Town of Lenox, Massachusetts

Town of Lenox Annual Town Report - 2008
REPORT OF THE BRTA
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Lenox:
The Town of Lenox is served by Route 2, which has the second highest ridership
in the BRTA fixed-route network. It is an easy 25-minute ride from downtown
Lenox either to downtown Pittsfield or to the outlet mall in Lee.
Since fiscal year 2008, which began on July 1, 2007, the BRTA has been able
to record automatic ridership statistics for each town it serves. These are used in the
calculation of assessments to each town in the network. Prior to this automation, ridership
statistics were derived manually.
During fiscal year 2008, 14,306 passengers boarded the bus system in Lenox,
which was a 10% increase compared to 2007. For BRTA system-wide, the increase
was only 1.5%. Para-transit services offered in Lenox in FY 2008 totaled 4997, which
was a decline of 10% from FY 2007.
Fiscal year 2009 began on July 1, 2008. Ridership systemwide has been up
almost 7% during the first six months. This growth has been sustained even after the
drastic fall of gasoline prices.
I was appointed to the BRTA Advisory Board by the Town Select Committee
in June, 2008. I attend bi-monthly board meetings where cash reports, filings, and
various proposals are reviewed and approved. I also serve as an advocate for better
public transportation options for residents and businesses in Lenox.
On July 18, 2008 the BRTA entered into an agreement with the Berkshire Regional
Planning Commission for the latter to undertake a study that would recommend changes to
the BRTA network so as to better serve the community. This work is to be completed by
June 30, 2009. I very much support this effort to better serve the community and have
assisted the planning commission with survey design and distribution.
In July, 2008, the BRTA Advisory Board voted to approve a fare increase of
$0.15 per zone (town). I cast the lone vote against the fare increase, believing that
there was more that could be done to increase revenues through ridership growth
strategies instead.
I am a regular user of the BRTA system and invite residents and business owners
in Lenox to contact me with any ideas or comments regarding improving the
town’s public transportation options.
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Respectfully submitted,
L. Scott Laugenour