Dart West, the long-awaited bus service between Doylestown and New Britain, is set to begin operating on Monday, Jan. 6.
Officials have worked for years to bring public transit to the Chalfont and New Britain areas. The new bus has been delivered and it’s ready to run. Members of the Dart Bus Committee met Nov. 22 to confirm the starting date and schedule.
Few are happier than state Rep. Todd Polinchock, who helped secure funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to extend the Doylestown Dart service, linking residents to train stations and shopping centers.
“I am thrilled because this bus will open up the entire Business Route 202 on Butler Avenue to allow residents and the university students access to our amazing small businesses, restaurants, parks and trails,” Polinchock said.
Dart West will run from the shopping center and medical facilities at Butler Avenue and County Line Road and will end at The Gatherings at University Village by Delaware Valley University, where it will connect with the Doylestown DART, allowing riders to switch buses and take the line into Doylestown.
At Friday’s meeting, Lou White, committee chair, complimented Polinchock on his creativity in getting the DRCD grant to fund the first year of Dart West.
“The Dart Bus Committee has been working for three years with both elected officials and staff from the three municipalities to bring this project to fruition. Extension of Dart Bus service out Business Route 202 will provide expanded accessibility, not just for seniors and Del Val students but for all residents, to the exciting growth along that corridor,” White said.
Vince Volpe, president of Bucks County Transport, will work with the managers of Chalfont and New Britain boroughs, and New Britain Township to decide where to place the signs indicating where the bus will stop.
“We will be tracking the appropriateness of stops as soon as service begins,” White said.
The first of six buses will leave Delaware Valley University at 9:09 a.m., make stops through Chalfont and New Britain and arrive back at DelVal at 10:39 a.m. The final bus of the day leaves DelVal at 5:05 p.m. and completes its run where it started, at 6:28 p.m.
