SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The mayor of Springfield called for major changes at Union Station following an increase in crimes and disturbances. We’re bringing you team coverage on last night’s announcement where the mayor asked for an end to free PVTA bus rides to divert juveniles away from the transportation hub.

One of the biggest points that our viewers are confused about is the Try Transit program in itself–which is what Mayor Domenic Sarno looks to halt — the program lets people ride PVTA fixed-route busses and vans for free.

The program was first tested in 2022 and has been in effect ever since. While premium services are excluded from this deal, passengers of all ages are encouraged to walk onto any fixed-route bus and take a seat, no transfers or passes are necessary. While try transit has been a benefit for years now, it was set to end at the end of this month anyways — no extensions of the program have been announced by the PVTA or city or state leaders.

While this “Try Transit” program is ending in a few weeks, what does that mean for students who use the public buses to get to school?

Sarno’s announcement is not looking to impact students who use the bus to get to school in the greater Springfield region. However, someone would need to organize a new program if students were to use the buses without paying any money moving forward, “where it is a structured type program, I have no issue with that whatsoever. Because then you can, you can trace that program also, and if somebody’s getting out of hand, then their privileges can be revoked. But this open season, that anybody and their mother can just walk on the bus, whether good or bad, and create havoc, Sarno said.

Do we know how much bus fares will be once the program ends at the end of the month?

Prices have not been announced just yet. However, before Try Transit was put in place, PVTA bus trips cost just $1.50 for an adult single trip, and 90 cents for children ages 6 to12. Prices could be different from these numbers — these are just what they were in 2022.

Why do city leaders believe that ending these free rides will stop juveniles from hanging out at Union Station and causing trouble?

The mayor said that rising crimes — including ones he witnessed at Union Station would decrease if Union Station was not a free place to hang out. He claimed that if you take away the free rides, the children will be less likely to joyride on the buses, therefore drawing them away from the station as a whole. Still, the buses were not his only point Tuesday — Mayor Sarno is looking for a crackdown on crime — so if you’re loitering at the station or wreaking havoc — he said that you will be arrested.

Coming up at 6 — we’re getting answers on the free programs that exist throughout the city, highlighting places that the mayor says the juveniles can go and hang out, including free programs that the city provides.

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