Merrimack Valley Transit (MeVa), formerly known as Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA), is a transit agency in northeastern Massachusetts, United States. It provides public transportation to the municipalities of Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury, as well as a seasonal service to the popular nearby summer destination of Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.
Operations
MeVa provides fixed route bus services and paratransit services within its area, together with services to Lowell. MeVa routes connect with MBTA Commuter Rail at Andover, Haverhill, McGovern Transportation Center (Lawrence), Lowell, and Newburyport.
The MVRTA started operation in 1976. It was created under Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws. Since 1983, operation has been subcontracted to First Transit, a subsidiary of the United Kingdom based FirstGroup.
The MVRTA took over a Lawrence–Boston commuter route from a private operator, Trombly Commuter Lines, in January 2003. It was extended to Methuen that June. A North Andover–Boston round trip was added in April 2015. All Boston commuter service was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methuen service resumed from July–August 2021 and September 2021 to September 2022, but has not operated since.
Effective March 1, 2022, all local routes are free. On September 1, 2024, MeVa moved its Lawrence hub from the 1993-opened downtown Buckley Transportation Center to McGovern Transportation Center.
, MeVA plans to begin limited ferry service between Haverhill, Amesbury, and Newburyport in 2026, with full service using three solar-powered ferries in 2027.
Routes MeVa operates 25 year-round routes in northeastern Massachusetts: 1 Lawrence–Methuen–Haverhill 2 Andover 3 North Andover 4 Prospect Hill 5 Water Street 6 Holy Family Hospital/Lawrence Street 7 Beacon Street 8 Colonial Heights/North Andover Mall 9 North Andover Mall/Phillips Street 10 Methuen Square 11 Lawrence-Haverhill-Newburyport Limited 12 Lawrence Crosstown 13 Main Street/North Avenue 14 Lawrence-Haverhill via Amazon/Ward Hill 15 Hilldale Avenue/Haverhill Commons 16 Washington Street/Westgate Plaza 17 Haverhill–Salisbury Beach via Amesbury 18 Riverside/Groveland 19 Newburyport CR–Amesbury 20 Newburyport CR–Salisbury Beach 21 Andover Shuttle 22 Buttonwoods Express 24 Lawrence–Lowell 26 IRS/Raytheon 27 Beacon Street Special 28 Salem/Tuscan Village 30 Amesbury Circulator
References
External links MeVa official website