BRATTLEBORO — The Current, which operates the Brattleboro bus system, will hold its first round of public meetings on Thursday, Aug. 24, as part of its route improvement plan.
Two meetings, each held at the Brattleboro Municipal Center's Selectnoard Meeting Room, are scheduled for 1 and 5:30 p.m. Anyone needing a free ride to and from the meetings may call The Current to schedule it at 802-460-7433.
The meeting agenda is to solicit input from riders, non-riders, business owners, etc. on any changes to the bus service. Ideas will be taken into consideration for the first draft of the plan that will be completed in late September. A second public meeting will be scheduled to review the plan and seek additional comments.
The public meeting compliments surveys that are now being done with employers, partners, committees, riders, bus drivers, and non-riders to improve the town's schedules and service level.
The existing schedules were implemented in late August 2012 by the Current's predecessor, Connecticut River Transit.
The Current, which is one of two divisions operated by Southeast Vermont Transit, took over the system in 2016 and has made only minor changes to one of the routes.
“I want to assure our existing riders that the core schedules will remain, so that you will continue to reach your jobs, shopping, and medical appointments” Southeast Vermont Transit CEO Randy Schoonmaker said in a news release. “What we are trying to accomplish is to simplify the schedule, minimize transfers, reduce duplication, fill in gaps, and make the system more user-friendly.”
Schoonmaker said fares will remain at $1 per ride.
Southeast Vermont Transit has been awarded a grant by the Vermont Agency of Transportation to work with consultant Stephen Falbel of Steadman Hill Consulting in Montpelier and the Windham Regional Commission to assist in the route design. The most important part of the process is a two-phase public input process before the system is adjusted late this year or early next.
The first round includes the Aug. 21 public meeting to gather information on what the public would like to see, what they like and dislike, and what recommendations they have. In addition, surveys and/or interviews will be done with employers, partners, committees, riders, bus drivers, and non-riders.
Southeast Vermont Transit also will meet with Brattleboro town officials and will appear before the Selectboard at its Aug. 15 meeting. Following the first round of public input, a draft service plan will be designed and published for comment.
The second round of public input - consisting of a second public meeting and surveys - will present the draft plan and seek additional comments before making final changes and then implementing the plan.
The two public outreach rounds, plan drafting, and final changes are expected to reach into the fall, with implementation occurring after a four-week advance notice/marketing phase of the new schedules late this year or early next.
There are two public surveys being conducted in the first round of outreach - one for riders and one for non-riders. Riders may pick up a survey on the bus or complete one online at www.crtransit.org or on the Current's Facebook page.
The survey for those who don't currently ride the bus can be picked up at the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce, Brooks Memorial Library, The Brattleboro Food Co-op's Shareholder Desk, and the Brattleboro Transportation Center on Flat Street. Non-riders can also fill out the survey online at www.crtransit.org and on the Current's Facebook page. All surveys must be completed by Aug. 18.