Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation, more commonly known as COAST, is celebrating its 40th year of providing service. Since delivering its first passenger in 1982, COAST has given 15.6 million rides to people in the Greater Seacoast region, affordably linking them with work, school, doctor appointments, shopping, and social events.
Public transit services in the Greater Seacoast region date back as far back as the late 19th century. But as streetcars gave way to buses in the 1930’s, the region headed into the next half century with an ever-dwindling and disconnected system of privately operated transportation options. COAST was formed in 1982 by a group of citizens, planners, government representatives and business owners committed to developing a coordinated system of regional transportation as a public service.
Today, COAST connects people and places in two primary ways: with fixed route buses that connect 10 communities across the Greater Seacoast area; and by providing demand response services for older adults and individuals with disabilities in and between 13 communities in New Hampshire and Maine. COAST also supports demand response services operated by other nonprofit agencies throughout Strafford and Rockingham Counties, providing a critical link between communities and the support services their residents need.
As COAST has grown and expanded over the years, so too has its contributions to the region both as a critical transportation resource but also a driver of the economy. A 2021 economic impact study conducted by the Stafford Regional and Rockingham Planning Commissions found that COAST’s direct, indirect, and induced effect on spending on the local economy, as well as the economic impact of access provided by their services, is estimated at $25.9 million annually. Every dollar invested in COAST, whether by riders at the fare box or by the towns that COAST serves, generates approximately $4.08 of activity in the local economy.
“For the most part, COAST has been rolling buses and vans out onto the streets for the last four decades without much fanfare,” said Rad Nichols, Executive Director of COAST. “We’ve been quietly and very successfully going about the important business of providing an essential service for families in the Greater Seacoast all the while solidifying our role as a critically important part of the region’s economic vitality.”
But COAST is more than ridership numbers and a vehicle for economic activity. COAST is also a respected employer whose staff has growth from one to just over 70. As a medium sized organization, COAST strives to provide high quality, rewarding careers coupled with competitive pay and benefits.
“We are proud of the significant number of our team members that have been with COAST for 10, 15, 20 and even 25 years. Many employees stay at COAST because they are committed to the important service they perform for their community and neighbors,” said Nichols. “But they also stay because they enjoy being part of a team that respects their contributions and supports them as professionals.”
In addition to serving the transportation needs of the region, COAST has a long history of giving back to the communities where it operates by providing shuttle services, collecting food, raising funds, and offering discounted or free tickets to individuals in need, including area schools and organizations that are teaching young adults valuable life skills.
In the last 15 years in particular, COAST has experienced its most significant growth. As it marks its 40th anniversary, COAST is keeping its eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead. To better meet its current operational needs, be responsive to future demand and reduce its environmental impact, COAST is developing plans to build a new facility on its current property in Dover. The project, which will be funded through a combination of federal, state, local and private dollars, is an investment in both the regional economy and in climate action.
“As the region, and the world, moves into a future that will be defined increasingly by climate change, COAST represents an important part of our local climate resiliency plan,” said Nichols. “Each time a rider chooses to use COAST instead of a personal vehicle, they are reducing their carbon footprint by an average of 7.5 pounds. Our new facility will ensure that COAST will be a reliable and environmentally responsible resource for the people of the Greater Seacoast for the next 40 years and beyond.”
More information about COAST’s history, routes, schedules, and fares can be found at www.coastbus.org.
About COAST
Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to champion and provide customer-focused public transportation with a commitment to excellence in safety and service. COAST is funded primarily by federal and local government support. COAST is governed by a board of directors representing the communities served, two regional planning commissions, and many local and state agencies. For more information, visit www.coastbus.org.