Brockton Area Transit Authority
Brockton Area Transit Authority, branded as Brockton Area Transit (BAT), is a public, non-profit organization in Massachusetts, charged with providing public transportation to the Brockton area, consisting of the city of Brockton and the adjoining towns of Abington, Avon, East Bridgewater, Easton, Milton, Randolph, Rockland, Stoughton & West Bridgewater.[1][2]
Founded | 1974 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 155 Court Street |
Locale | Brockton, MA |
Service type | bus service, paratransit |
Routes | 14 |
Operator | East Coast Transit Services |
Website | ridebat.com |
BAT provides fixed route bus services and paratransit services within its area. BAT's buses provide interchange with each other and with the Middleborough/Lakeville commuter rail line of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) at Brockton station. BAT also runs a fixed route bus service from Brockton to Boston's Ashmont station on MBTA's Red subway line.[3]
As of 2018, BAT operated a fleet of 41 Gillig Low Floor buses, 19 Ford Elkhart Coach buses, and 40 minibuses of two types.[4]
All BAT transit buses accept cash payment or allow fare to be paid via CharlieCard.
History
Brockton bus service was previously operated by Union Street Railway, until a protracted labor strike prompted the city to buy the routes and buses in September 1973. One year later, this system was reorganized as BAT to secure state funding, and encourage regional participation.[5]
Routes
Many routes leaving the BAT Centre in Brockton are scheduled on a pulse system - meeting at the central hub simultaneously - to provide easy transfers.[6]
Twelve routes primarily serve Brockton & nearby towns :[3]
- 1: Montello Street Via North Main Street
- 2: S. Plaza/Campello Via Main Street
- 3: VA Hospital Via Belmont
- 4: Westgate Via Pleasant
- 4A: Westgate Mall Via N. Warren
- 5: Brockton Hospital Via Centre St.
- 6: Massasoit Via Crescent St.
- 8: Southfield Via Warren & Plan St.
- 9: Pearl Via W. Elm & Torrey
- 10: Lisa & Howard Via N. Quincy & Court
- 11: Cary Hill and the Village
- 13: Mini Maller
Four longer routes run to other towns:
- 12: Ashmont
- 14: Stoughton
- RF: Rockland Flex
Five routes - four on-campus shuttles, and route 28 to the BAT Centre - serve Bridgewater State University.
BAT also offers door-to-door para-transit service called Dial-a-BAT.[3]
Gallery
- A BAT route 12 bus at Ashmont station in 2017
- A BAT route 4 bus at Westgate Mall in 2017
- BAT route 5 bus at the BAT Centre in Brockton
- A route 12 bus in Blue Hills Reservation
- A route 1 bus in Avon in 2019
See also
- Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority, also serving the same countries of Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth.
References
- "Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Regional Transit Agencies" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Transportation. 9 March 2012.
- "Regional Transit Authorities: Public Transportation in Massachusetts". Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- "Route Schedules & Maps". Brockton Area Transit Authority.
- Official Audit Report – Issued August 24, 2018: Brockton Area Transit Authority For the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017 (PDF) (Report). Auditor of the Commonwealth. August 24, 2018.
- Old Colony Planning Council, City of Brockton, Urban Transportation Systems Associates, Inc. (June 1975). Brockton Area Transit Development Program. p. 26.
- Brockton Area Transit Authority Comprehensive Regional Transportation Plan (PDF) (Report). Old Colony Planning Council. September 2015. p. 28.