The performance of the RTAs is important to the safety of passengers as well as the economic well-being of the Commonwealth. This section presents information on each of the RTAs as reported to MassDOT.
Percentage of Fixed Route Scheduled Trips Operated
The percent of scheduled trips operated refers to how reliably buses in each RTA complete their scheduled routes. For example, if out of 100 scheduled fixed-route bus trips, one did not run at all, the percent of scheduled trips operated measure would be 99 percent.
The percent of scheduled trips operated directly impacts the perceived and actual reliability of a system. In FY22, despite the significant impact of COVID-19 on bus operator staffing, all Massachusetts RTAs except one operated between 86 percent and 100 percent of regularly scheduled bus trips (Franklin Regional Transit Authority operated 75% of regularly scheduled bus trips).
This is an increase in the floor of service operated for all RTAs, as last fiscal year the lowest percentage was 54 percent. From last fiscal year to this, FRTA and GATRA saw an increase in the percentage of scheduled trips operated. VTA and WRTA saw a decline in the percentage of scheduled trips operated (greater than one percent), while BRTA, LRTA, MWRTA, NRTA, PVTA, and SRTA saw a minor decline in performance.
On-Time Performance
On-time performance measures how reliable an RTA is in providing the service it promises to its passengers. Due to the measure development process, each RTA may have a slightly different definition of on-time performance.
On average, RTAs reported an on-time performance rate between 75 percent and 100 percent for FY22 for their fixed-route service.
Some RTAs saw decreases in on-time performance. CCRTA saw an improvement in on-time performance, going from an average of 86 percent on-time performance in FY21 to 89 percent in FY22. Overall, seven of the 13 RTAs with on-time performance targets met or exceeded their targets for the fiscal year.
On average, RTAs reported an on-time performance rate for their paratransit service between 74 percent and 100 percent for FY22. Eleven of the 14 RTAs with on-time performance goals for paratransit met or exceeded their FY22 target.
