To partially offset rising operational expenses, the seacoast’s nonprofit public transit system known as the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST), is proposing fare increases for implementation later this calendar year.
As part of the proposal being considered, COAST’s base cash fare would increase from $1.50 to $2.00 on all bus routes. This would also impact fares paid by passengers on COAST’s advance reservation demand response services (ADA Paratransit, Newmarket-Exeter Connector & Portsmouth Senior Transportation). And there would be impacts on the cash half-fare, ticket bundles, DR punch tickets, and monthly passes.
Public hearings will be held throughout COAST’s service area to solicit public input on the proposed fare increases.
The proposed fare increases at COAST would be consistent with similar increases taking place at public transit systems across the country in response to rising costs. The proposed change would mean COAST’s base cash fares would equal the fares currently charged by other New England public transit systems like: Manchester Transit Authority (MTA), Nashua Transit System (NTS), Portland Metro and Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach in Maine, Green Mountain Transit in Vermont, and RIPTA in Rhode Island.
Rad Nichols, COAST Executive Director, affirmed, “This is the first time since 2008 that COAST has proposed a systemwide fare increase. We have focused on keeping our fares very affordable to encourage maximum use. We continue to focus on this goal. However, we must reassess our fares to determine whether they are the most equitable to all parties involved (e.g., passengers, federal, state and local governments), including the communities that help fund our services.”
COAST last changed its fare structure in 2008 when it increased base cash fares from $1.00 to $1.50.
Proposed Increase
The proposed fare increase would raise a one-way cash fare (the base fare) on COAST buses to $2.00, a $0.50 increase from the current $1.50 to ride. Cash fares for older adults and individuals living with disabilities, set at half the base cash fare, would increase to $1.00.
The comparable fares for COAST’s one-way complementary ADA paratransit services would increase to start at $4.00. Currently comparable one-way fares start at $3.00.
Newmarket-Exeter Connector fares would increase to $4.00. Currently comparable one-way fares are $3.00.
The highest fare charged on Portsmouth Senior Transportation, for rides in which a fare is charged, would increase to $4.00. Non-emergency medical trips and trips to Seacoast Mental Health Center will remain free. Group Shopping Trips would increase to $3.00 each way. All other eligible trips would have a $4.00 fare.
Ticket Bundles, currently sold as 15 tickets for $20.00 would change to 11 tickets for $20. This would maintain the equivalent discount rate for these tickets while also continuing to make purchases on the bus easy with the cash that typically comes from an ATM.
Demand Response Punch Tickets, recognized on any COAST demand response service (ADA, Newmarket-Exeter Connector or Portsmouth Senior Transportation), will be sold for $40.00 and include 40 $1.00 punches on them. Currently they are sold for $30 and include 30 $1.00 punches on them.
Monthly passes, good on all COAST and Wildcat Transit buses, would increase from $52.00 to $60.00. The monthly pass program discount rate would improve from the current 17.5% to 28.5%. This assumes the user takes 42 trips over the course of the month, or two trips a day over 21 days.
Public Hearings
COAST staff and members of the board of directors will be holding a series of eight hearings throughout the region to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about and comment on the proposed changes. Details on the meeting locations, dates and times can be found below.
Date Location Room Time
Wednesday, 5/6 Exeter Public Library Large Meeting Room 10:00-11:00AM
Wednesday, 5/6 Portsmouth Public Library Levenson Room 5:30-6:30PM
Thursday, 5/7 Rochester Public Library Large Meeting Room 9:30-10:30AM
Thursday, 5/7 Dover CAPSC Conference Room 12:00-1:00PM
Friday, 5/8 Somersworth City Hall Council Chambers 8:15- 9:15AM
Monday, 5/18 Farmington Town Hall Auditorium 4:30-5:30PM
Wednesday, 5/20 Portsmouth Public Library Levenson Room 10:30-11:30AM
Thursday, 5/21 Newmarket Town Hall Council Chambers 3:00-4:00PM
Notices announcing the hearings will appear in area newspapers; will be available on the COAST web site, www.coastbus.org; and will be posted on all COAST buses. Information on traveling to and from hearings via the COAST bus system can also be found on the web site.
For those who cannot attend the hearings, COAST is accepting written comments/testimony through email, info [at] coastbus.org (info[at]coastbus[dot]org), and by mail at COAST, 42 Sumner Drive, Dover, NH 03820. All written comments/testimony submitted prior to May 29, 2026 will be made part of the hearing record.