Why Should Delaware Care?
DART’s winter service proposal is set to be implemented next month, bringing major route adjustments and discontinuations. These changes will affect daily commutes, access to essential services and overall convenience for many Delaware residents, impacting transportation access for workers, students, and daily riders throughout the state.
DART’s statewide proposal to cut bus routes and make service adjustments has officially been approved and is set to take effect in November.
Last week, DART announced that the modifications, which were first proposed in July, will be implemented, creating significant changes in route accessibility and services for bus riders.
In August, DART held public hearings in each county to gather feedback from state residents about the changes. The proposal was met with frustration from some employers who felt the bus discontinuities would cause a strain for those who rely on them for school and work.
The discontinuation of Bus Route 52 which connects Wilmington to the Greenville and Centreville areas, raised particular concern among locals and even officials from the Red Clay Consolidated School District and the Winterthur Museum, Library and Garden.
Ronald Robinson, site coordinator for Red Clay, conducted a study when the proposal was first released, finding that 12 people who worked in the area would be impacted and 67% of the district’s adult students had planned to use the bus route for their commute.
Although DART reported this route only had an average ridership of 3.4 riders per trip, they have made changes to accommodate this population by extending Route 20 along Kennett Pike to A.I du Pont High School and to offer later bus service to accommodate the 8 p.m. dismissal at James H. Groves Adult High School and Greenville employees.
Despite the adjustment, access to Centreville still remains uncertain.
Chris Strand, CEO of Winterthur, said that he is happy for those in Greenville who now have access to the transportation they need, but there is still concern for students, employees, and locals who need or want access to the museum.
“We’ve gotten together in small groups to sort of brainstorm some solutions and talk about what we might do to improve the situation for the students,” he told Spotlight Delaware.
Strand said Winterthur is considering adding rideshare services and carpool solutions to assist students and others who will be affected by the elimination of Route 52. He also plans to continue advocating for better transportation options in the future.
DART officials said they will monitor the ridership for Route 20 closely to determine whether they will keep the service when they implement their spring service adjustments.
This DART bus stop serves the Delaware Museum of Nature and Sciences off Kennett Pike, but will be cut next month after its ridership has been low. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY BRIANNA HILL
Feedback changed some plans
The statewide bus alterations are part of DART’s three-phase plan, developed from the DART Reimagined study, which aims to optimize routes and align services with ridership and future demand. The first phase began with their May service change in which they added service on Route 5 to places like Christiana Hospital and on Route 15 to the Hope Center, a homeless service shelter.
The current service change is a continuation of Phase I, which is focused on removing unproductive routes and route segments.
“DART Reimagined network recommendations are to be implemented in three phases through DART’s regular bi-annual Fixed Route Service Changes over the next five plus years,” wrote Julie Theyerl, the chief customer experience officer for DART, in August.
Since the public hearings for the proposal, some of the service changes have been revised in New Castle County and Kent County.
In New Castle, the Route 14 weekday and Saturday midday service will now operate every 60 minutes instead of 70 minutes, with an additional round trip on weekdays. Saturday service will also start one hour earlier and 30 minutes later in the evening to align with other nearby routes. Nine extra trips will also be added on Saturdays.
Previously, DART had set Route 20 to be reduced to two round trips during the morning and evening rush hours. But now the route will only cut the first morning trip from Hockessin to Wilmington, while all other stops will remain. And most trips will now extend to serve Greenville’s students and working population.
In Kent County, Route 105 will cut its weekday evening service, as planned. But now its Saturday service will continue to operate.
Saturday service for Route 108 will now also continue to operate.
The previous changes to remove Routes 37, 42, 44, 52 and 62 in New Castle County, and Route 120 in Kent County will still take effect, due to low ridership, according to transit officials.
These routes connected various communities, including Glasgow with Newark, Delaware City with Christiana, Wilmington with Centreville, and Wilmington with the Amazon distribution center in Middletown.
The following major changes that were initially proposed will still take effect:
New Castle County
Route 10 will be rerouted to serve Basin Road and South Dupont Highway.
Most Route 13 trips will no longer deviate into Bellefonte.
Route 25 will cut its service to New Castle County Logistic Center but will add a Saturday afternoon trip from Wilmington to the Tybouts Corner Amazon facility.
Some Route 46 trips will be extended to Amazon in Middletown on Saturdays to make up for Route 37, connecting with Route 301 at the Odessa Park & Ride.
Kent County
Route 120’s resources and stops will merge with Route 302, which will also begin new Saturday service.
Weekday service for Route 101 will be discontinued after 6 p.m. Saturday service would stop serving Dover High School and instead end at the Greentree Shopping Center.
Weekday service after 6 p.m. and all Saturday service will be cut for Route 105.
In addition, intercounty routes like Route 301 will see fewer trips to Boyds Corner, while Route
302 will be rerouted through Middletown to serve Broad Street.
Sussex County
Route 212 will no longer provide on-site service to Georgetown Professional Park and Route 215 will no longer provide service after 9:30 p.m.
DART’s winter service changes will begin on Nov. 17.
The post DART bus cuts, service changes to take effect in November appeared first on Spotlight Delaware.