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Brunswick Explorer Bus Service

April 1, 2016

In an agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation announced today, Western Maine Transportation Services (WMTS) of Auburn will assume operation of the Brunswick Explorer bus service from Coastal Trans at the end of the day on Friday, April 22, 2016.

WMTS General Manager, Sandy Buchanan said, “WMTS is saddened by the circumstances that have brought us to this point, but we look forward to serving the riders of the Brunswick Explorer and continuing the excellent service started by Coastal Trans. It is our intention to retain the current staff and make as few changes as possible to the service, unless it is to grow the system, as funding and opportunity allow.” Buchanan stated the service will be uninterrupted during the transition.

Recently, WMTS had been contracted by Coastal Trans to provide some of the maintenance services for its fleet. “Having our in-house service facility allows us to provide more cost-efficient preventive maintenance and repairs and allows for more attention to passenger amenities that are unique to transit vehicles such as lifts and ramps,” said Buchanan.

Buchanan concluded, “We were very sorry to learn that our good friends at Coastal Trans were unable to continue operating, but we fully understand the stresses they were experiencing. We can only congratulate them for many years of outstanding service to their communities.”

Western Maine Transportation Services was established by statute in 1976 to provide public transportation services in Western Maine. WMTS operates an extensive fleet of wheelchair - accessible buses. WMTS also operates the Lewiston-Auburn citylink bus service and the Sunday River-Bethel Mountain Explorer and Sugarloaf Explorer seasonal ski area transit services.

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Western Maine Transportation Services is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public transportation corporation established by statute in 1976. WMTS serves Western Maine with open-to-the-public, wheelchair-accessible paratransit bus service in and around the more populated regions of our service area. WMTS also provides volunteer rides for MaineCare, other state and agency contracts. WMTS is funded by the Federal Transit Administration, MaineDOT, Municipalities in Androscoggin County and Franklin and Oxford Counties. WMTS provides contract rides for MaineDHHS and for LogistiCare. The WMTS Community Rides programs in Franklin and Oxford Counties are funded by United Way of the Tri-Valley Area and United Way of Oxford County. The ElderRides program is funded through SeniorsPlus. WMTS also operates the LATC citylink bus service in Lewiston and Auburn, the Sugarloaf Explorer and Sunday River Mountain Explorer seasonal bus services in cooperation with the ski areas, towns, local businesses, associations and organizations. WMTS will not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.