The Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) will be adding an additional day of service to its Route 7 On Demand service that operates in Exeter, Stratham, and Newmarket.
Beginning Friday, October 4, the advance reservation service, which currently runs on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 9:30am - 5:15pm, will add Fridays to its regular schedule. The additional day of service is being funded by a generous grant from a local foundation and will continue until September 26, 2025.
"COAST is excited to add another day of service on the Route 7 On Demand service. Increasing frequency of service is especially important for people using the route to get to work, medical appointments or to run their weekly errands," said Rad Nichols, COAST Executive Director. "The generous support we have received to expand this service underscores the increasing need for regular community transportation in the area and we're honored to have been selected as the trusted provider of these critical services."
Route 7 On Demand operates within a set corridor between the Exeter Train Station and the Newmarket gazebo via Portsmouth Avenue in Stratham and includes designated stops in all three towns. The fare for riders boarding and exiting at designated stops is $1.50 for each boarding. In addition, service may be requested to or from any location within a broader service area along this corridor. Fares for pickups and drop-offs outside of the designated stops are $3.00 each way.
The service is open to everyone and can be reserved up to two weeks in advance. To schedule a trip, riders can contact COAST's call center, TripLink at 603-834-6010 by 5pm the weekday before the day they wish to ride.
Some riders may also qualify for no-cost service. TripLink uses a Common Application that allows people to apply for a number of nonprofit transportation services all at one time. In addition to COAST's Route 7 On Demand, Exeter, Newmarket, and Stratham residents can use the Common Application to sign up for Rockingham Nutrition & Meals on Wheels' Senior Transportation, Community Rides, and volunteer rides provided by Transportation Assistance for Seacoast Citizens (TASC).
COAST recently release a public service announcement about Route 7 On Demand and TripLink with the support of Exeter TV. Board members from the local St. Vincent de Paul chapter, which operates a food bank and other services in Exeter, helped to craft the video and appeared in the PSA.
COAST' goal for the PSA was to raise awareness of the transportation services available in the Exeter area and help people understand better how to use them," noted Nichols. "Receiving the additional funding to pilot expanded service on Route 7 On Demand just as we've completed the video is really well-timed and we expect that people will be excited to try it out."
For more information about COAST's Route 7 On Demand service please visit coastbus.org/routes/route-7 and and Common Application can be found at communityrides.org.