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August 23. 2012 12:32AM
Commuter bus service begins to show signs of profitability
NASHUA — After five years, commuter bus services along the Everett Turnpike are beginning to pay for itself, bus company officials announced Wednesday.
Both the Everett and Interstate 93 commuter bus systems receive state and federal subsidies. While the Everett system is in the black, the I-93 system is not, state transportation officials said.
The Everett routes have seen 13 to 14 percent monthly growth, with ridership growing from 410,802 in 2008 to a projected 549,105 this year.
Jim Jalbert, one of the owners of Boston Express, which services both the Everett and I-93 areas, told Executive Councilors on Wednesday if you have “clean buses with wireless internet connections and a reasonable fare, people will get out of their cars.”
Department of Transportation Commissioner Chris Clement the bus service along I-93 is required under the Environmental Impact Statement for the highway widening project between Salem and Manchester.
He noted $7.7 million in federal and state subsidies have paid for buses and operating expenses to help get the routes up and running. “This transportation program is the most successful in the country, not just New England, not just the Northeast, in the country,” Clement said.
He and Jalbert said the Merrimack Valley system will be carrying its 2 millionth customer either Wednesday or Thursday.
Jalbert said that unlike every other subsidized transportation system in the country, Boston Express pays tolls, taxes and registration to the state.
He said the Everett route will make money that will be used to help offset the deficit in the I-93 system.
Jalbert said the Everett system needs about 700 passengers a day to break even, while the I-93 route needs between 1,200 and 1,400 riders a day.
District 4 Executive Councilor Raymond Wieczorek, R-Manchester, noted much of the traffic to the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport comes north to the facility and asked if Jalbert had considered expanding the service to the airport.
Jalbert said he would be happy to have that discussion and has talked with the airport manager about the proposal.
The council recently voted down money for a feasibility study of bringing passenger rail to the Merrimack Valley.
Garry Rayno may be reached at grayno@unionleader.com.
Both the Everett and Interstate 93 commuter bus systems receive state and federal subsidies. While the Everett system is in the black, the I-93 system is not, state transportation officials said.
The Everett routes have seen 13 to 14 percent monthly growth, with ridership growing from 410,802 in 2008 to a projected 549,105 this year.
Jim Jalbert, one of the owners of Boston Express, which services both the Everett and I-93 areas, told Executive Councilors on Wednesday if you have “clean buses with wireless internet connections and a reasonable fare, people will get out of their cars.”
Department of Transportation Commissioner Chris Clement the bus service along I-93 is required under the Environmental Impact Statement for the highway widening project between Salem and Manchester.
He noted $7.7 million in federal and state subsidies have paid for buses and operating expenses to help get the routes up and running. “This transportation program is the most successful in the country, not just New England, not just the Northeast, in the country,” Clement said.
He and Jalbert said the Merrimack Valley system will be carrying its 2 millionth customer either Wednesday or Thursday.
Jalbert said that unlike every other subsidized transportation system in the country, Boston Express pays tolls, taxes and registration to the state.
He said the Everett route will make money that will be used to help offset the deficit in the I-93 system.
Jalbert said the Everett system needs about 700 passengers a day to break even, while the I-93 route needs between 1,200 and 1,400 riders a day.
District 4 Executive Councilor Raymond Wieczorek, R-Manchester, noted much of the traffic to the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport comes north to the facility and asked if Jalbert had considered expanding the service to the airport.
Jalbert said he would be happy to have that discussion and has talked with the airport manager about the proposal.
The council recently voted down money for a feasibility study of bringing passenger rail to the Merrimack Valley.
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Garry Rayno may be reached at grayno@unionleader.com.
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