The Five Colleges Inc. consortium has announced that, as of Aug. 28, each of the five regular Five College/Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) bus runs will be operational during the entire fall 2023 semester. 

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Students and employees of the Five College campuses—UMass Amherst and Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges—may ride these buses fare-free when classes are in session. Most PVTA buses will charge a fare to anyone who does not have an ID from a Five College campus. 

The Five College/PVTA specific bus routes can be found at pvta.com/schedules. Busses to and from the UMass campus are: 

The B43: Smith - Hampshire Mall - UMass Amherst - Amherst College

The B43 runs between Smith College, UMass and Amherst College, with stops at the Hampshire Mall in Hadley. It runs all year round and is free to those with an ID from a Five College campus during the academic year beginning Sept. 3. Outside the academic year and during winter break the fare is $1.50. 

The 38: UMass Amherst - Amherst College - Hampshire College - Mount Holyoke 

The 38 runs between UMass, Amherst College, Hampshire College and Mount Holyoke. It is free to all when it runs, but runs only during the academic year, beginning Sept. 5. 

The R29: UMass Amherst - Amherst College - Hampshire College - Mount Holyoke - Holyoke Mall - Springfield 

The R29 runs between UMass and the City of Holyoke Transit Station, with stops at Amherst, Hampshire and Mount Holyoke colleges. It also has stops at the Holyoke Mall and at Union Station in downtown Springfield. It is free during the academic year to those with an ID from a Five College campus. Outside of the academic year and during winter break, it costs $1.50. Fare-free service begins Sept. 5. 

In addition to the Five College bus runs, UMass Transportation Services operates a number of PVTA buses that travel within the UMass campus and between campus and surrounding communities such as North Amherst, Sunderland and Belchertown. These buses are free to all riders and operate only when classes are in session.

The complete list of schedules for PVTA routes servicing the UMass campus can be found on the UMass Transit website.