SERVICE ALERT: Please note that the Green Route service to Hanover and West Lebanon will depart from the Hartford Post Office stop during the VT-14 closure scheduled for July 5 to August 31.
News and Updates
RIDER ALERT: the Transit app is down
RIDER UPDATE: We’re experiencing a temporary glitch, and the Transit app is currently down. But no worries! Our buses are still running smoothly on their regular schedules.
In the meantime, head over to our home page and use our handy trip planner feature. It’s super easy to use and will help you plan your ride efficiently.
Thank you for your patience!
PRESS RELEASE: Advance Transit to Host Community Information Sessions to Share Potential Changes to Bus Service
Advance Transit (AT), the free public transit service in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont, will be hosting information sessions to share upcoming enhancements and potential changes to its bus service. These events are open to the public and will provide an opportunity for community members to learn about service plans, which include later weekday and Saturday service.
The information sessions will include poster displays outlining planned and proposed service changes, with AT staff on hand to provide detail, answer questions, and receive feedback. Visitors can drop in anytime during the two-hour session to review this information. For those interested in a guided experience, there will be a half hour presentation with a question-and-answer segment, which will also be recorded and made available online after the event.
The two information sessions will take place on Tuesday, May 16, 2023:
- 11:30am – 1:30pm at the Howe Library (13 South Street, Hanover, NH)
with a half-hour presentation at 12:30pm - 4:00 – 6:00pm at Tracy Hall (300 Main St, Norwich, VT)
with a half-hour presentation at 5:00pm
“We’re excited to share these service plans,” said Adams Carroll, Executive Director of Advance Transit. “We know that many of our riders rely on public transportation to get to work, school, and key community resources, and we believe that these changes will help make it easier for them to travel where they need to go. ”
These service enhancements are in response to feedback collected as AT continues the process of updating its five-year transit plan. Updating this plan is a multi-phased approach that includes a review of existing services, a survey of riders and community members, and an analysis of travel patterns, which considers planned construction and development projects that may affect public transportation in the future.
A crucial part of this process is community feedback, which is critical in identifying rider preferences and learning how AT services can better meet transportation needs.
“We encourage members of the community to attend the meeting and learn more about the changes we are making to our bus service,” said Carroll. “We believe that these changes will have a positive impact on our riders and the community as a whole.”
AT has a long history of careful system planning, including coordination with local and regional planning efforts. To update its current transit plan, AT has been working with Steadman Hill Consulting, a consulting firm with extensive experience in public transportation planning. AT has worked with Steadman Hill Consulting in the past to produce its 2018 plan. That plan resulted in changes to routes and schedules, which included increased frequency on the Blue route (operating between downtown Lebanon and downtown Hanover), now offering 15-minute service.
For additional information on AT’s planning process and to review past transit plans and relevant studies, visit advancetransit.com/plan
For more information, contact Trish Palao, Director of Marketing and Philanthropy, at tpalao@advancetransit.com or (802) 295-1824.
SERVICE ALERT: Blue Route service to Enfield and Canaan departs from City Hall
SERVICE ALERT: Beginning May 1, Blue Route service to Enfield and Canaan departs from Lebanon City Hall.
PRESS RELEASE: Advance Transit Places Electric Buses in Service
Advance Transit (AT) riders can now step aboard all electric buses as they travel in the Upper Valley. The new electric buses started their routes on March 13, 2023, offering passengers a quieter ride with reduced emissions. These buses are the first set in a series of planned changes for AT, with more electric vehicles slated to arrive by next year. Funded primarily by federally administered grants and financial incentives from Green Mountain Power (GMP), this initiative to replace existing buses with reduced emissions buses will help decrease local air pollution and improve public transit infrastructure.
This initiative has been in motion since 2019. At that time, AT was awarded grant funding from the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) through support from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Some key objectives were to expand the benefits of vehicles into rural communities, help eliminate carbon emissions, and combat climate change. Transportation using fossil fuel is the top source of carbon emissions nationwide and in Vermont. Working in partnership with GMP, AT aims to reduce these numbers for the Upper Valley region through the implementation of electric buses.
Ross MacDonald, VTrans Public Transit Manager, commented, “The state has challenging climate goals, and we will need all of our partners to electrify their respective services as quickly as practical. The Public Transit Program recognizes AT as a leader in transit services and operations, and these e-buses are an extension of the dedication and commitment to provide more affordable, reliable, and cleaner mobility options to their communities.”
Rider feedback has been positive. Some have noted a much quieter ride and bus operators have noticed a smoother driving experience. AT’s e-bus drivers have completed extensive training sessions and the organization is now utilizing new fleet monitoring software provided by ChargePoint, which can track enhanced service metrics.
AT is also in the process of building an electric charging infrastructure that is slated to finish in the fall of 2023. GMP’s incentives also helped with the installation of a Level 3 fast charger. This project is the most significant facility upgrade since AT’s building expansion in 2009. This addition to the operations center will accommodate the current electric vehicles, as well as future ones, laying the groundwork for further e-bus acquisitions and supporting long-term goals for more sustainable business practices.
“It is exciting to see more Vermont communities served by clean electric buses. Driving with fossil fuel is the number one source of carbon emissions in Vermont – so cleaning up the transportation sector makes a big difference for our state. Plus, all GMP incentives and programs are designed to help reduce costs so all GMP customers can benefit,” said Tiana Smith, who leads electrification programs at GMP.
Advance Transit has long-regarded sustainability and environmental stewardship as key parts of the organization’s mission. AT began incorporating hybrid buses into its fleet in 2011 and currently uses electric cars as driver relief vehicles for buses in service. It has implemented systems that both reduce operating costs and produce real environmental benefits. For example, AT actively harvests rainwater that is used to wash buses. AT’s LEED-certified facility also features a solar array and a system for recycling used motor oil into a heat source.
The organization’s commitment to sustainability and service is evident in the message displayed on the rear window of their electric buses: “Electric-powered. Community-driven.” Providing free public transit services to the Upper Valley, AT is dedicated to increasing access and effectively meeting the region’s transportation and mobility needs.
“This is only the beginning,” shared AT Executive Director Adams Carroll. “We’re excited about the impact that electric buses will have on the community and the overall effects on the environment. We look forward to growing the number of electric vehicles in our fleet over time.”
For more information, contact Trish Palao, Director of Marketing and Philanthropy, at tpalao@advancetransit.com or (802) 295-1824.
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Advance Transit (AT) is a not-for-profit charitable organization providing fare-free transit in Vermont and New Hampshire. Our mission is to assure the continued livability and accessibility of Upper Valley communities by providing safe, effective, and friendly public transportation services.
SERVICE ALERT: Temporary Stop on Court Street
SERVICE ALERT: On Thursday, April 6, from 8:30am to 12pm, Blue and Red route buses will stop at COURT STREET instead of City Hall. Normal service will resume at 12pm that day.
Note to Riders Boarding at Kilton Library
On Wednesday, February 22nd, Chippers, Inc. will be trimming the trees in front of the Kilton Library and may need to use AT bus spaces. Some buses may not be parked at their usual spots and may even be found on Atwood Avenue, waiting for passengers boarding.
For everyone’s ease and safety during this process, please note the following:
- Observe the Destination Sign on each bus.
- Pay attention to the driver’s announcements concerning transfers.
- Ask the drivers if you aren’t sure where your next bus will be parked.
- Be patient with the drivers. They may not be sure where your next bus will be until the last minute.
- Be sure to let your driver know if you plan to transfer at the Kilton Library.
Thank you for your cooperation!
PRESS RELEASE: Advance Transit Renames Facility the Van Chesnut Transit Operations Center in Honor of Recently Retired Executive Director
Advance Transit’s (AT) facility, located in Wilder, Vermont, has been renamed the Van Chesnut Transit Operations Center in honor of former Executive Director Van Chesnut, who served the organization for 35 years before retiring on November 15, 2022.
Chesnut’s work as Executive Director began in 1986 and proved integral to AT’s success. During his tenure, Chesnut’s forward-thinking strategy, strong planning, and effective relationship-building were crucial to AT’s growth as it worked to serve the needs of the community. From humble beginnings in the early 1980s, the organization has grown to become part of the fabric of Upper Valley life, having now provided over thirteen million passenger trips and offering fare-free transit to the communities of Hartford and Norwich in Vermont, and Lebanon, Hanover, Enfield, and Canaan in New Hampshire.
Over the years, as the need for AT’s services grew, so did the organization’s operations. Chesnut assembled a dependable team of drivers, maintenance crew, and office staff dedicated to providing safe, effective, and friendly public transportation services. In 1994, AT’s headquarters moved to its current location at the Billings Commerce Park in Wilder, Vermont. In 2011, after a successful capital campaign, AT expanded its operations center, doubling in size and achieving LEED certification.
Today, AT’s site includes its administrative offices and a topnotch maintenance facility. It has implemented systems that both reduce operating costs and produce real environmental benefits. For example, AT actively harvests rainwater that is used to wash buses. The facility also features a solar array and a system for recycling used motor oil into a heat source.
Sustainability is one of AT’s driving forces. One of Chesnut’s final initiatives as Executive Director was the acquisition of electric buses to add to AT’s current fleet. These buses are slated to begin service in the months ahead and AT has invested in the infrastructure needed to maintain the new vehicles.
“Van’s leadership has been essential in keeping our organization at the forefront of transit technology,” shares current AT Executive Director Adams Carroll. “His focus on innovation and sustainability has placed AT on track for continued growth. Renaming our operations center is a tribute to Van’s many years of dedicated service and his invaluable impact on both the organization and the community. We’re extremely grateful for all that he has done.”
For more information, contact Trish Palao, Director of Marketing and Philanthropy, at tpalao@advancetransit.com or (802) 295-1824.
Service Alert: AT service at Parkhurst stop Street instead of McNutt Hall
Beginning Thursday, January 5, AT’s Blue, Orange, Brown, Green, and Dartmouth/Hanover Shuttle routes will serve the Parkhurst stop on North Main Street instead of McNutt Hall.
Thank you for your patience as we make adjustments to our downtown Hanover service due to construction at the Hopkins Center. For further updates, please check our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Service Alert: Changes to Hanover Bus Service, Effective January 3rd
The Hanover Inn stop on East Wheelock street will be closed beginning January 3, 2023 due to the renovation of the Hopkins Center.
Advance Transit’s Blue, Orange, Brown, Green, and Dartmouth/Hanover Shuttle routes, as well as buses from other transit providers, will stop on North Main Street in front of McNutt Hall.
AT’s Orange, Brown, Green, and Dartmouth/Hanover Shuttle routes will also serve the Reed/Dartmouth Hall stop on College Street.