Dover, NH, February 25, 2016 - At the February 24 meeting of the COAST Board of Directors staff was authorized to proceed with a proposal to eliminate all Route 20 (Rochester — Pease Tradeport) express bus service, and all associated ADA paratransit services. The elimination of these services has been proposed as a result of significant underperformance.
Average monthly ridership for CY15 on Route 20 was 38. This equates to an average of 1.5 passengers per revenue hour of service, far below COAST's system average of 31.7 for other comparable services in CY15.
While COAST is proposing elimination of the current iteration of Route 20 in the near-term (by April 2, 2016), the hope is that new project partners will be secured and the route may be re-established again soon.
COAST is the designated recipient of Federal funds apportioned to the Rochester-Dover and Portsmouth urbanized areas. As required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), COAST is offering an opportunity for a public hearing/meeting, should there be sufficient demand, to discuss the elimination of Route 20 bus service and associated ADA paratransit service.
Requests for a public hearing/meeting must be received by March 4. Requests may be emailed to info [at] coastbus.org (info[at]coastbus[dot]org) or sent via USPS to Executive Director, COAST, 42 Sumner Drive, Dover, NH 03820, and postmarked no later than March 2, 2016. Should sufficient demand for a hearing be received the meeting will be scheduled during the week of March 14, in an accessible location for bus riders.
Written comments on the proposed service changes should be forwarded to: Executive Director, COAST, 42 Sumner Drive, Dover, NH 03820, and postmarked no later than March 16, 2015. COAST will also accept written comments via email at info [at] coastbus.org (info[at]coastbus[dot]org).
Information outlining the proposed action will be available for public review at any public hearing or at the COAST Administrative Office (6 Sumner Drive, Dover, NH) after February 24. If you cannot attend a hearing but wish to make comments, please call COAST at (603) 743-5777. Please leave a voicemail if no one is available to speak to you personally.
The COAST Board of Directors is expected to take up the consideration of the proposed elimination of these services at their March 23rd meeting.
COAST is Greater Seacoast New Hampshire's public, non-profit regional public transit system, with the mission of promoting and/or providing public mass transit services in Southeastern New Hampshire. As a non-profit public agency, COAST relies primarily on passenger fares, federal grants, local government support and advertising revenues to operate its services. To find out more about the COAST system and their #DayItForward campaign please visit www.coastbus.org or call 603-743-5777. Find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.