The City Express new route and schedule is rolling out on Tuesday, January 2. Several stops have been added to the route, including Cheshire Medical Center’s new Primary Care facility on Maple Avenue, the new location of the Keene Senior Center at 312 Marlboro Street, Monadnock Food Coop, and Kohl’s Plaza. The Kohl’s Plaza stop will exit through Avon Street allowing riders closer access to Monadnock Family Services new facility. The new schedule will also stop at Market Basket every hour. Service to the Monadnock Marketplace will be discontinued due to low ridership.
Rides on the City Express will be free of charge from January 2 through January 5 to encourage everyone to try the new schedule.
Changes in the route were made in response to a rider survey, requests from the community, input form the Transportation Passenger Advisory Committee, and a public hearing. “As community needs change, we try to make sure that the City Express is changing to meet those needs,” said Charles Pratt, manager of transportation programs at Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS). All regular stops will continue to have hourly service. Key stops, such as the Transportation Center downtown, the main campus of Cheshire Medical Center, Riverside Plaza, West Street Plaza, and several residential areas will have service every half hour.
The City Express currently runs Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm, stopping at 24 locations throughout the city. Fares are one dollar a ride, with multiple ride discount tickets available. Veterans and children twelve and under ride free of charge. Seniors aged 60 and older are also eligible to ride at no charge with a Senior Pass. All vehicles are accessible.
The City Express provided nearly 20,000 trips last year. The Friendly Bus and Medical Express to Lebanon and White River Junction are also services of the HCS Transportation program.
For schedule information on any transportation program, visit hcservices.org/transportation or call the City Express at 603-352-8494.
