AMHERST — Attempting to stave off service cuts, including the loss of weekend bus routes, Town Meeting May 9 agreed to provide the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority more than $50,000.
With some members observing that this spending would send a message to the state Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker about the importance of fully funding regional transit authorities, Town Meeting voted 90-54 to add $53,000 to the transportation fund, increasing the fund from $819,121 to $872,121 by using what is called “retained earnings” money. A small portion of that fund goes to the PVTA.
Rob Kusner of Precinct 3 said that four routes that go through Amherst center that benefit permanent residents, not just University of Massachusetts students, will see reduced service beginning in September.
“Some of the most severe cuts are going to happen on weekends when the university is in session,” Kusner said. “Those cuts affect real people.”
Select Board Chairman Douglas Slaughter, who serves on the PVTA Advisory Board, cautioned against the spending, noting that the methodology the committee used in confronting a $3.1 million systemwide shortfall is to try to affect the fewest amount of riders, and to try not to leave anyone without service altogether.
Baker’s $80.4 million in assistance for regional transit authorities is short of the $88 million needed to maintain current service levels.
Slaughter added that it is unclear how far this money can go, noting that 85 percent of PVTA service in Amherst is covered by Five Colleges Inc. and UMass, and taking money from retained earnings would reduce money available for supporting other transportation infrastructure, such as emergency improvements to downtown parking lots.
Vincent O’Connor of Precinct 1 said he anticipates the spending will only be needed this year, with some confidence that the Legislature will come around on supporting regional transit authorities.
“This community won’t function well without the bus service we’ve gotten used to,” O’Connor said.
“We need to maintain this service,” said Hank Vandenberg of Precinct 4.
The vote came a week after Town Meeting narrowly rejected providing PVTA additional money. The reconsideration of the vote on the transportation fund was brought forward by Jeffrey Lee of Precinct 7, who said he was concerned by that close defeat, and the changed circumstances in losing longtime Sen. Stanley Rosenberg as an advocate for public transportation.
Kusner said he worries that the little cuts will lead to full bleeding that will eventually destroy PVTA.
“Amherst is proud for being one of the leading transportation hubs for fare-free transit,” Kusner said.
Municipal funding for Amherst’s first dog park was approved as part of $955,645 in Community Preservation Act spending targeted for affordable housing, historic preservation, open space and recreation.
The dog park, to be built on a 2-acre section of the old landfill on the south side of Belchertown Road, will get $90,000 from CPA, with a match from the Stanton Foundation.
Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek said Stanton has not made the commitment yet, but appears to be supportive. “We think we have an excellent chance of getting the matching funds,” Ziomek said.
William Kaisen of Precinct 3 said he hopes the dog park will prevent off-leash dogs on hiking trails and recreation areas, noting dogs are often loose when he is running.
“The hope is we’ll get dogs off the trails you’re talking about,” said CPA Chairman Nate Budington said.
The Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust is getting $190,000 so it can move forward with potential redevelopment of East Street School into affordable housing and assist Valley Community Development in constructing a single-room occupancy project.
Another $266,200 will go to a first-time homebuyers program of the Amherst Community Land Trust, and $112,815 to Amherst Community Connections to house three homeless individuals over three years.
CPA totaling $130,000 will preserve and renovate the North Amherst Community Farm House.
Another $113,000 will mean acquiring about 30 acres in South Amherst known as the Epstein property. This will provide access to an old trolley line and feature an 8-acre pond.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.