The 2024 Worcester Community Food Assessment found that transportation – and more broadly, the ability to get groceries to and from grocery stores, food pantries, and other food resources – is a significant barrier for many people in Worcester and surrounding towns. This page includes information and links to transportation and delivery resources that are currently available.
Food Access
WRTA Buses Are Free Through June 2025
The Worcester Regional Transit Authority has a number of options to help you get to grocery stores and other food resources. The RTA is currently working with the Center on Food Equity to compile a list of bus routes that stop at local supermarkets, farm stands, and farmers markets, or have stops close to food pantries. In the meantime, this information can help you navigate Worcester’s public transit system to get to grocery stores and other food resources.
Shopping on the Bus
Strollers and carts must be folded and kept out of the aisle. While there is no specific limit to the amount of groceries you can carry with you on the bus, you must be able to hold it all in your lap without encroaching on a second seat. Since many of the bus routes run every 60 minutes, it can be helpful to use the Trip Planner tab found at therta.com home page to find the easiest, most efficient routes for your needs.
Navigate to www.therta.com. Click or tap on the tab labeled Trip Planner.
How to Use the Trip Planner
- Enter your address into the Starting Address field.
Start typing the name of the store you want to visit into the Ending Address field.- A dropdown list will open with matching destinations. Select the store you want from the list.
- Tap or click “Get Directions.” A new tab will open showing directions to your destination in Google Maps that includes all bus routes that travel to that destination.
- A new tab will open showing directions to your destination in Google Maps that includes all bus routes that travel to that destination.
Elder Shopper Bus
The Elder Shopper bus provides round trip bus service between several senior housing complexes and Shaws, Price Chopper, and Big Y on Tuesdays and Thursdays on a fixed schedule. Service is restricted to residents of those apartment complexes.
There are two trips scheduled on each of the two days. Each trip picks up at two or more apartment buildings, travels to a designated supermarket, waits one hour, and returns riders to their buildings.
You can see the full schedule at the WRTA website.
Tuesday Elder Shopper Trips
Shaws – 68 Stafford St (Webster Sq Plaza)
serves Marble Street Apartments and Coes Pond Village
| Departure Time | Destination | Return Time |
|---|---|---|
| 9:10am | Marble Street Apartments 11 Marble Street | 11:15am |
| 9:25am | Coes Pond Village 36 First Street | 11:00am |
| Arrival Time | Destination | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|
| 9:35am | Shaws 68 Stafford Street | 10:45am |
The bus picks up riders at Marble Street Apartments at 9:15 am and riders at Coes Pond Village at 9:25 am. It arrives at Shaws, Webster Sq. Plaza at 9:35 am. Riders have 1 hour 10 minutes to shop. The bus leaves Shaws at 10:45 am, and drops passengers at Coes Pond Village at 11:00 am and Marble Street Apartments at 11:15 pm.
Price Chopper – Cambridge St
serves Upsala Street Apartments, Dillon Street Apartments, Seabury Heights, and Green Hill Towers
| Departure Time | Destination | Return Time |
|---|---|---|
| 9:50am | Upsala Street Apartments 39 Upsala Street | 12:15pm |
| 9:55am | Dillion Apartments 21 Granite Street | 12:10pm |
| 10:05am | Seabury Heights 240-244 Belmont Street | 11:55am |
| 10:15am | Green Hill Towers 27 Mt. Vernon Street | 11:45am |
| Arrival Time | Destination | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30am | Price Chopper 50 Cambridge Street | 11:30am |
Thursday
On Thursdays, the Elder Shopper bus runs two trips. The first trip provides shopping service between Price Chopper on Pullman Street and Seabury Heights, Green Hill Towers, and the Colony Retirement homes. The second trip provides shopping service between Big Y on Mayfield St. and Illyrian Gardens and Canterbury Towers.
Thursday Elder Shopper Trips
Shaws
| Departure Time | Destination | Return Time |
|---|---|---|
| 9:15am | Seabury Heights 240 Belmont Street | 12:05pm |
| 9:25am | Green Hill Towers 27 Mt. Vernon Street | 12:00pm |
| 9:40am | Colony Retirement Home IV 123 Holden Street | 11:35am |
| 9:50am | Colony Retirement Home III 101 Chadwick Street | 11:45am |
| 10:00am | Colony Retirement Home I and II 101 Chadwick Street | 11:25am |
| Arrival Time | Destination | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10:15am | Price Chopper 55 Pullman Street | 11:15am |
Big Y
| Departure Time | Destination | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10:35am | Canterbury Towers 6 Wachusett Street | 12:40pm |
| 10:50am | Illyrian Gardens 545 Salisbury Street | 12:30pm |
| Arrival Time | Destination | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|
| 11:05am | Big Y Mayfield Street | 12:15pm |
