New Bus Route Makes It Easier to Travel Between Fairfield and Augusta

Getting between Fairfield and Augusta just got a little easier.

Kennebec Valley Community Action Program has launched a new weekday bus route connecting the two communities, with stops aimed at some of the places people are already trying to get to every day.

According to the Kennebec Journal, the route starts at 63 High Street in Fairfield, stops at Kennebec Valley Community College, then heads south on I-95 to MaineGeneral Medical Center, Walmart and the Augusta Transportation Center.

Buses will run eight times each weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

A one-way trip between Fairfield and Augusta costs $4, while trips within either community are $2. Discounted fares are available for teens, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders.

For now, the new service is essentially a test run.

KVCAP plans to operate the route for at least four months to see how many people use it and whether there’s enough demand to keep it going longer-term.

The route was designed in part with college students and people traveling to MaineGeneral in mind. KVCAP previously offered service between Fairfield and the hospital, but that route ended in 2023 after ridership dropped following the pandemic.

If enough riders take advantage of the new option, KVCAP could look for additional funding to keep the service running.

The organization is also experimenting with additional routes around Augusta, meaning Central Maine could see even more public transportation options in the months ahead.