PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: It doesn’t just save you money, it’s better for the environment!
With climate change on everyone’s minds, and terms like “carbon footprint” flying around constantly –– on top of gas prices being about a dollar more than last year and not getting any cheaper –– there are ways to get around and still save money, right?
Right.
Just about everywhere in Vermont now you can take a bus where you need to go. Not only that, it’s quite often free or dirt-cheap for students and young people. When you use public transportation, you’re sparing the environment your car’s emissions by riding with others in a more efficient way –– lots of buses now use bio-fuels or more carbon-neutral power.
When you get right down to it, it’s a smart thing to do. And so you know the details, there’s a pretty comprehensive list of the whens, the wheres, and the prices for public transport around the state.
CCTA-Chittenden County Transportation Authority
Where: Greater Burlington Area. Serves: St Albans, Shelburne, Essex center, Montpelier, Middlebury, South Burlington, Williston, Winooski.
Routes: 19 bus routes
Fare: UVM, St Michael’s and Champlain College students all ride for free with student id. Burlington Public School students K-12 ride free during school hours (high schoolers must show ID) and during the summer, kids aged 6-18 pay 60 cents one way, $5 for 10 rides and $21 for a month pass. Adults pay $1.25 one way, $10 for 10 rides and $42 for a month pass. Montpelier, St. Albans, and Middlebury routes are more expensive.
Website: cctaride.org
ACTR-Addison County Transit Resources
Where: Addison County
Routes: 4 routes including Burlington, Rutland, Middlebury, Ripton, Bristol, New Haven, Charlotte and Vergennes.
Fare: Free except for routes that go outside the county.
Website: Actr-vt.org.
Extra: Use of free bike racks also available on any bus.
MVRTD-Marble Valley Regional Transit District
Where: Serves greater Rutland area. Caters to elderly, disabled, and transportationally disadvantaged.
Routes: City fixed routes around Rutland and commuter connections to Killington, Killington Ski Resort, Manchester, Middlebury, and Okemo Mountain Resort
Fare: City fixed routes are $.50 per one way trip, no student discounts. Commuter buses are $2 one way.
Website: thebus.com
Advanced Transit
Where: Eastern Vermont/Western New Hampshire
Routes: 6 routes that include Hartford, White River Junction, and Norwich, as well as Hanover and Lebanon New Hampshire.
Fare: Shuttle service is free.
Website: advancedtransit.com
CRT-Connecitcut River Transit
Where: Offers in town services, commuter buses, and dial-a-ride for medical appointments. Mostly in Brattleboro, Deerfield Valley, Upper Valley areas, but also travel state-wide and into New Hampshire.
Routes: No specific routes shown, just areas of service
Fare: free.
DVTA-Deerfield Valley Transit Association
Routes: 10 routes servicing southern Vermont: Mount Snow, Timber Creek, Greenspring, BearsCrossing/SunTec, Kingswood, Wilmington/WestDover, Wardsboro-West Dover, Readsboro-West Wilmington, and Wilmington-Brattleboro.
Cost: free
Website: moover.com
RCT
Where: Essex, Caledonia, Orleans and Lamoille counties
Routes: 2 routes from St. Johnsbury-Lyndonville and Newport-Derby.
Website: www.riderct.org
STS: Stage Coach Rides
Where: 30 town areas north of Windsor and Orange Counties
Routes: 6 routes that service Bradford, Bethel, Hancock and Rochester, Hanover, and along 1-89.
Fare: Varies by route, ranging from $2 to $4.
Website: stagecoach-rides.org
GMCN: Green Mountain Community Network
Where: Bennington County
Routes: 2 routes from Bennington to Manchester
Fare: $.50, but varies by service and distance
Website: vpta.net
Beeline
Where: Brattleboro
Routes: One, around downtown Brattleboro
Fare: $.50 one way for student, $.75 for adults
Website: www.vpta.net
FIVE WAYS TO SAVE WHEN YOU CAN’T CATCH THE BUS:
Car pool with friends or neighbors when you are headed in the same direction.
Get into walking or biking places whenever possible.
Look to fill up on “sale” days –– depending on the gas station, lots of places drop prices by five cents a gallon one day a week.
Don’t idle the car. Instead, turn the car off when you’re parked or waiting somewhere.
Look into getting cars with smaller engines or hybrids that use far less gas.