About the NRTA WAVE

The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority provides island wide seasonal fixed route shuttle service and year round Your Island Ride van service. The NRTA was established to alleviate downtown traffic congestion and to create parking opportunities in the downtown core district. The NRTA began providing seasonal fixed route service in 1995 operating four buses on two routes. It soon became apparent that the NRTA would become an island-wide transportation system. Over the past eight years the NRTA has expanded its services that includes island wide transportation operating nine routes with 13 buses. In July 2001 the NRTA began providing year round door-to-door advanced reservation van service, Your Island Ride, to elders 60 years of age and older and persons with disabilities.

The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) was created by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 161B in 1993, although operations did not begin until 1995. The NRTA is a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. According to the statute, regional transit authorities cannot operate service directly, but instead must contract with private operators for the provision of service. The NRTA contracts with Valley Transportation Services of Massachusetts, Inc. to provide operating and management services for the NRTA’s seasonal fixed route service and Your Island Ride van service.  Visit Valley Transportation Services of Massachusetts, Inc. at www.ridevts.com. 

Funding sources for regional transit authorities include local, state and federal programs for operating funds as well as capital funding available through the state and federal governments. Additional sources of funding include farebox revenues, advertising revenues and the sale of passes. Local funding, minimum requirement of 25% of the net cost of service (operating costs – revenues) is assessed to the Town of Nantucket, increases are capped at 2.5% per year, unless new service is added. 75% of the net cost of service is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Federal money, through rural operating assistance Section 5311, is provided to the NRTA. Farebox revenue is money collected from passengers and pass sales. Other revenue includes advertising revenue. The NRTA’s operating budget covers three areas of expense, including fixed route, paratransit and administration.