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Chesco Connect overview: Chester County details fares, eligibility and propane-bus pilot
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Summary
The county’s Department of Community Transit outlined Chesco Connect services for seniors, people with disabilities and Medicaid recipients, described fare levels and registration options, and highlighted a shift toward propane vehicles to cut emissions and operating costs.
Chester County’s Department of Community Transit presented an overview of Chesco Connect services and recent operational changes designed to expand access and lower costs for riders.
Gene Suske, director of the Department of Community Transit, told commissioners that Chesco Connect provides door-to-door shared-ride service for residents including seniors, people with disabilities and Medicaid recipients. He said there are no income limits for the Senior Shared Ride Program: "If you are 65 and you're a resident of the county, you're able to use the service," and that essential senior trips such as medical appointments, grocery shopping or government business cost $1 each way thanks to a subsidy from the County Department of Aging.
Suske outlined fares for other cohorts: the persons-with-disabilities program starts at $5.75 for trips up to 11 miles and scales up for longer trips; full-fare rides for general public users can run from about $15 up to $75 for the longest trips. He said Medicaid-covered medical trips through the Medical Assistance Transportation Program are free of charge and that mileage reimbursement and parking allowances exist for those using private vehicles to transport Medicaid patients.
Staff described new operational changes intended to improve customer service and efficiency: a new recorded-call center to reduce wait times and better scheduling and reporting tools. Suske also highlighted a move to propane-powered vehicles, which the department said can cut emissions by up to 60% and—citing a 2024 National Renewable Energy Laboratory study—could yield up to $20,000 in first-year savings per vehicle, primarily from lower fuel costs.
Suske encouraged residents to register via the county website or PennDOT’s Find My Ride portal, and listed third-party sponsor partners that cover fares for their clients, including KenCrest Services, Community Care Behavioral Health, Keystone Autism and the Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County.
