Free parking coming for Rehoboth Park & Ride

Beginning this summer, parking at DART’s Rehoboth Park and Ride will be free.

Julie Theyerl, DART chief customer experience officer, announced the change during a Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce downtown task force meeting Feb. 4.

Previously, it cost $10 to park at the Rehoboth Park and Ride. As part of the fee, DART issued up to four free unlimited ride daily bus passes.

Moving forward, Theyerl said the Rehoboth Park & Ride, located off Route 1 on Shuttle Road, will operate like the Lewes Park & Ride, near Five Points. Passengers park for free and then pay a bus fare, she said.

A number of bus fare options were presented during the meeting – $2 for a single one-way; $4 for a single round-trip; $4.20 for a 1-day pass; $18 for a 7-day pass; $65 for a 30-day pass. This option allows for unlimited use during the life of the pass.

Theyerl said the 30-day pass is great for people who ride the bus often.

There are also multiple stored-value cards available for riders. Theyerl said the $2 fare is deducted for each use, including transfers, until the card has no money left. She said the money on these cards will run out, but the passenger gets more value than the card cost. For example, if a person spent $65, they would get $108 worth of rides.

Theyerl said the stored-value cards are transferable, while the unlimited-use passes were not.

Chamber Executive Director Carol Everhart said free parking is a big change and is welcomed. She said the chamber will be selling DART passes this year.

Theyerl said people will not be charged if they ride a bike into town after parking in the park and ride. 

In addition to the free parking, Theyerl said for the beach route, 201, DART is extending the summer season schedule by two weeks. She also reminded business owners there are federal tax savings available for employers who offer employees transportation benefits.

For more information on bus routes and how to purchase passes, go to dartfirststate.com.