Massachusetts. FRTA is the largest public transit authority in Massachusetts land-wise. In 1999, the FRTA and the Fitchburg-based Montachusett Regional Transit Authority cooperated to form a route to Athol and Orange, Massachusetts, linking Greenfield to the MART terminal in Gardner. Although not in the FRTA service area, public bus service between Greenfield and Northampton began in 2000. In 2006, the FRTA assumed the responsibility of providing transportation services for the towns of Greenfield and Montague, when the former Greenfield Montague Transportation Area transit authority became unfunded by the state Department of Transportation. In 2013, Athol voted to withdraw from the FRTA service district, and instead voted to join MART, necessitating that the former Greenfield/Athol route be truncated in Orange.
Routes
FRTA public transportation service is available Monday through Friday. Fares are $1.50 system-wide, with free transfers at the John W Olver Transit Center in downtown Greenfield and Avenue A and Third Street in Turners Falls. Passengers with statewide Access Passes or ADA cards, active military personnel, veterans, Medicare card holders, students through grade 12 and persons over 60 pay half-price fares, while passengers with Commission for the Blind cards and children under five accompanied by fare paying adults ride for free. FRTA is classified as a 'rural' transit authority. Route 20 - GreenLink Connector: This is a local route entirely within the Town of Greenfield. This route runs as a connector service from the JWO Transit Center to Greenfield Community College, the Greenfield Corporate Center, as well as around town to allow passengers to connect with outbound buses at the JWO Transit Center. Route 21 - Greenfield Community: This is a local route entirely within the Town of Greenfield. This route departs the JWO Transit Center hourly between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm, with service ending before 9:00 pm. This route is the primary in-town transportation option throughout the town of Greenfield, with service to major apartment complexes, shopping plazas, and allows for connections to other routes at the JWO Transit Center. Route 22 - BlueLink Connector: This is a local route within the Town of Montague, including the Villages of Turners Falls, Lake Pleasant, and Millers Falls. BlueLink is the morning and evening commuter option for service to schools, employment at the Industrial Boulevard, and downtown Turners Falls. Passengers may transfer for free between Route 22 BlueLink and FRTA Routes 23, 24, and 32 at Avenue A and Third Street in downtown Turners Falls. Route 23 - Sunderland/Greenfield: This route serves Greenfield, Turners Falls, Millers Falls, Montague Center, and Sunderland with four round trips daily between the JWO Transit Center in Greenfield and Sugarloaf Estates in Sunderland. At Sugarloaf Estates, passengers may transfer for free between FRTA and Pioneer Valley Transit AuthorityRoute 31 for service to Amherst and UMass. Route 24 - Crosstown Connector: This route travels between Avenue A and 11th Street in downtown Turners Falls, and Greenfield Community College, in Greenfield, via the JWO Transit Center. This route runs hourly between 9:15 am and 8:15 pm on weekdays only. Route 24, created with service improvements in September 2017, provides frequent and direct service between Greenfield Community College, Big Y Plaza, downtown Greenfield, the JWO Transit Center, Franklin Medical Center, Stop and Shop Plaza, and downtown Turners Falls. This route is timed to make free transfers with other FRTA bus routes at the JWO Transit Center. Passengers may transfer for free between Route 24 and FRTA Routes 22, 23, 32 at Avenue A and Third Street. Route 31 - Northampton/Greenfield: This route serves the towns of Greenfield, Deerfield, Whately, Hatfield and Northampton. There are seven round trips per day, between the JWO Transit Center in downtown Greenfield, and the Academy of Music in downtown Northampton, where passengers may transfer between FRTA and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority . Route 32 - Orange/Greenfield: This route serves Greenfield, Turners Falls, Millers Falls, Erving, and Orange. There are seven round trips a day, and the eastern terminus is at Hannaford's in Orange. Route 41 - Charlemont/Greenfield: This route serves Greenfield, Shelburne, Shelburne Falls, Buckland and Charlemont. There are four round trips a day, and the western terminus is at Avery's Store in Charlemont Center.
Connections
FRTA offers connections to the following regional transportation agencies:
*FRTA Route 32 to MART G-Link at Hannaford in Orange.
**For service to Gardner.
John W. Olver Transit Center
The John W. Olver Transit Center houses the FRTA offices and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, the successor organization to the Franklin County county government. It has provisions for local FRTA buses and Amtrak service, and links with Peter Pan Bus Lines and Greyhound Lines for intercity bus service to Springfield, Boston and Brattleboro. FRTA bus routes 20, 21, 23, 24, 31, 32, 41 all service the JWO Transit Center. Route 22 does not service the JWO Transit Center as it does not leave the town of Montague.
