MetroWest Transit Announces New Routes

According to a report on MyFMToday.com, MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) riders across the region will see major changes to the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority’s bus system this week.

The MWRTA will begins operating the new network on Tuesday, September 8th, the day after Labor Day. The redesign includes a new route numbering system, two-way service on many routes, expanded service in select areas, easier connections and more frequent service. Almost all the changes are to bus routes in its core service areas.

The authority says the changes are intended to make the system simpler and more convenient for riders traveling to work, school and other destinations throughout MetroWest.

The final day of service under the current system design was Sunday, September 6th. Apparently unchanged is the 495 Connector service that stops at Forge Park Station in Franklin.

MWRTA  piloted the 495 Connector, a fixed route focused on North-South Connections between communities and the MBTA Commuter Rail system, in 2024 through special funding from the state. The route allows commuters the option to leave their cars at home more often. This new route will connect the Framingham/Worcester Line with both the Fitchburg and Franklin Commuter Rail lines.

The connector service had long been sought by Jason Palitsch , the Executive Director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership, a public-private collaboration among businesses, municipalities, and other stakeholders focused on cultivating sustainable economic growth throughout the 495/MetroWest region.