Lauren Skiver, Chief Executive Officer of Delaware Transit Corporation, announced that the proposed changes to DART First State Statewide Fixed Route Bus Service have been approved. There are no changes to Sussex County fixed route service; however, DART’s seasonal Resort Transit will begin operations next Thursday, May 23, 2013; Route 305 – Beach Connection on Friday, May 24. Changes in New Castle and Kent Counties will become effective June 16 and June 17, 2013, respectively.
DART’s Resort Transit Routes 201-208 operate seven days a week from Thursday, May 23 through September 15, 2013. Route 206 Weekend/Holiday service will have minor time adjustments to improve on-time performance. The Parking fee at Rehoboth Park & Ride will change from $7 per vehicle to $8 per vehicle, with up to 4 passengers per vehicle receiving a free Daily Pass. The Discounted Employee Parking will increase from $3 to $4 per vehicle. While parking fees have not increased since 2003, operating costs have increased by 50% and ridership by 66%.
Route 305 – Beach Connection operates between Wilmington and Rehoboth with one trip on Fridays; 3 trips on Saturdays; and 2 trips on Sundays and Holidays from May 24 to September 2, 2013. The first trip leaving Rehoboth on Sundays and Holidays will leave at 11:02 a.m. instead of 10:45 a.m. to better connect to the Route 208.
On Sunday, June 16, 2013, changes to DART’s New Castle County fixed route service will go into effect. Because of low ridership, Route 32 – Wilmington Trolley’s Saturday service will be discontinued. Those resources will be reallocated to the Route 17’s Saturday service improving frequencies to every 60 minutes instead of every 90 minutes.
The Routes 62 & 63 pilot (experimental service) of replacing existing services with a new on-demand route that circulates in the Churchmans Crossing area is contingent upon negotiations with area businesses, communities and a successful response from a contractor. Potential implementation date is late Summer or early Fall.
In Kent County, changes become effective Monday, June 17. Route 107 will be realigned to serve Luther Village, as well as DART Administration Office and DelDOT campus. As a result, service will operate every 60 minutes instead of every 30 minutes. Saturday trips will not serve DART Administration Office, DelDOT campus or Blue Hen Corporate Center.
The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. For information on fixed route bus services statewide, please call 1-800-652-DART or visit http://www.DartFirstState.com.
