Stephen B. Kingsberry, Executive Director of the Delaware Department of Transportation’s Delaware Transit Corporation, announced that the proposed changes to DART First State bus service have been approved. The changes will become effective December 6, 2009. New bus schedules will be available the week of November 30, 2009.
Below are the changes by county. Bold type indicates a change from or an addition to the original proposal based on public comments:
The changes are (by County):
New Castle County:
Minor time changes, where needed, to improve on-time performance or connections with other buses or trains.
Route 6 – a new one-way trip will be added leaving Amtrak at 4:50 PM ending at Prices Corner at 5:29 PM.
Route 12 – Extension of this service to the new ShopRite at Christina Crossing is postponed until Spring 2010.
Route 17 – Extension of this service to the new ShopRite at Christina Crossing is postponed until Spring 2010.
Route 28 – the existing 3:08 PM trip leaving Amtrak will be extended to serve the Experimental Station, departing the Experimental Station at 3:45 PM back to Wilmington.
Route 31 Newark Trolley – promotional fare of 25¢ will end and the regular fare of $1.15 per one-way trip will be implemented.
Route 33 – a new one-way trip will be added leaving Christiana Mall at 4:45 PM arriving downtown Wilmington at 5:08 PM.
Route 39 – the 5:40 PM trip leaving Rodney Square will no longer serve Christiana Mall.
Route 45 – a new one-way trip will be added leaving Delaware Ave. at Adams St. at 5:35 PM arriving at Boyds Corner at 6:24 PM, and Odessa Park & Ride at 6:33 PM.
Kent County:
Route 101 – Service to Lakes Dr. – Country Club Apartments will be discontinued due to low ridership.
Harrington-Dover Shuttle – the shuttle will become the new DART Route 117, operating between Harrington and Dover from 6 AM to 6:30 PM, discontinuing the last 2 evening trips, as well as all of Saturday service. The fare will remain $1 per one-way trip. A Daily Pass can be purchased from the driver for $2.10. DARTCards can be used to pay fare.
NEW Route 120 (replacing Route 301 local trips) – A new route operating 17 round trips between Smyrna Rest Stop Park & Ride, Cheswold and Water St. Transfer Center in Dover from approximately 5:30 AM to 6 PM. All local trips currently operated by Route 301 between Smyrna, Cheswold and Dover will be provided by the new Route 120. The fare will be the same as the Kent Co. bus routes. The first northbound morning trip will leave Water St. at 5:25 AM to connect with the Route 301 in Smyrna. The trip that arrives in Smyrna at 6:05 PM will return southbound to Dover at 6:10 PM as a drop off only.
Sussex County:
The bus stop located on DelTech’s Georgetown campus will no longer serve as a transit hub where customers can transfer between Routes 206, 212 and 303. Only Route 212 will continue to serve this stop; Routes 206 and 303 will not. The new Georgetown Transit Hub will be located at Railroad and Layton Avenues in downtown Georgetown, and will be served by Routes 206, 212 and 303. Based on this relocation, all routes will have time changes. Clarification: Route 212 will serve DelTech; Route 206 will serve the Georgetown State Service Center, Sussex Correctional Institute, and Georgetown Plaza.
Route 206 – Two new trips will be added – a round trip leaving Georgetown at 12:30 PM arriving in Rehoboth at 1:44 PM, departing Rehoboth at 1:55 PM, arriving in Georgetown at 3:11 PM ; another round trip leaving Georgetown at 3:15 PM, ending at Allen Foods in Harbeson at 3:42 PM, departing Allen Foods at 4:15 PM, arriving in Georgetown at 4:42 PM. Because of the hub relocation, the stop at DelTech, and the stops on US 113 at Edward St., at North St. and opposite Bramhall St. will no longer be served.
Route 212 – Trips leaving the new Georgetown Transit Hub at 10:55 AM, 7:05 PM, and 9:35 PM will be express trips between DelTech and Wal-Mart (Seaford). Service to Georgetown State Service Center will be discontinued.
Clarification: The inbound Route 212 trip from Laurel Commons at 6:29 AM (arriving at DelTech at 7:44 AM) will no longer serve the bus stop located at the Georgetown State Service Center.
Route 303 – Two Express trips will be added – a round trip leaving Georgetown at 6:30 AM, with stops in Milford and Little Heaven, arriving in Dover at 7:19 AM, leaving Dover at 7:30 AM, arriving in Georgetown at 8:19 AM; another round trip will leave Georgetown at 4:30 PM, arriving in Dover at 5:19 PM, leaving Dover at 5:35 PM, arriving in Georgetown at 6:32 PM. Because of the hub relocation, the stops between DelTech and Railroad Ave. will no longer be served; however, the stop on Bedford St. at Douglas will be served on the Express trips.
Intercounty Service:
Route 301 – Most trips will operate on State Route 1 between Scarborough Rd. (in Dover) and Smyrna Rest Stop Park & Ride (local trips will be operated by new Route 120). In Wilmington, the stops on King St. at 8th St. and at 3rd St. will no longer be served by Route 301. In Dover, the Dover Mall will no longer be served by Route 301. During the hours that the local Route 120 is in service, the bus stops between Water St. and Delaware State University will not be served by Route 301; however they will be served after 6:15 PM. The 7:50 AM northbound trip will leave at 7:55 AM to improve transfer connections from Route 303. In addition, the 2:16 PM arriving in Smyrna will be adjusted by 1 minute to make the connection with the new Route 120. The 4:40 PM northbound trip will now serve the Smyrna – Mt. Vernon stop.
DART First State is Delaware’s bus, train, and intermodal transportation provider. The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) under the direction of Secretary Carolann Wicks, operates DART First State. DART First State services include contracted SEPTA commuter trains, intercounty bus, fixed route bus, paratransit, seasonal resort bus, commuter assistance, Operation Lifesaver rail crossing safety, and the RideShare Delaware ridematching program. DART First State provides more than 10,200,000 passenger trips annually, removing up to 6,415,094 vehicle trips from area roadways. For public information for all fixed route services statewide, please call 1-800-652-DART. Paratransit reservations and GoLink information is available at 1-800-553-DART. More information is available on the web at www.DartFirstState.com. For media inquires, please call DelDOT Public Relations at 302-760-2080 or visit www.deldot.gov.
