DART’s daily Beach Bus service starts May 20
As the busy summer tourism season begins, DART’s daily Beach Bus service will be hitting the streets in full force, serving Rehoboth Beach and the Boardwalk, Lewes, Long Neck, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean City, Md., Millsboro and Georgetown. Starting Monday, May 20, buses will operate frequently from early morning to late night, seven days a week, until Sept. 8. All buses are air-conditioned, ADA accessible and equipped with bike racks.
Visitors and residents are encouraged to use one of DART’s Park & Ride lots. The Lewes Park & Ride, on Route 1 just south of Five Points, offers free parking, and the bus fare is paid upon boarding. The Rehoboth Park & Ride is off Route 1 on Shuttle Road, just north of the entrance to Rehoboth. The parking rate is $10 per car per day and includes up to four free daily bus passes. For customers catching the bus at one of the many bus stops, the one-way cash fare is $2; ride all day long with a daily pass for $4.20; or get a weekly pass for $18 or monthly passes for $65.
With the free DART Transit app, riders can plan their trip, view bus stops, get real-time bus information, and see where the bus is along its route. For faster boarding and convenience, riders can pay their fare from their phone with DART Pass mobile payment.
DART offers an employee discounted parking program, where employees can park at Rehoboth Park & Ride for $4, instead of $10 and they’ll receive a daily pass to ride DART’s Beach Bus services. Hang-tags are available for pick up by employers only beginning May 20, at the Rehoboth Park & Ride office Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring a business card or some other identification. For information, call 302-226-2001.
For businesses located and licensed in Rehoboth Beach, an additional $2 subsidy is available through the city, so employees can park for just $2 per day and receive a daily bus pass. Call the City Manager’s Office at 302-227-4641 for information.
DART’s Beach Connection, Route 305, begins operating Saturday, May 25, providing a relaxing ride from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Sept. 2. The fares are $2 per zone; the one-way cash fare is $10 from Wilmington, $8 from Middletown and $6 from Dover. Riders are encouraged to buy an Anywhere pass for $12.60, which can also be used on all Beach Bus services, once at either of the Park & Rides. The Beach Connection is a comfortable motor coach offering 45 seats, two wheelchair positions, and under-coach storage for beach gear and luggage.
Visitors will notice enhancements to Lewes Transit Center. A new indoor passenger facility is opening with seating area, restrooms, ticket sales and large monitors displaying real-time bus information and other relevant news and information. These passenger amenities and technology are part of improving the customer experience. On Monday, May 20, there will be an open house allowing the public to stop in 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., to tour the facility and talk with DART representatives.
Delaware Transit Corp., a subsidiary of Delaware Department of Transportation, operates DART First State. For more information, go to 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.
