Midcoast public transit providers have launched a limited new bus route between Thomaston and MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital that will operate two days a week.
Waldo Community Action Partners and MidCoast Public Transportation launched the test bus route Tuesday, and they will use it to assess whether to offer permanent daily bus service along that line.
The midcoast is overall lacking in sufficient public transportation — a problem that organizations such as the Midcoast Council of Governments and the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission are now trying to solve, although they’re still in the planning stages.
According to the town of Thomaston, the new test route will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Rocky Coast House of Volunteers of America, which is on 34 Booker St. in Thomaston. The route will provide services toward Thomaston starting at 1 p.m.
It will also make stops behind Thomaston Grocery, the Thomaston Library, Walmart, Stella Maris House in Rockland, Knox Clinic, Rockland Public Library, Hannaford Plaza in Rockland and Shaw Plaza in Rockland.
Fares are $2 per person, and $1 for people who have disabilities, are over 60 years old, students or are children between 6 and 17. Children 5 years old and younger ride for free.
Jules Walkup is a Report for America corps member. Additional support for this reporting is provided by BDN readers.