PITTSFIELD — It’s now possible to get to Northampton or Greenfield from the Berkshires without a car, thanks to a new bus service launched by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority.

The three routes offered through Link413 are currently served by six buses, whose exterior designs spotlight popular destinations through Western Massachusetts. The new service includes routes to Greenfield and Northampton.

On Wednesday, three bus routes were set to begin Monday-Friday service as part of BRTA’s new Link413 program. Route 904 will connect Pittsfield to Northampton, while Route 903 will connect North Adams to Greenfield; each route will run four times a day in both directions, taking approximately 90 minutes per trip and making stops in various cities and towns throughout.

The third, Route 901, connects Pittsfield directly to North Adams. It will run twice daily in each direction and takes approximately 45 minutes. The full Link413 bus schedule can be found on the BRTA website.

“It's been a long time in planning,” said Kathleen Lambert, administrator for BRTA. “I’m excited for it to be in service. … I think it’s going to give people the opportunity to really move around, get to places that they really need to go.”

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will fund the pilot program for two years through grants intended to strengthen transit options in rural communities and connect existing service areas. During that period, BRTA will collect ridership data and rider feedback to make the case in Boston for long-term state funding down the line.

BRTA cites rider survey feedback as indicating significant interest in these added routes. In addition to connecting cities across Western Massachusetts, Link413 will provide easier access to Amtrak stations for interstate travel.

“I think it could blossom into a really effective service for Berkshire County,” Lambert said. “We’ll see. We’ll be tracking it.”

Buses depart from the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority headquarters in Pittsfield. BRTA on Wednesday will begin running its new Link413 program, which includes weekday routes to Greenfield and Northampton.

The launch of Link413 is the first major project Lambert will oversee since becoming administrator in December. For Robert Malnati, the outgoing administrator of BRTA who has stayed on to transition out of the role, it will likely be the last one he has a hand in before his retirement in March.

“It’ll be good to see how it runs, and what tweaks we need to make,” Malnati said of the pilot service. “It’ll really show what kind of interest there is.”

Link413 is made possible through partnerships with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority and the Franklin Regional Transit Authority. Each of the three transit authorities currently contributes two buses to operate Link 413, Malnati said, and BRTA hopes to eventually add two additional buses to the route once repairs are completed on the remaining vehicles.

All six of the buses currently in use for Link413 were purchased from the Beaver County Transit Authority in Pennsylvania, Malnati said. Each bus will provide free Wi-Fi and is designed to be accessible to riders with mobility devices.

Buses depart from the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority headquarters in Pittsfield. BRTA on Wednesday will begin running its new Link413 program, which includes weekday routes to Greenfield and Northampton.

Link413 arrives as BRTA continues to battle a driver shortage, which has been exacerbated by an increase in ridership since its local bus routes first went fare-free in 2024. With free rides now slated to continue until at least June 2026, the demand for drivers is expected to stay high as Link413 routes begin service.

“We’re still looking for drivers,” Malnati said. But in the meantime, “We’re going to do the best we can with the drivers we have to get this going.”

“Every transit agency throughout the country is starving for driving staff,” Lambert said. “We’re already addressing it in the scheduling,” she added, mentioning that BRTA would soon be “announcing some changes that will help us tackle that problem.”

Buses depart from the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority headquarters in Pittsfield. BRTA on Wednesday will begin running its new Link413 program, which includes weekday routes to Greenfield and Northampton.

While local BRTA bus routes still remain fare-free through June, tickets for Link413 routes cost $10 each. Discounted rates of $5 are available for riders over the age of 60 who bring photo ID, as well as riders who present a Medicare card or a statewide access pass. Children younger than 5 ride free.

Tickets can be purchased through the MassDOT BusPlus app. Cash fare will also be accepted at time of boarding as Link413 remains in its early stages of operation.

Buses depart from the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority headquarters in Pittsfield. BRTA on Wednesday will begin running its new Link413 program, which includes weekday routes to Greenfield and Northampton.

As BRTA advocates for state funding to keep its local bus routes permanently free to riders, the possibility of one day making Link413 fare-free is also undecided.

“It depends on the support we get from the state,” Lambert said. “One of the ways we can really support affordability is fare-free. I would love to see that continue, but it takes lobbying at the Statehouse.”