State officials celebrate Lewes Park and Ride opening
U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Department of Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan joined Delaware Transit Corporation CEO John Sisson and other state and local officials to cut the ribbon for the Lewes Transit Center along Route 1, just south of Five Points.
“The Lewes Transit Center is a much-needed addition to our transportation system, as it will provide a convenient hub for improved transit service, connecting local passengers with job opportunities, recreational activities, medical appointments, shopping, and more throughout the county,” said Cohan.
The first phase of the Lewes Transit Center project is complete with a 248-space park and ride facility with security cameras, bicycle racks and repair station, as well as electric car charging stations and temporary passenger amenities, including a ticket booth to sell a newly available seven-day pass. A large canopy will be installed this fall equipped with LED lighting and phone charging stations.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach. “It’s definitely an improvement to the area, and it will improve traffic flow. Anything we can do to keep cars from driving past [Five Points] and down south is a win.”
A three-bay maintenance facility designed for both gas and alternate fuel buses is slated for completion mid-2019. Having a maintenance facility on the eastern side of Sussex County will greatly improve the efficiency of DART’s transit service, lending itself to year-round service, as well as making express service between Lewes and Dover a reality, officials said. Funding for the Transit Center comes in part from the Federal Transit Administration’s State of Good Repair Grant of $5 million, as well as its 5311 Rural Transportation Assistance Program.
The new Lewes Park & Ride opened for service May 6, providing weekend Beach Bus service on the 201 Red Line to the Rehoboth Boardwalk. The 208 Blue Line also started weekend service from Rehoboth Park & Ride to Ocean City, Md.
“I am thrilled to be able to celebrate the opening of the Lewes Transit Center and park and ride. Transit centers, bike paths and walking paths help create a higher quality of life for citizens up and down our state, while reducing vehicle traffic and its impact on our infrastructure and environment,” said Blunt Rochester. “The Lewes Transit Center will be a wonderful addition to Delaware’s already vibrant beach community.”
Lewes Mayor Ted Becker said the transit center is integral in transporting workers to and from their jobs in the resort area.
“Many of the workers in Lewes and Rehoboth come in from Long Neck, Georgetown and Seaford, and they have no transportation, and this new revised bus schedule means they have an opportunity to get to their jobs in a timely manner,” he said.
The Lewes Park & Ride’s northern location, providing direct access to and from Route 1, offers travelers an option before getting into the heaviest beach congestion, and parking is free. The buses will travel in the Buses Only lane between the two park and rides, passing by the heavy traffic.
On Monday, May 22, the daily Beach Bus services begin operating frequent service on seven bus routes serving the new Lewes Park & Ride, Rehoboth Beach and the Boardwalk, Lewes, Long Neck, Dewey Beach, Ruddertowne, Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, and Ocean City, Md. The service operates seven days a week from approximately 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., with more frequency than ever before. All buses are air-conditioned, ADA accessible and equipped with bike racks.
DART's 305 Beach Connection starts Friday, May 26, providing a relaxing ride from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach on Friday nights, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Sept. 4. The fares have been reduced to $2 per zone, making it a much more economical ride. Now, the one-way cash fare is $10 from Wilmington, $8 from Middletown and $6 from Dover. Riders are encouraged to buy a 3-Zone Anywhere pass for $12.60, which can also be used on all Beach Bus services, once at either of the Park & Rides.
In addition to the new Lewes Park & Ride, DART continues to offer Beach Bus service from the Rehoboth Park & Ride. The parking fee is $10/vehicle and includes up to four daily passes.
DART’s Real-Time bus information is now available on the DelDOT mobile app. Riders can select any bus stop and receive bus arrival times and live updates to plan their trip right down to the minute.
The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation, operates DART First State. For information on fixed-route bus services statewide, call 1-800-652-DART or go to www.DartFirstState.com.
