Shoreline Explorer brings new options to Explore the Shore and Wins National Award!

Pictured: Connie Garber, YCCAC Transportation Director with
Richard F. Krochalis, FTA Region 10 Regional Administrator

Connie Garber accepted the Federal Transit Administrator's Outstanding Public Service Award in recognition of York County Community Action Corporation's (YCCAC) "outstanding contribution in meeting rural mobility needs by linking previously unconnected fixed route services" for the new Shoreline Explorer system at the 17th National Conference on Rural Public Transportation, October 24th 2006 at Stevenson, Washington.

Overview
Explore the Shore took on new meaning along the southern coast of Maine this summer  as the Shoreline Explorer officially rolled out on June 24th.  For the first time, a rider could get from York to Kennebunkport without using a car or dealing with parking and traffic hassles.  Although the start-up of any new project offers many challenges, the first season of the Shoreline Explorer shows great promise for York County visitors and residents alike. Visitors to the area now have the option of leaving their cars at their hotel, and visiting shops, restaurants and other attractions while they are here and riding the Hotel Shuttle from the Wells Downeaster Train Station to their hotel. . In addition, local residents from the Kennebunks to York and from Sanford to Wells could ride to school,  work or go to the beach.

The Shoreline Explorer was the recipient of the 2006 FTA Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Public Service at the recently held 17th National Rural Transportation Conference in Stevenson, Washington. Connie Garber, Transportation Director for York County Community Action Corporation which oversaw the new service, accepted the award from the Federal Transit Administration which said: “In recognition of your outstanding contribution in meeting rural mobility needs by linking previously unconnected fixed route services.” Nominations are submitted throughout the United States, and recipients are selected based on their accomplishments by an impartial board. The standards are very high and transit systems around the country consider this award the “best of the best.”

Until this new network of service began, the Wells Trolley (funded by the Wells Chamber of Commerce) and three privately owned companies provided seasonal trolley service within specific towns – Wells, Oqunquit, York, and Kennebunkport/Kennebunk Lower Village ( a guided tour). For the past several years, York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) in collaboration Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission, the three private operators, town managers, local Chambers of Commerce, Maine Department of Transportation,  Maine Turnpike Authority, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority,  worked together to connect all the towns from York to Kennebunkport with a seamless seasonal transportation service. The group’s goal was realized this summer.

The Shoreline Explorer consists of seven connected trolley and bus services: the York Trolley Beach Shuttle, Shore Road Shuttle, Ogunquit Trolley, Shoreline Trolley, Kennebunk Shuttle, Intown Trolley and the Sanford Ocean Shuttle. In addition, Mermaid Transportation operates the Hotel Shuttle under contract with YCCACas an advance reservation service forAmtrak Downeaster riders from the Wells Transportation Center to Hotels, B&B’s and other accommodations within the Shoreline Explorer service area.

All of these segments provided service from late June to Labor Day, with some service extending through Columbus Day, and the Sanford Ocean Shuttleoperating year-round, 7 days a week, from Sanford to Wells.  

Funding for this new service was a critical mix of federal, state, town, and local business dollars.  Two major sponsors were The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit and Goodall Hospital in Sanford.  Kathryn Weare, CEO and President of The Cliff House was enthusiastic in her support for the service: “Travel connections between Kennebunkport and York were a popular means of transportation for residents and tourists alike in the early 20th century via the electric trolley system.  This is an idea whose time has come and come again...Hooray!"

1st Season Ridership
Weather events in the weeks prior to start up and rising fuel prices posed additional challenges for startup of the new service. The Mother’s Day flooding in York County washed out a bridge on the Shore Road and collapsed the road over a culvert on U.S. 1 in Wells—routes to be used by the Shore Road Shuttle and Shoreline Trolley. The commitment from Maine DOT to restoring the routes was exemplary and resulted in speedy repairs and no disruption to the scheduled startup.

Ridership for the Shoreline Explorer system grew from the first week of operation. Beginning in July, ridership increased through the middle of August, going from 4,384 in week 2 to 5,572 in week 6. Monthly total ridership for the system went from 3,644 for the last week in June to 18,637 in July to 20,413 in August.  The four-day Labor Day weekend ended the season with September ridership at 1,560. (Ridership numbers presented here do not include counts from the private operators.)

The Shore Road Shuttle operated along Shore Road and provided a new service that connected Perkins Cove in Ogunquit to York Beach with a stop at The Cliff House Resort & Spa, making 9 round trips a day. Ridership to Perkins Cove for the month of August was approximately 560, with about 51% of the riders boarding at the Cliff House.   

The Shoreline Trolley extended the former Wells Trolley route into Kennebunk Lower Village with a stop at the Rivertree Center for the Arts, and connections to the Kennebunk Shuttle and the Intown Trolley. Six new trolleys were used in addition to the four previous Wells trolleys, and provided bicycle racks and ADA wheelchair accessible service.  Rising fuel prices and daily traffic congestion on Route 1 in Wells made trolley use appealing as an alternative to driving for many visitors and local residents, and youths--44% of riders in the peak months of July and August  were age 18 and under, some with bicycles—some commuting to summer jobs. 

The Kennebunk Shuttle provided a new service connecting Kennebunk’s downtown shops and attraction along Route 1 to Lower Village and the beaches for tourists and residents wishing to leave their car at home or children wanting to go to the beach.  44% and 54%  of riders in July and August respectively, were age 18 and under.   

The Sanford Ocean Shuttle (SOS),  the only route operating year-round, provides service between Sanford and Wells.  This route offers access for travelers and residents of the two communities, as well as expanding YCCAC’s WAVE (Wheels to Access Vocation and Education) program. The shuttle connecting to the Shoreline Trolley in the summer stops at the Sanford Regional Airport and the Amtrak Downeaster at Wells. During the month of August, the SOS provided transportation to or from the Downeaster for 59 riders

The Hotel Shuttle was operated by Mermaid Transportation under contract with YCCAC.  It was designed to provide connecting service to and from lodging establishments in the area and the Amtrak Downeaster.  In this first season, getting the word out to potential users of the service (tourists riding the Downeaster) was challenging.  Shuttle service was limited to Friday-Monday only, with an advanced reservation requirement, either by phone or on the internet.    Advance preparation for marketing the service in 2007 is already underway, with consideration being given to expanding days of operation.

Many challenges were faced by the new services of the Shoreline Explorer, including recruiting a large number of drivers (a Commercial Driver’s License with passenger endorsement is required).  Working with six towns, five Chambers of Commerce, three privately owned trolley operations to make the system work its first season was an massive task. Another major challenge was securing a transfer/connection points. In Kennebunk’s Lower Village,Beverly Broyles, Director of Rivertree Center for the Arts and others in the cooperative association welcomed the new service. Beverly noted: “The impact has been wonderful, and for us at Rivertree it really is giving us much greater visibility - Lower Village and our place in Lower Village - we were a bit obscure and now with the Trolley stopping at our door - even if people aren't coming in, they are now becoming much more aware of our existence and that is really exciting for us."  The challenge of increasing public awareness and encouraging use of the system was also critical. According to Connie Garber, Transportation Director of York County Community Action Corporation, “Rolling out a project of this size and scope was an enormous undertaking. Issues are fixable and we are working diligently to rectify them so that next season will run more smoothly and we will transport even more riders.”

For more information, go to www.shorelineexplorer.com.