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DART outlines 'Reimagine' plan and expands DART Connect microtransit in Sussex County
Summary
DART CEO John Sisson described a multi‑year reorganization that will increase public transit access across Delaware and expand on‑demand DART Connect service in the Georgetown–Millsboro area and other Sussex County towns.
John Sisson, chief executive officer of Delaware Transit (DART), told the Sussex County Council that the agency’s recently completed DART Reimagine study proposes an expanded network to increase the share of Delawareans within a quarter mile of fixed‑route transit from about one‑third to one‑half.
“We really prioritize on trying to serve, the areas in this level 1 and level 2 of the state strategies, making sure we're connecting towns, making sure we're connecting large employment centers,” Sisson said. He described two distinct service regimes in Delaware: high‑demand summer beach services and the year‑round rural and intercounty services that serve Sussex.
Sisson highlighted the expansion of DART Connect, a microtransit on‑demand, app‑enabled service that DART likened to “Uber and Lyft for public transit.” DART piloted the service in Georgetown–Millsboro and plans additional DART Connect zones in Seaford/Blades, Laurel/Delmar and Milford; fares for eligible riders (seniors, etc.) are low — Sisson said senior fares are $0.80 for comparable trips.
Why it matters: DelDOT and the county face low population density across large areas of Sussex County, which makes traditional fixed‑route transit difficult and increases the importance of microtransit and paratransit. DART said its statewide paratransit system provides door‑to‑door trips for eligible riders and that average trip distances in Sussex are longer than statewide averages (Sisson said Sussex trips average closer to 15 miles).
DART also stressed coordination with private intercity carriers and local shuttles where appropriate and urged the county to incorporate transit stops and facilities into road projects.
