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Community Connector

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Community Connector
A Community Connector bus rolls through the University of Maine campus.
ParentCity of Bangor
FoundedDecember, 1972
Headquarters481 Maine Avenue
LocaleBangor, Maine
Service areaBangor, Brewer, Hampden, Veazie, Orono, Old Town, Maine
Service typebus service, paratransit
HubsPickering Square Parking Garage
Fleet22
Daily ridership2,795[1]
Fuel typeBio-Diesel
Chief executiveLaurie Linscott, Superindendant
WebsiteWebsite

The Community Connector is a municipally owned bus system connecting Bangor, Maine, with outlying towns, including Veazie, Orono, Old Town, Brewer, and Hampden. The system is owned and operated by the City of Bangor.

Overview

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Most Community Connector buses are distinguished by their bright red color. The system is structured to make it easy for riders to reach points of interest in the Bangor area. In 2003 the Mall Hopper line was added to facilitate easy connections between the Airport Mall, the Bangor Mall, and the Broadway Shopping Center. The Black Bear Orono Express was added in 2009 as a shuttle between downtown Orono and the University of Maine campus with additional stops in the town of Orono. The Mall Hopper and Black Bear Express are also the only lines not to go through the Bangor Depot.

Several of the newer buses offer plush seats and air-conditioning, as well as low floors designed to make it easier for wheelchair passengers to board the bus without having to use a wheelchair lift. All buses are ADA compliant and are wheelchair ready.

Riders are allowed to get on and off at almost any intersection along the road, without having to use designated bus stops. There are a few exceptions where passenger safety is an issue.

The bus system was previously known as BAT Community Connector (or "the BAT").[2]

A free, unofficial mobile phone application for the Community Connector was released in March 2012 for both the iPhone and Android platforms. The app included routes and schedule information, displayed the amount of time until the next scheduled bus arrival, and calculated the distance and time information for the stops that are closest to your current position. However, the app is no longer available for download.

Bus service

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Operations

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A Community Connector bus rolls through the University of Maine campus. (Close-up of the bus)

The Community Connector operates Monday through Friday from 5:45 am to 7:05 pm. All buses (except Mall Hopper and Black Bear Express) connect at the Bangor Depot at either 15 or 45 past each hour. The first trip to operate is Old Town 1 which leaves UMaine at 5:45 am. The first trip for most other routes is 6:15 or 6:45 am at the Depot. The final trips to depart the Depot are at 5:15 and 5:45 pm (see above for particular route). Saturday service was suspended in June 2022 due to an ongoing driver shortage.

Routes

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The Community Connector, based in Bangor, Maine, serves points within the city and in nearby Brewer, Hampden, Veazie, Orono, and Old Town.[3]

  • Brewer North serves North Main St., No. Brewer Shopping Center, Twin City Plaza, Brewer Shopping Center, Walmart, and Marden's.
  • Brewer South serves South Main St., Parkway South, Brewer Shopping Center, Walmart, and Marden's.
  • Capehart serves Union St., Ohio St., two medical plazas, Bangor International Airport, Airport Mall, and Capehart.
  • Center Street serves Bangor Public Library, Center Street, St. Joseph Hospital and the Broadway Shopping Center. Shares a bus with Hammond Street Route on Saturdays.
  • Hammond Street serves Union Street, University College Of Bangor, the Fairmount Area, and the Buck St./Third Street Neighborhood. Shares a bus with Center Street Route on Saturdays.
  • Hampden serves Shaw's on Main St., Beal College, Main Road No. in Hampden, Hannaford Supermarkets, and Hampden Academy.[4]
  • The Mall Hopper line was added in the late 2000s and serves the Airport Mall, Husson University, Broadway Shopping Center, and the Bangor Mall. The Mall Hopper line is one of the two bus lines that does not have a terminus in Pickering Square.
  • Mount Hope serves much of Bangor's East Side along Mt. Hope Ave., EMCC, Sam's Club by request, Bangor Mall, and Target.
  • Old Town is a two-hour trip that serves State St., Eastern Maine Medical Center, parts of Veazie, parts of Orono, the University of Maine, Downtown Old Town, Old Town Plaza, University Mall, and College Avenue.
  • Stillwater serves John Bapst Memorial High School, Broadway Park Area, Acadia Hospital, Bangor Mall, and Walmart.
  • The Black Bear Orono Express serves as a shuttle between the University of Maine campus and downtown Orono. This route does not serve Pickering Square. Funding for this bus comes from Community Connector funds and UM; there is no charge to ride this route. Monday through Friday, this bus operates from 6:55 am until 9:55 pm, Saturdays from 11:55 am until 9:55 pm.

Fares

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Fares are as follows:

  • Monthly Pass (unlimited trips): $45, $20 for those 17 and under
  • Five Ride Ticket: $6
  • Regular Fare: $1.50
  • Reduced Fare (Seniors, Students): $0.75
  • MaineCard Holders (UMaine Students and Faculty): FREE
  • Black Bear Express: FREE

Transfers are free, valid for next departing trip of your choice, not valid for return trips.

Special promotions

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  • Free Fare Fridays: Offered first in 2007 in conjunction with the State of Maine and several other public transit services across the state. Held: December 2007, July, 2008, December, 2008
  • Commute Another Way Day: Held some years in May to encourage people to use public transit, car pool, or bike to work. Fare is free on Commute Another Way Day.
  • American Folk Festival: The Community Connector provides shuttle service from the event along the waterfront held at the end of August each year to a parking area at Bass Park.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "City of Bangor - BAT Community Connector (BAT)" (PDF). US Dept. of Transportation. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Bangor unveils new bus system" Bangor Daily News. Bangor, Me. Apr 25, 2002. pg. 2 4 Edition by Jeff Tuttle.
  3. ^ "Welcome to the City of Bangor, Maine - Route Schedules & Maps". Archived from the original on 2014-09-11.
  4. ^ "The official website for the City of Bangor, Maine". Archived from the original on 2013-10-24.
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