Town Hall
19 W. Green Street
Middletown, DE 19709
Click for Directions
Notice of Public Hearing Workshops for
Proposed Changes to DART Bus Services
Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) invites you to attend an upcoming Public Hearing Workshops to obtain comments on proposed changes to DART Statewide Fixed Route Bus Services to become effective Sunday, May 17, 2020.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 – 11 AM to 1 PM and 5 PM to 7 PM
Wilmington Public Library, The Commons, 10 East 10th St., Wilmington, 19801
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 – 3 PM to 5 PM
Dover Public Library (Multi-Purpose Room B), 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, 19901
Thursday, March 5, 2020 – 11 AM to 1 PM
Georgetown Public Library, (Meeting Rm B), 123 West Pine St., Georgetown, 19947
Thursday, March 5, 2020 - 5 PM to 7 PM
Town of Middletown, 19 West Green St., Middletown, 19709
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - 4 PM to 6 PM
DART Administration Building, 119 Lower Beech St., Wilmington 19805
Each workshop will begin as an open house (approx. 30 mins), allowing attendees to view proposed schedules, interact with staff, receive clarification, and fill out comment forms. The remainder of the workshop will include a presentation of the proposed service changes, followed by public testimony for those wishing to provide comments to the audience, and to the hearing reporter. Attendees may also provide comments privately to the hearing reporter during the open house or following public testimony.
For your convenience, a summary of proposed changes, specific schedules and bus stops eliminations are available for review online at DartFirstState.com, at the reception desks of DART Administrative Offices, and at the Wilmington, Appoquinimink (Middletown), Dover and Georgetown Libraries. For information on an alternative format, please call (302) 760-2827.
We also welcome comments sent to: DART Public Hearing, 119 Lower Beech St., Wilmington, DE 19805-4440 or online at DartFirstState.com/publichearing by March 12, 2020.
If an accommodation such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired or a language translator is needed, please call (302) 760-2827, one week in advance.
Summary of proposed changes:
New Castle County
Wilmington Transit Center (WTC) - The Wilmington Transit Center, located at Front and Walnut Sts. will be opening as the new transfer location for most bus routes in downtown Wilmington.
The following routes will serve WTC: Inside - 2, 5, 6, 11, 20, 31, 33, 35, 40, 52, and 305; Outside on Walnut St. - 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 25, 28, 47, new 47X, 54, 55, 301, and new 311. As a result of the opening of WTC, the above routes would no longer serve Amtrak Station stop (Route 48 will continue to serve the Amtrak Station stop). The bus stop on Walnut at 3rd St. would be discontinued. In addition:
Routes 2, 5, 6, 11, 20, 31, 33, 35, 40, 52 and 305 would begin and end at WTC.
Routes 10, 54, 55, 301 and new Route 311 would enter Wilmington via I-495 and Walnut St. instead of using Maryland Ave. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Route 5 would be extended from 9th & Market Sts. to WTC. Buses leaving WTC to Christiana Mall would follow Walnut St. and out 4th St.
Route 18 local routing to Pike Creek from Downtown would follow King St. to 2nd St. Buses would no longer make the loop via Front St., Walnut St., 4th St. and Shipley St.
Routes 33 and 40 would be revised to enter Wilmington from I-95 via Delaware Ave. exit (Adams St.) instead of MLK exit (Maryland Ave.). The routing would operate through downtown via Adams St., Delaware Ave. and 10th St. to King St., and Front St. to WTC. Buses leaving WTC to Newark or Peoples Plaza would follow Walnut St. to 8th St., Orange St., 12th St., Delaware Ave., Van Buren, Gilpin, and Jackson Sts. to reach I-95. Service along Washington St. would be discontinued.
New Holiday Service would be offered on Bus Routes 2, 4, 5, 6, 13, 15, 33, 40, and 47 on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, using a Saturday schedule, with Paratransit operating complimentary ADA-only service.
Bus Stop Consolidation - Based on zero or very low ridership, or in close proximity to another stop, DTC is proposing the removal/consolidation of 25 bus stops throughout New Castle County (see below).
Schedule times on some routes would be adjusted to improve on-time performance and connections. Please visit DartFirstState.com for specific route schedules.
A summary of route specific changes:
Route 2: Weeknight service after 7 PM would be improved to operate every 45 minutes instead of every 60 minutes with a later last trip departing Wilmington at 10:35 PM and departing Brandywine Town Center at 11:30 PM.
Route 5: Routing would be extended from 9th at Market to WTC. Buses leaving WTC to Christiana Mall would follow Walnut St and out 4th St.
Route 11: The first morning trip would begin and end on Lea Blvd. at Washington St, not serving Rockwood Office Park due to low ridership.
Route 14: A new weekday rush hour trip would serve Riveredge Business Park to meet shift times at Zenith. The trip would depart Miller Road Shopping Center at 5:45 AM, arrive at Riveredge Business Park at 6:29 AM and end at DHSS at 6:40 AM.
Route 28: A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital would be served at the main entrance.
Route 33: Two mid-day and two evening weekday trips would no longer serve Fairplay Station due to low ridership.
Route 43 & new Route 63: Route 43 service would be scheduled to operate during weekday rush hours connecting Amazon with Odessa Park & Ride. The routing would be revised so that all trips to Amazon would operate via Industrial Drive. The new weekday Route 63 service would be the neighborhood connector, by serving Odessa Park & Ride, and offering new service to Broad St., Appoquinimink Community Library, Middletown Square and Middletown Village. Both routes would provide access to the Westtown Shopping Center, MOT Industrial Park and Amazon. Route 63 would operate between 5 AM to 10:30 PM.
Route 45: Route would be merged into Route 301. See Intercounty Route 301 for details below.
Route 47: Additional weekday trips would be scheduled from Wilmington to Middletown (6:12 AM and 6:42 AM) and from Middletown to Wilmington (4:05 PM, 4:30 PM, and 6:45 PM). New Route 47X would operate express service between Middletown and Wilmington via US 301, DE 1, Christiana Mall Park & Ride, I-95 and I-495. Once the new North Middletown Park & Ride is open, Routes 47 and 47X will provide service to the Park & Ride.
Route 48: Routing would be streamlined to serve both AstraZeneca and JP Morgan Chase with bus stops on Powder Mill Rd., rather than going onsite at both locations.
Proposed bus stop removals for New Castle County:
|
Route(s) Served |
Stop Name and Stop ID # |
Reason |
Alternate Boarding Location |
|
6 |
Kirkwood Hwy. opp. Poplar Ave. #1164 |
Low Ridership |
Kirkwood Hwy. at Cleveland Ave. |
|
6 |
Kirkwood Hwy. at Orchard Ave. #1196 |
Low Ridership |
Kirkwood Hwy. at Woodlawn Ave. |
|
10 Both Ways |
Delaware Ave. at Lincoln St. #1469 and #3814 |
Close Proximity |
Delaware Ave. at Union St. |
|
10 Both Ways |
Delaware Ave. at Franklin St. #1474 and #1393 |
Close Proximity |
Delaware Ave. at Harrison St. |
|
10 Both Ways |
Airport Rd. at Schley Rd. #1700 and #1721 |
Low Ridership |
Airport Rd. at Mowery Rd. |
|
13 |
Christiana Rd. at Pleasant Pl. #2134 |
Close Proximity |
Christiana Rd. at Fresconi Dr. |
|
13 |
Philadelphia Pk. at Hillcrest Ave. #24 |
Close Proximity |
Philadelphia Pk. at Edgemoor Rd. |
|
13 & 31 |
Philadelphia Pk. at Franklin Ave. #755 |
Close Proximity |
Philadelphia Pk. at Lawson Av. |
|
13 &31 |
Philadelphia Pk. at Lexington Dr. #708 |
Close Proximity |
Philadelphia Pk. at Maple Rd. |
|
13 & 31 |
Market St. at 31st St. #807 |
Close Proximity |
Market St. at 30th St. |
|
13 & 31 |
Market St. at 29th St. #809 |
Close Proximity |
Market St. at 28th St. |
|
13 &31 |
Market St. at 26th St. #9 |
Close Proximity |
Market St. at 25th St. |
|
13 & 25 |
DuPont Hwy. at Carvel Ave. #2116 |
Close Proximity |
DuPont Hwy. at McMullen Ave. |
|
13 & 61 |
Naamans Rd. at Society Dr. #733 |
Close Proximity |
Naamans Rd. at Montclair Dr. |
|
18 Both Ways |
Milltown Rd. at Dartmouth Rd. #2526 and #2495 |
Low Ridership |
Milltown Rd. at Maclary Dr. |
|
18 Both Ways |
Milltown Rd. at Owen Dr. #2523 and #2498 |
Low Ridership |
Milltown Rd. at Sheen Rd. |
|
18 Both Ways |
Milltown Rd. at Pecksniff Rd. #2521 and #2500 |
Low Ridership |
Milltown Rd. at Sheen Rd. |
|
54 |
Rivers End Dr. at Belltown Ter. #2566 |
Close Proximity |
Rivers End Dr. at Silver Run Tr. |
|
54 |
Rivers End Dr. opp. Newton Dr. #3887 |
Close Proximity |
Rivers End Dr. at Silver Run Tr. |
Kent County
Schedule times would be adjusted on some routes to improve on-time performance and connections.
Route 101: Route would be extended to Dover High School, operating every 60 minutes instead of every 30 minutes.
Route 105: Eagle Meadows would continue to be served via flag stops along Sorghum Mill Rd.
Route 117: Route would be extended to serve the Kent County Library between 9 AM and 7 PM; all other trips would end at Camden Walmart.
Route 120: An additional weekday trip would depart Smyrna Park & Ride at 6:02 PM to Scarborough Road Park & Ride.
Sussex County
Schedule times would be adjusted on some routes to improve on-time performance and connections.
Seasonal Beach Bus Service
DART’s daily Beach Bus service begins on Monday, May 18, 2020, and has been extended later, ending on September 20. Rehoboth Park & Ride will now offer free parking, parking at Lewes Transit Center (LTC) remains free; bus fare paid upon boarding at both locations.
201 Red Line: Service between LTC and Rehoboth operates every 10-30 minutes depending on time of day, approximately 5:30 AM to 3 AM.
203 Orange Line: Service between LTC and Dewey operates every 30 minutes from 8:30 AM to 2 AM
204 Yellow Line: Service between LTC and Downtown Lewes/Ferry Terminal operates every 30 minutes from 6 AM to 2 AM. The last bus departs the Ferry Terminal at 9:06 PM.
206 Green Line: Service between LTC and Georgetown operates eight Sunday trips between 7 AM and 12 AM, in addition to its regular weekday/Saturday service.
208 Blue Line: Service between Rehoboth Park & Ride, Dewey, Bethany, and Ocean City, MD operates approximately every 2 hours, 7:45 AM to 2:25 AM.
215 Purple Line: Service between Rehoboth and Long Neck/Millsboro operates 11 trips to Millsboro, 10 trips to Rehoboth from 5:30 AM to 12:45 AM.
305 Magenta Line: Service between Wilmington Transit Center, Christiana Mall, Odessa Park & Ride (Middletown), Scarborough Road Park & Ride (Dover), LTC and Rehoboth Park & Ride operates 3 round trips on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with an added stop at the new South Frederica Park & Ride along DE 1.
Intercounty
Schedule times on some routes would be adjusted to improve on-time performance and connections.
Route 301 (and former Route 45) & New Route 311: Route 45 trips would be merged into Route 301 and trip times would change. Route 301 would begin at the Dover Transit Center, follow Governors Ave., State St. and US 13 stopping at Delaware State University, Park & Rides at Scarborough Road, Smyrna, Odessa, Boyd’s Corner and Christiana Mall, Wilmington Transit Center and the present Downtown Wilmington bus stops. Route 301 would not serve the state capitol complex and DelDOT/DMV; however, the new Route 311 would serve them. Route 301 Saturday trips would not serve Boyd’s Corner. New Route 311 would operate as a weekday Express between Wilmington and Dover serving Downtown Wilmington, Smyrna and Scarborough Road Park & Rides, Dover Transit Center, state capitol complex and DelDOT/DMV.
Route 307: Route would be extended to serve the new South Frederica Park & Ride along DE 1.
The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. For more information, please visit www.DartFirstState.com or call 1-800-652-DART. Real-Time Bus Information and DART Pass, the mobile fare payment option, are both available on the free DART Transit App (iOS and Android).