News

Southeast Vermont Transit, Inc. Board of Directors will hold its regular meeting at 5:00pm on Monday April 3rd at the 45 Mill St. Wilmington, Vermont location.

THE CURRENT DRAFTS ROUTE IMPROVEMENT PLAN

January 25, 2017

ROCKINGHAM – The Current continues work on a route improvement for many of its routes in Windham and Windsor Counties.

The plan’s goals are to improve the riders’ experience, increase ridership, attract new riders, and to support businesses and human service agencies throughout the region.

The plan is in response to a study done in 2016 by the Southern Windsor Regional Planning Commission which gathered extensive input from the public, towns, drivers, and human service agencies. Schedules are being reviewed based on the input, and already four routes’ fares have been eliminated.

The routes involved in the first phase of the plan are the #1 Springfield In-town, #2 Bellows Falls In-Town, #53 Bellows Falls-Brattleboro, #55 Bellows Falls-Springfield, #57 Bellows Falls-Rutland, #61 Bellows Falls to Okemo, and the 101 Route shopping trip from Chester to Claremont.

The #61 Route’s schedule was changed in November to accommodate Okemo’s employees and guests. Okemo has provided generous financial support for the route, and ridership is up substantially from a year ago. The 101 route changes are simply the fare elimination.

As potential route or schedule improvements are planned, they will be vetted in a multi-level public input and review process by riders, non-riders, towns, planning commission, the state, and The Current’s drivers and Board of Directors in the coming weeks. At least two public hearings will take place – one in Rockingham and one in Springfield.

“We are excited to finish the drafting stage and present this to the public in the coming weeks” said Rebecca Gagnon, Current General Manager. “These routes have not been analyzed in many years, and so many ridership factors have changed.”

Other routes will be looked at in the spring, but for now the focus is on the routes mentioned above.

“We thank our riders for their patience and support, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments on our draft plan”, Gagnon said.

Contact The Current at admin@crtransit.org or go online to www.crtransit.org

EXIT 6 PARK 7 RIDE FACILITY NOW OPEN

January 13, 2017

ROCKINGHAM – The Exit 6 Park & Ride on The Current’s site opened in late December and is already getting good use.

The project was funded by The Town of Rockingham which owns the land and did much of the site work. Funding was also provided by a State of Vermont Park & Ride Grant, and a federal earmark administered through the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Forty-eight parking spots were built, with four spots designated as electrical charging stations and three additional spots for handicapped parking. The facility is completely lit, and has a bus stop, shelter, and two bike racks.

“We are very grateful for the Town’s, state’s, and the FTA’s support” said Rebecca Gagnon, Current General Manager. “This project was a long time in the making, and we are pleased that such a quality facility is available to car-poolers, commuters, bus riders, and others”.

The Town of Rockingham, in particular, did much work at their own expense and in a short period of time. The project was designed by DuBois & King of Randolph, Vermont. Project Manager was Steve Horton of Steve Horton Construction Consulting Services of Walpole, New Hampshire. Local companies Lawrence & Lober and Bazin Brothers did the electrical and paving services, respectively.

Contact The Current at admin@crtransit.org or go online to www.crtransit.org .

THE CURRENT REMOVES FARES FROM FOUR ROUTES

December 19, 2016

ROCKINGHAM – The Current has announced that fares have been eliminated on four routes.

Previously, $1 all-day fares were collected on the #1 Springfield In-Town and #2 Bellows Falls routes; $2 one-way fares were collected on the #55 Bellows Falls-Springfield route; and a $3 all-day fare was charged on the bi-weekly 101 Chester-Claremont shopping trip. All fares have been eliminated.

The fare elimination is the first step of a route improvement plan for many of The Current’s routes. Schedules are being reviewed, and rider and driver input has been gathered in a comprehensive study by the Southern Windsor Regional Planning Commission. As potential route or schedule improvements are planned, they will be vetted in a multi-level public input and review process by riders, non-riders, towns, planning commission, the state, and The Current’s drivers and Board of Directors in the coming weeks. At least two public hearings will take place – one in Rockingham and one in Springfield.

“We want to do everything we can to encourage ridership” said Rebecca Gagnon, Current General Manager. “Ridership had declined on these routes when fares were implemented in 2015, and the small amount of income generated was not as important as getting more people back on the bus”.

Ridership is already beginning to rebound as word gets out. With this barrier removed, The Current expects to not only return previous riders to the routes, but also to increase ridership beyond its pre-fare level.

“We thank our riders for their patience and support, and we look forward to seeing you on the buses!” Gagnon said.

Contact The Current at admin@crtransit.org or go online to www.crtransit.org .

PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE CURRENT’S BUS FARE POLICY

The Current is proposing the elimination of fares on its Bellows Falls In-Town Bus Route #2; on the Springfield In-Town Bus Route #1; and on the Bellows Falls-Springfield Bus Route #55.

Public hearings will be held December 16, 2016 at 10:00 am in Springfield at the Town Office 96 Main St. Springfield, VT. 05156, and at 1:00 pm at the Current office in Rockingham at 706 Rockingham Rd, Rockingham, VT. 50101.

Written input will be accepted via e-mail to rgagnon@crtransit.org or via US Mail to Rebecca Gagnon, General Manager, The Current, 706 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, VT 05001 on or before (the last hearing time and date).

Rebecca Gagnon, General Manager, The Current, Rockingham, Vermont November 23, 2016.

The Current is pleased to announce a revised and enhanced schedule for the Seasonal Okemo #61 Route.

This is a fare free route servicing resort employees, guests, skiers and the general public. The new schedule has been posted on the schedule page for the route.

There will be no bus service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 2016.

Bus service will resume on Friday, November 25, 2016

The Current wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day

Southeast Vermont Transit, Inc. Board of Directors will hold its regular meeting on Monday November 7th via video conferencing at two locations, 706 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, Vermont and 45 Mill St. Wilmington, Vermont at 5:00 pm.