Riders: Last Hub bus to Manchester will be hard to catch
By DAN TUOHY AND SCOTT BROOKS
New Hampshire Union Leader
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
MANCHESTER – The number of bus trips between downtown Manchester and Boston would be cut nearly in half under a proposed schedule released yesterday.
Most of the service cuts are in the evenings and on weekends. Weekday commuters could still catch a ride to the Hub, but getting back could be a feat. The last commuter run from Boston's South Station would leave at 6 p.m.
"That's not going to be good for a lot of people," said Nancy Scola, a legal secretary who rides the bus to Boston every weekday.
Mayor Frank Guinta said he was pleased with the schedule, given that executives with the bus company, Boston Express, once said they expected to make just three round trips per weekday. The proposed schedule puts that number at six.
"This will be a seamless transition," Guinta said during a news conference yesterday in his office, where he unveiled the proposed schedule. "There will be no break in service whatsoever."
The schedule still requires approval from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Guinta said.
City officials are counting on Boston Express to maintain the link between the two cities when an affiliated company, Concord Coach, makes its last stop at Manchester's downtown bus station in November. Concord Coach currently offers 40 trips per week between the cities. Under the proposed schedule, Boston Express would offer 21 per week.
On weekdays, the number of trips to Boston will fall from 10 to six. On weekends and holidays, the number will fall from nine to five.
Trips from Boston to Manchester will be even less frequent.
Still, there was some relief among bus riders yesterday. Several commuters said they had been worrying for months that the new schedule would make it difficult for them to get to work.
For her part, Scola said, "I was very, very happy to hear they were keeping some (of the routes). For a while there, it sounded like there was going to be nothing for Manchester."
Lisa Olson, who commutes four days each week, said she was glad to see her own schedule would not have to change much. However, she said, "It would be nice if something was coming (to Manchester) later."
Some service is available on another carrier. Vermont Transit, now operating as Greyhound Lines, has a bus run that leaves the Manchester Transportation Center at 9:55 p.m. Its return trips leave Boston at 8 a.m. and 11:45 p.m.
Officials at the news conference yesterday described Boston Express' proposed schedule as a first step. The conference included talk of a multi-modal transportation center in Manchester that would serve as a nexus for both bus riders and rail passengers.
Alderman and state Sen. Ted Gatsas said the schedule was better than what might have been.
"More service from zero is better than zero," he said.
Critics, however, emerged as soon as the schedule was announced.
"That's a wholly inadequate service," said Bob Backus, a Democrat running for Senate against Gatsas. "I just think we really, really dropped the ball on this."
Both Guinta and Executive Councilor Ray Wieczorek said efforts to secure additional bus runs and operators would continue.
Boston Express already has a line connecting Nashua and Boston. For its Manchester-to-Boston route, the company will operate from a base at the Londonderry transportation center at Exit 5 off Interstate 93. Buses will go to South Station and Logan International Airport.
Guinta said he knew of no immediate change in bus fare for the intercity trip.
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As a daily commuter with an 8:30am to 6:00-8:00pm schedule, I must second the opinions that a last bus leaving at 6:00pm is unfathomable. The 6:15 bus has been mostly full all summer, even express to Manchester and the 7:15 bus is popular as well. Both commuters and travelers from Logan use this bus and the 8:15 to, I would estimate, 80% capacity. Those later buses may not be full, but some people do not have the choice, time or luxury to make it to the 6:15 bus, and a fortiori, to the proposed 6:00pm bus.
Even taken into account the Londonderry schedule and its 6:15 and 7:15 buses, the choice of a ride north will be all but scarce. I would almost be happy to "have" to leave work before 5:45 everyday, but my employer and clients may not see this in this light! We are a one car family and are not looking forward to this time of uncertainty and potential added expense. I am glad that some sort of compromise was struck between all parties involved, as some buses are better than none from Manchester, but some scheduling leave me wondering those parties' criteria.
- Matthieu, Manchester
CHECK OUT THESE E-MAIL RESPONSE FROM BOSTON EXPRESS !
Bob,
By next year, Boston Express will be operating out of the Exit 5 North
Londonderry location. I am not sure of service to/from downtown
Manchester. The North Londonderry location will offer ample free parking
with a commuter rate for passengers such as your son. Please check our
website (www.bostonexpressbus.com) for updates or email me in the future.
Thank you,
James Osborne, Manager Boston Express
> Hello
>
> I'm concerned about the travel of my son to Boston next year. He will be
> in Manchester NH and would like to take the bus to South Station for
> school at NU. Will you be providing this service and will he get the bus
> at the old Concord location in down town Manchester?
>
>
> Thanks, Bob
- Bob Haskell, falmouth mass
I have to ask again... Why is the State of NH DOT purchasing new buses for the bus company, providing millions of dollars for operating expenses, and providing three years of exclusive use of the 3 park-and-ride facilities? Why are they not demanding that a full service schedule be maintained for Manchester? Why not a schedule that benefits both cities?
When is someone going to go to court to stop this nonsense?
This entire mess was caused by Boston-based groups like the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), who usually do everything in their power to stop anything that allows Manchester to grow. They want Manchester to only play the role of Boston suburb and the State of NH government is only willing to play into their hands. In this case the CLF have tried to stop the I-93 expansion and forced this deal for the bus runs, because the state is not ready to build a train system on that corridor yet.
The CLF is not interested in any Manchester-centric public transportation system for NH, but instead only in a system that brings people and business to Boston.
Isn't it ironic that Bob Backus, who works for the CLF in NH, said "That's a wholly inadequate service"! Your CLF had a hand in creating this mess! Mr. Backus is running for public office again. He's a person who gets his marching orders from the Boston-based CLF. Will he represent the best interests of Manchester, or will he put the CLF first?
Will the city or state get other bus companies to provide real express (read non-stop) service to Boston? I suspect not, because Boston Express will move to stop any competition.
- Bob, Hooksett
This really isn't a way to make Manchester a more attractive place to live. The city should be looking to attract people by giving them more options. There is reason there are no young people moving into this state.
- B, Manchester
Why should tax payers have to foot the bill to subsidize bus travel so people don't have to pay for their gas to work in Boston where they pay Mass income tax. Why not just move there.
- Russ, Manchester
Tim, the reason is that the NHDOT is subsidizing the bus routes. Londonderry? Really? Is there going to be a Manchester-Londonderry shuttle service?
- Jeff, Manchester
Very disappointing (but not at all surprising) news for the many, many people who work in Boston, live in Manchester and commute to work every day on the bus. As Mike from Bedford pointed out yesterday, very few of us get out of work early enough to make it over to South Station for what will now be the last bus home at 6:00PM. For the life of me I can not understand the apparent arrogance of those making these decisions involving literally millions of dollars of taxpayer's money. All of the "summit meetings" and even the news conference yesterday to announce this new schedule were held on weekdays in Manchester at times when all of us who need this bus service were at work in Boston. Please don't count us among those who are pleased with the new schedule.
- Paul, Manchester
Why can't Manchester use its own MTA buses & set a better schedule for its riders. I am sure they have the buses to do it & they won't have any problem finding drivers to work the schedule. Many say the city buses are empty now, so why doesn't the city get involved in transporting to Boston with full buses.
- Dave R, Manchester
This stinks-has anyone thought that people go to Boston on weekends for evening events?
- Bill, Amherst
It seems to me that if the state is going to give money to private entities, they would exert a bit more feedback in the situation. I pick up and drop off my wife daily to catch the bus to Cambridge and I can appreciate not having to get up extra early to drive her to Londonderry. I am still not clear why commuters in other communities take priority to commuters in this community.
- Rick Olson, Manchester
Why does NHDOT have to approve bus schedules? That doesn't make any sense.
- Tim, Derry
The State should require the bus company to have at least 1 bus going from Boston to Manchester after 7pm to help people who work in the Boston area. The State should have never agreed to a contract that did not stipulate within the contract the same level of service between Manchester and Boston and Boston and Manchester. The State is the customer and it screwed up. The State legislature should fix this mess.
I hope the State will use some of the money it obtains from the rooms and meals tax for buses within cities and buses between cities. This may reduce the need for families to have 2nd and 3rd cars and reduce emergency room visits and hospital stays caused by air pollution. This may increase tourism from Canada and other places. If people have an easier time getting to jobs and from jobs via buses, the State may be able to spend less money on food stamps and Medicaid.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH