Travelers attempting to avoid traffic hassles, rising gas prices and limited parking at the beach can take advantage of DART's Resort Transit Bus Service.
DART’s seven resort season bus routes returned Thursday and will operate 7 days a week from 7 am until 1 am. The routes provide service between beach resorts from Lewes to Ocean City Maryland, and as far west as Long Neck.
Officials highlight the benefits of DART's Resort Transit bus service.
Officials highlight the benefits of DART's Resort Transit bus service.
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DART CEO Lauren Skiver says using mass transit can make a trip to Delaware’s beaches easier.
"When you’re in your car, fighting with your cooler and your beach chairs and the kids in the back, trying to get to the beach and find a place to park, it’s stressful. It can start a day out in a more negative way than transit. You can relax in an air-conditioned vehicle and be driven to the beach," said Skiver.
"It’s also affordable," she added. "Just getting from the outskirts of town - in the traffic – is going to cost more in the gallons of gas you burn."
Skiver notes the Route 1 Park & Ride near the entrance to Rehoboth Avenue costs $8 and includes up to 4 daily bus passes.
DART also resumes its weekend and holiday route from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach Friday. That costs less than $15 round-trip and offers a variety stops between Wilmington's Amtrak Station and Rehoboth.
Carol Everhart of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce says while the bus service eases traffic on the roads, it also builds the kind of traffic the resorts want to see.
"The more feet on the street, the better for business," said Everhart. "Our job as the Chamber of Commerce is to serve the visitor. This type of transit does that. Our other job is to get as many feet on the street for our business community."
Heath Gherke, Director of operations for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, agrees that more people equals more business.
"The shuttle and DART are a way to get more people to the town and on the ferry than we could otherwise and that's good for everybody. That's economic development, that's spending, that's what we need"
All DART busses are handicapped friendly and provide bike racks.
"If you're a bike rider and you want to come down here and have your bike available to go to far-reaching places of the beach are you can do that," says Skiver.
"If you have a disability and mobility is a challenge for you," she adds, "we have the availability with wheelchair lifts for our vehicles."
"I think it really opens up the opportunities for the community to come down here and enjoy the beach."