Merrimack Valley Transit
MeVa buses at McGovern Transportation Center in 2025 | |
| Headquarters | 85 Railroad Avenue Haverhill, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Service area | Northeast Massachusetts |
| Service type | Bus service, paratransit |
| Alliance | MBTA, LRTA |
| Routes | 25 |
| Destinations | Lawrence, Haverhill, Methuen, Andover, North Andover, Lowell, Plaistow |
| Fleet | Gillig |
| Operator | First Transit |
| Administrator | Noah Berger |
| Website | mevatransit.com |
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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3][4]
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–Bosron 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.[5]
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.[6][7]
As of November 2025, MeVA plans to begin limited ferry service between Haverhill, Amesbury, and Newburyport in 2026, with full service using three solar-powered ferries in 2027.[8]
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
References
- ^ "About MARTA". Massachusetts State Association of Regional Transit Authorities. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Home page". Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority.
- ^ "Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority". First Transit. Archived from the original on 2008-01-06. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ "Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Regional Transit Authorities Coordination and Efficiencies Report" (PDF). Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ^ Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
- ^ "About McGovern" (Press release). Merrimack Valley Transit. Archived from the original on February 15, 2025.
- ^ Date, Terry (September 5, 2024). "MeVA makes big move to McGovern". The Eagle-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024.
- ^ Volcy, Meghan (November 21, 2025). "MeVa's New Electric Ferries Could Set Sail On the Merrimack River Next Summer". Streetsblog Mass.