March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

W-HCA to operate Bangor to Calais bus

People who ride the state-subsidized bus from Calais to Bangor will see some changes Jan. 1, when Washington-Hancock Community Action takes over the run.

For eight years, the route has been operated by the St. Croix Bus Service of Calais. Owner Malcolm Brydon had asked for a state subsidy of $17,673 to continue service in 1993.

W-HCA sought a subsidy of just $14,910, however, and it was awarded a one-year contract by the Maine Department of Transportation last week. The contract obligates the non-profit agency to offer one daily round trip between Calais and Bangor.

On Tuesday, Brydon blasted the choice of W-HCA.

“It’s unfair competition,” he said. “They are a non-profit agency competing with a for-profit enterprise.”

The state pays for 80 percent of the cost of the van used on the route, according to Brydon.

“My 20 percent comes out of my pocket,” he said. “W-HCA is using money donated by private individuals and the government. ”

Barbara Donovan, transportation director for W-HCA, said that all of the public transporation routes in eastern and northern Maine were state-subsidized. Any saving would benefit Maine taxpayers.

Donovan said it wasn’t unfair for W-HCA to bid on the contract.

“We put every cost into our bid that a private operator would,” she said. “We even pay gasoline taxes.”

Donovan said that W-HCA would maintain the St. Croix schedule, fares and freight rates for at least two months.

After that, she said, there likely would be some changes. Fares probably will be rounded off to whole dollars.

The St. Croix bus remains in Bangor between 1 and 4 p.m. before starting its return trip to Calais. That idle time might be reduced, according to Donovan.

Donovan expressed hope that the bus would stop at Pickering Square, Bangor International Airport and the Concord Trailways terminal on Union Street, in addition to the Greyhound terminal in downtown Bangor.

Brydon was shaken by his loss of the route.

“I will miss it terribly,” he said. “All the people I’ve met over the years; all the people I’ve helped.”

Added Brydon: “I hate to lose it. I’ve carried everything from bull semen to eyeballs.”

The St. Croix owner has no other job.

“I’ll be unemployed,” he said. “At 63, it’s rather difficult to start banging on doors.”


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