Important Notice: Service Changes 1/9/12

Due to budget concerns, COAST faces the difficult situation of having to propose minor service cuts to these routes in order to maintain the majority of the service as it is now.

THE CHANGES BEGIN MONDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 2012 AND CONTINUE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

The proposed changes have created a slightly modified schedule.
Please see the flyer for the schedule starting January 9th, 2012.

The changes are being made to the after-6PM timeframe when ridership is extremely low on each route.

• Route 33: service will end at 6:22pm. There will be no 6:36pm or 7:26pm runs. Also the schedule between 4pm and 6:22pm has been adjusted significantly.
• Route 34: the 6:30pm run will become outbound only. The 7:30pm outbound run will continue.
• Route 35: service will end at 6:38pm. There will be no 6:45pm run.

WHY ARE CUTS BEING PROPOSED?

FastTrans is a grant-funded project developed jointly with the City of Dover. It was known when the program launched 3 years ago that there was a risk of having to cut some services when the grant runs out. The grant will be running out in Spring of 2012. To ensure we can run as much service as possible for as long as possible, we must propose scaling back some service.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO CUT THESE RUNS?

The last run of each route has consistently shown very low ridership compared to the rest of the day. Choosing these runs will be an inconvenience to some, but allows COAST to continue running the most valuable daytime services as long as possible.

IS THIS A DONE DEAL? WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?

The changes in service have been modified since this announcement originally went up. Please see the flyer for the schedule starting January 9th, 2012.

COAST always encourages your comments and feedback, which help us develop and improve services. You can always email us at info@coastbus.org with your comments or questions.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ALL OF THE GRANT MONEY RUNS OUT?

As mentioned, FastTrans is supported largely by a grant (about 80% of the operation) and the remaining funds come from the City of Dover and Strafford County. The cuts proposed above will allow COAST and the City more time to determine funding sources to keep the whole project running otherwise unchanged through June 2012. Between now and then, there will be several opportunities for the public to get involved in the process to determine what parts of FastTrans are most valuable to continue investing in.

Currently, COAST and the City are working on developing business partnerships and investigating other funding resources to maintain the most valuable and productive parts of the FastTrans project. Please continue to follow this webpage for updates on the project and to find out how you can provide feedback or get involved.

There are four components of FastTrans: Route 33, 34, 35, as well as the increase to hourly service on Route 1 (many people are not aware of that component of FastTrans). COAST has identified to the City that the bare minimum to maintain on FastTrans when the grant runs out is the hourly service on Route 1 as well as the portion of Route 33 between downtown and the County Complex. These two parts of FastTrans have generated tremendous ridership and will be maintained regardless of all else when the original grant funding runs out.

Routes 34 and 35, while important to the current users, have not had enough time to grow on their own. These routes consistently have much lower passenger counts than routes 1 or 33. If funding can be found to maintain these services, they will be maintained with a renewed focus on advertising to build ridership. They would probably also undergo some route adjustment to eliminate areas that are not generating any ridership, in favor of serving other areas that might.

Again, all of this is currently in the planning, research, and proposal stage and no final decisions have been made. Please continue to follow this webpage for updates on the project and to find out how you can provide feedback or get involved. Thank you for your support.

About Dover FastTrans:

The Dover FastTrans project is providing regular, hourly bus service from downtown to homes, businesses, and remote parking in the city. There are three FastTrans routes, numbered 33, 34, and 35, which run every hour, from about 7AM until 7PM, Monday through Friday. Also as part of the FastTrans project, service on COAST Route 1, which serves downtown as well as the Dover Housing Authority, has been increased to hourly frequency.

This project was begun at the direction of the City of Dover to provide fast and affordable transportation throughout the downtown area. The project is funded through a "CMAQ" grant (a grant for projects that will improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion), as well as funds from the City of Dover and the Federal Government.

Our goal in designing these routes for the City was to connect dense residential areas, remote parking lots, and transportation centers, with the core downtown area. These routes were each designed to make a full round-trip every hour. Users can get where they need to go in town as fast as they would in a car, and they can get back within an hour. Besides the high frequency of service, we've set the fare for these routes at just 50 cents. Whether you're a visitor coming in on the train or C&J, a resident with a car, or an employee of a Dover business, there's no better way to get around town.

Dover FastTrans related bus routes:

COAST Route 1 / FastTrans Route 33 / FastTrans Route 34 / FastTrans Route 35

Other bus routes in Dover:

COAST Route 2 / Wildcat Transit Route 3 / Dover Community Routes (limited service)

Other mass transit services in Dover:

C&J to Boston and Logan Airport / Amtrak Downeaster (train) to Portland, Maine or Boston

How is Dover FastTrans funded?

The first couple of years of bus service are being funded by a grant for Congestion-Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ). This funding is specifically for programs designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. When that grant money is spent, the project will be funded largely by the city of Dover using monies collected from vehicle registrations in the city.

Why is COAST adding all of these routes in Dover instead of ...?

COAST has added the Dover FastTrans routes as a result of a federal grant that the city of Dover was successfully awarded. COAST is providing the service in cooperation with and at the direction of the city.

COAST staff are well aware that our long-time riders are interested in additional bus service such as more frequent buses on Route 2, service on Saturdays for Route 1, and so on. Rest assured, we continue to work towards those goals with the communities that we serve.

If you wish to see expanded bus service including things like weekend service, you must contact your local elected officials (town or city councilors) and encourage them to support expanded COAST service.

Why are the FastTrans routes only 50 cents?

We hope to encourage residents and visitors to use FastTrans instead of taking their car when making short trips within the city. Consider that just a dollar will get you a comfortable ride "there and back again," wherever you need to go in Dover.

Why would I take the bus if I have a car?

Everyone has a different reason, but believe us that if you try it once you'll be convinced. Riding the bus is cheaper - you don't have to pay for gas and you aren't putting wear and tear on your car. Riding the bus is better for the environment - driving your car a short distance in town actually creates more pollution than a trip on the highway for a long distance. Plus, the more people in town using the bus means fewer cars causing traffic congestion, especially through downtown. If we're all going the same direction, why do we each have to take our own car?

Finally, we like to remind people that just because you use the bus when you can, doesn't mean you have to give up your car. We still use our cars when we need to, but we take the bus when it makes sense. See you out there!