Warm weather and sunny skies can only mean one thing; it’s beach season, and with that
comes the start of DART’s Beach Bus! As we get ready to roll out the 2021 summer season,
DART’s daily Beach Bus service will be on the road ready to provide a convenient, safe and
clean ride to visitors and residents. The routes serve Rehoboth Beach and the Boardwalk,
Lewes, Long Neck, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island,
Ocean City, MD, Millsboro and Georgetown. On Monday, May 24, buses will start running
frequently from early morning to late night, 7 days a week, until September 12. All buses are
cleaned daily and hand sanitizer is available onboard the bus for riders. Masks are still
required to be worn while riding public transit. In addition, buses are ADA accessible and
equipped with bike racks.
John Sisson, DTC’s Chief Executive Officer, stated “With some of the restrictions lifted and
people flocking to the beach, we’re excited to offer a safe and convenient option to get
around the beach area, to the boardwalk, shopping, work and destinations late night. Our
team is committed to providing transportation that gets riders to their destinations safely and
aboard clean buses. In addition to nightly cleanings, we’re continuing mid-day bus cleanings
at both the Rehoboth and Lewes Park & Rides.”
“The return of our beach bus service is welcome news for anyone traveling in eastern Sussex
County and is a great alternative to avoid traffic delays during the busy summer season,” said
Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.
Visitors and residents are encouraged to use one of DART’s Park & Ride lots. The Lewes
Park & Ride is located at 17616 Coastal Highway, just south of Five Points. The Rehoboth
Park & Ride is located off DE 1 at 20055 Shuttle Road, just north of the entrance to
Rehoboth Avenue. The parking is free at both lots, and the bus fare is paid upon boarding.
The one-way cash fare is $2 or ride all day with a Daily Pass for $4. Students pay $1 (cash
only) and there’s also a 20-Ride Ticket for $26. Frequent riders may choose to purchase a
7-Consecutive Day Pass for $16 or a 30-Consecutive Day Pass for $60.
DART’s Beach Connection, Route 305, starts on Saturday, May 29, providing a relaxing and
stress-free ride from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
through September 6, with stops at the Wilmington Transit Center, Christiana Mall,
Odessa Park & Ride in Middletown, Scarborough Road Park & Ride in Dover, South
Frederica Park & Ride, the Lewes and Rehoboth Park & Rides. One-way cash fares are $6
from Wilmington, Christiana Mall and Odessa, and $4 from Dover and South Frederica.
Riders traveling from New Castle County are encouraged to buy a 3-Zone Daily Pass for
$10 and from Kent County a 2-Zone Daily Pass for $8. The Daily Passes can also be used on
all Beach Bus services, once at either of the Park & Rides. The Beach Connection is a
comfortable motor coach offering 45 seats, 2 wheelchair positions, along with under
coach storage compartments for beach gear and luggage.
With the free DART Transit app, riders can plan their trip, view bus stops, get real-time bus
information, and track the bus along its route. And, for faster boarding and convenience,
riders can pay their fare with DART Pass, our contactless mobile payment app.
DART’s Get A Job/Get A Ride program provides new employees, seasonal and year-round,
free transportation to/from work during their first month of a new job. The program is
open to all businesses within Delaware that are designated as a GaJ/GaR partner. For
more details and to register, visit DelawareCommuteSolutions.org/get-a-job-get-a-ride.
The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. For more information, please visit www.DartFirstState.com or call 1-800-652-DART. Real-Time Bus Information and DART Pass, the mobile fare payment option, are both available on the free DART Transit App (iOS and Android).
