Bus between Laconia, Concord now aiming to start late January

LACONIA — It might not be on schedule yet, but the bus is coming to Laconia.

Known as the Concord-Laconia Connector, the bus route being operated by the Community Action Program of Belknap-Merrimack Counties is said to likely begin operating by the end of this month. Earlier reports had cited an expected start date in December.

Terri Paige, transportation director for CAP, said this week two drivers had been hired, and the drivers would begin “dry runs” later this month to ensure the bus will be able to make all of the planned stops, by the expected times, before the route begins accepting passengers.

If everything goes well, and if the route cards arrive from the printer in time, Paige said she hopes the bus will start conveying people from Concord to Laconia, and several places in between, by the end of the month.

“We’re getting there, it’s getting exciting,” Paige said.

The route and schedule, which Paige expects to finalize as soon as the test runs confirm their workability, call for the bus to depart Eagle Square in Concord a little before 6 a.m. each day, and make about 18 stops. Those stops will include Penacook and Boscawen, a stop at the Merrimack County Complex, stops in Franklin at the industrial park as well as downtown, in Tilton at Market Basket, Hobby Lobby and Tanger Outlets; in Belmont at Belknap Marketplace; and in Laconia at the hospital and, lastly, downtown in the city-owned parking lot on Church Street, adjacent to the public library parking lot.

Information about the bus will be posted online at concordareatransit.org and on the Facebook page “Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack - CAPBM” at facebook.com/CAPBMCI.

Paige said it was significant to offer bus service to riders at no charge.

She said a fee, though it might seem insignificant, can present a barrier to some. And for others, who might benefit from the service but who also have access to a vehicle, a fee could prevent them from trying the bus.

“If it’s fare-free, it removes what they might perceive as an inconvenience of using public transportation,” Paige said.

The cost of running the program amounts to about $230,000 per year. Paige said about half of that comes in the form of a grant — federal dollars routed through the state’s Department of Transportation — and the rest is matching funds that must be raised locally. For the first year, the bulk of that balance is being provided by Merrimack County, with a lesser amount donated by the city of Concord. Paige said that she will be looking to draw the matching funds — about $116,000 each year — from a wider diversity of communities served along the route in following years.

Paige said she has heard from many people who are eager for the bus to start rolling. Those include employers and retailers along the route, as well as individuals looking for a reliable and accessible way for them to commute to work opportunities or attend medical appointments.

“People are really excited about it, we get calls pretty much weekly. We do seem to have a little bit of a buzz going, which is awesome,” Paige said. Several callers have asked if there will be a bike rack on the bus, which Paige confirmed there will be. She said she is curious to see if people are bringing their bikes to cover the final leg of their commute, for recreation along the trails in Franklin, Tilton and Laconia, or both.

Kirk Beattie, Laconia city manager, said City Hall has been supportive of the initiative.

“Part of the design is to move workforce,” he said, noting that many employers are struggling to find people to fill open positions. A bus would open possibilities for people who might be geographically constrained.

“If you live out of town but want to work in Laconia, but don’t have a vehicle, this is a great option. We hope it’s used,” Beattie said.

He noted city council quickly approved CAP’s request to place a stop in the city-owned lot on Church Street.

“Public transit is a good thing,” Beattie said. “I think it’s going to be a success.”