Karl Baker

The News Journal

A slew of changes to DART bus service, scheduled to take effect in May, is up for public review through the end of February.

Proposals call for new arrival times and minor path adjustments for dozens of routes, the discontinuation of the Dover area’s GoLink Flex service and moving summer beach buses to the Lewes Park & Ride.

Intercounty fares will also drop to $2 per zone from $2.60.

A full description of the proposed changes can be found on DART’s website.

The changes are designed to improve on-time performance and route connectivity, according to DART officials, as well as to allocate money away from the least productive routes.

An $85 million state subsidy to DART during the 2016 fiscal year accounted for roughly 71 percent of the agency's total operating costs. The subsidy has increased roughly 18 percent increase since 2009.

Passenger fare revenue totaled $18.3 million in 2016

Transportation officials will hold five public meetings in all three Delaware counties during the next two weeks to hear from the public.

Feb. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Dover Police Station, located at 400 South Queen Street;

Feb. 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wilmington Public Library, located at 10 East 10th Street;

Feb. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Fire Department, located at 219 Rehoboth Avenue;

Feb. 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Seaford City Hall, located at 414 High Street;

Feb. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wilmapco office, located at 850 Library Avenue in Newark.

Interested bus riders may also send comments by mail to DART First State Public Hearing, 119 Lower Beech St., Wilmington, DE 19805-4440 or email at www.DartFirstState.com/publichearing by March 2.

Contact Karl Baker at kbaker@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2329 or on Twitter @kbaker6.

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