MOOVER PROPOSES A CHANGE TO THE WILMINGTON-WEST DOVER SCHEDULE

Release Date: August 22, 2024

      WILMINGTON:  Southeast Vermont Transit (aka The MOOver) is proposing a change in the Wilmington-West Dover “MOOver” bus route schedule that would become effective Friday, October 4, 2024.

            The MOOver operates until 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday nights year-round plus daily from early December to late March. SEVT is proposing to eliminate service from 6:00 pm-11:00 pm Friday and Saturday nights from April-early December due to low ridership. All other dates and the route itself will not change.

            “We started running Friday and Saturday nights during the non-winter months when we had many more restaurants and evening entertainment venues open,” said Randy Schoonmaker, MOOver CEO. “Since the pandemic we have very few visitors or locals riding between 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm. We average less than one rider per hour during those times and we cannot economically justify operating for that level of ridership.”

            SEVT has made similar adjustments on other routes this spring and summer in response to rising operating costs without a corresponding increase in income.

            “As difficult as it is to cut service, we have to be fiscally responsible. We propose cutting 350 hours out of 5,456 total hours on that route, or 6%,” said Schoonmaker. “Ridership on the rest of that route is much higher, and in fact, is some of the best in the state. That part of the schedule will not change.”

Public input is welcomed and can be given in three ways. Riders call 1-802-463-2474 Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm; e-mail randys@moover.com ; or go online at www.moover.com/customer-feedback/ . A copy of the existing schedule is posted online at www.moover.com or via an onboard bus schedule.

An opportunity to hold a public meeting can be made on or before September 6, 2024 via the e-mail address above.