A new DART bus service is coming to Sussex County later this month.
The Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) launches its DART Connect pilot program in Georgetown and Millsboro starting April 12th.
“It is known as on-demand microtransit, where we use smaller vehicles in a transit capacity. And what on-demand means is - there are no more schedules nor fixed routes,” said the Delaware Transit Corporation’s chief innovation officer Veronica Vanterpool.
She says DART Connect will use three, 16-passenger buses to service the area between Georgetown and Millsboro, replacing DART Flex Routes 901 and 902.
Vanterpool notes there is no set bus stops for DART Connect. When someone requests a ride they get instructions to walk to the nearest safe intersection to meet the closest bus.
“So using a new smartphone app or dialing our 1-800 number, customers can request a ride that comes within minutes to a number of destinations within Georgetown or Millsboro," said Vanterpool. "Customers can travel anywhere within Georgetown, anywhere within Millsboro or anywhere between the two under this new pilot.”
DART Connect will operate Monday through Friday from 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. and cost $2 per ride. Users can request rides on the new smartphone app or by calling 1-800-652-DART.
Vanterpool notes that wait times for DART Connect are expected to be 15 to 20 minutes compared to as long as 75 minutes for the Flex Route buses.
The hope is that this service will work better for seniors, vets and the area’s Latino population.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is funding the program, which could be expanded when it ends in April 2022.
