Augusta’s New Bus Route Will Connect Downtown With Major Shopping Areas

Getting around Augusta without a car could soon get a little easier.

The city is getting ready to launch a new fixed-route public bus as part of a four-month pilot program with the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, better known as KVCAP.

According to the Kennebec Journal, the plan calls for a 12-passenger bus to travel an approximately hour-long loop through some of Augusta’s busiest areas. The route would start around Water Street, head up Western Avenue and pass popular shopping stops including Shaw’s, Target and Hannaford before making its way back.

And it should be pretty affordable, too. Fares are expected to land somewhere around $1 to $2 per ride.

The service won’t be completely rigid, either. During the trial period, KVCAP plans to operate what’s called a “deviated fixed route,” which means the bus can travel up to about three-quarters of a mile off the regular route to pick up or drop off passengers.

If the four-month experiment goes well, Augusta could see even more bus service in 2027.

KVCAP has already proposed adding northern and eastern routes, along with continuing the western route for another year. Those potential routes would likely operate Monday through Friday from roughly 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The initial four-month pilot is expected to cost a little more than $33,000.

The money is coming from the $500,000 Augusta received after selling the former police station at 33 Union Street. That property is expected to be redeveloped into affordable housing, and having public transportation available nearby could also help strengthen the project’s application for state housing funding.

Public transportation has been something Augusta officials have wanted to expand for years, and this could be the first step toward building a more permanent system.

KVCAP already provides appointment-based transportation around Augusta, Waterville, Skowhegan, Fairfield and Winslow, but fixed-route service disappeared after ridership dropped during the pandemic and the organization dealt with funding and driver shortages.

Now, Augusta is giving it another shot.

City officials hope the first route will be up and running around mid-September, with public feedback helping determine where the service goes from there.