SRTA Fall River terminal fully reopened after upgrade

NEW BEDFORD, MA – Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) is pleased to announce that its Fall River bus terminal is fully reopened and operational after upgrades to its infrastructure and functionality were recently completed.

A new concrete platform has been placed at the facility where SRTA buses arrive and depart. The platform has been re-pitched from a previous version and made water-proof, enhancing the area’s purpose and sustainability.

“We discovered that the original platform had deteriorated since 2013,” says Erik B. Rousseau, SRTA administrator. In 2013, SRTA relocated to the Louis D. Pettine Transportation Center at 118 4th Street, Fall River. Previously, the property had been the utility garage and service area for a power company.

The platform project began in June, 2021. It stayed on course throughout the summer despite an unexpected challenge. Rainfall in southern Massachusetts reached an astounding 15 inches in July of 2021 alone. Nevertheless, work persisted and the renovated platform recently reopened.

Boarding and exiting from SRTA Fall River routes at the terminal were then able to be fine-tuned to ensure a smoother riding experience for all fixed-route passengers.

Part of reopening the platform involved aligning the advanced transportation technology employed by SRTA on all its routes. A temporary bus platform on Hartwell Street was utilized during construction. When the Louis D. Pettine Transportation Center was fully operational once again, route data had to be reprogrammed in order for arrival and departure times to be accurately reflected. This information is then shared with riders via real-time electronic signage at the terminal.   

“There was quite a bit of reprogramming to accomplish when the Fall River terminal emerged from construction,” says Rousseau. “Thankfully, between staff IT specialists and with our partner vendors, we were able to do that in about two weeks as the new platform became operational.”

With both physical and technological infrastructures improvements, SRTA has been steadily moving forward the past few years with a clear mission. To become a modern 21st century public transportation authority which can meet the needs of residents throughout the Southcoast area.

That’s being accomplished with both cutting-edge technology, diligent equipment and facility maintenance, enhanced communications and progressive pricing policies – such as utilizing the CharlieCard option for riders to realize fare discounts.

SRTA has also extended the popular Intercity Express, which operates between the Fall River and New Bedford terminals, and cultivated working partnerships with adjacent transportation authorities like the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA).

In fact, from the newly reopened Fall River terminal riders can connect with public transportation routes to both Providence and Newport, RI provided by RIPTA. 

“Improving and utilizing our assets in the most meaningful way possible not only enhances service for riders,” concludes SRTA administrator Erik Rousseau, “but drives us toward the promise of a truly pan-regional public transportation experience which benefits everyone from workers to students to day-trippers.”