BEVERLY, MA — The lone dedicated bus line serving Beverly residents will cease operations at the end of the month in a cost-cutting measure amid a municipal budget crunch.
Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill identified the bus line during discussions around an increased trash fee as one of the ways — along with layoffs and other cost restructuring — the city could balance its budget for 2027.
The City Council approved, on a first vote, a trash fee hike from $100 to $300 for most residents — less than the increase to $425 that Cahill said was required to fully fund trash and recycling removal services under the new contract to begin on July 1.
That left another $1.4 million in cuts as the city looks to reach a budget agreement by the end of the month.
"The City of Beverly regrets to notify you that the #8 Beverly Shuttle (Burgundy Route) operated by CATA will be ceasing service effective June 30, 2026," the city posted on the Cape Ann Transportation Authority social media.
The city asked residents who use the shuttle to complete a questionnaire to explain their transit needs. Answers will help inform current needs, future planning, and funding advocacy.
Cahill said the city would look to increase transportation programs through the Council on Aging to help mitigate the loss of the shuttle.
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