On Oct. 12, DART launches its NEW Route 47 bus service between Wilmington and Middletown. The route will boost economic growth, improve access to jobs and answer the needs of local businesses and commuting Delawareans.
Route 47 will operate from downtown Wilmington at 9th and Market Sts. to US 13 with limited stops along Dupont Highway, expressing on DE 1 to DE 896 and using US 301 into Middletown. The route has been developed for commuters and more specifically, employees of Amazon.com’s Fulfillment Center in Middletown.
Initial discussions and planning for this route began in early 2014. Following requests for service from businesses, employees, commuters and the Town of Middletown, DART staff investigated transit demand in the Middletown area. Partnering with Integrity Staffing Solutions, who does the hiring for Middletown’s Amazon Fulfillment Center, DART staff obtained useful information regarding facility shift times, and trip originations for current and prospective employees, which were mostly from Wilmington and the US 13 corridor in New Castle.
Based on this information, Route 47 will offer three roundtrips Monday through Saturday to meet the shift times of Amazon employees, and provide service to and from the Walmart Supercenter. Residents in Middletown can also use the service to get to jobs in Wilmington.
Delaware Transit Corp. CEO John Sisson said, “Thousands of employees living in Wilmington, New Castle and Middletown can benefit from using the new bus service. With Amazon almost tripling their
workforce for the holiday season, October is the perfect time to implement this service. Bus Route 47 was designed to provide access to employment and contribute to the continuing economic development in New Castle County.”
“We’re thrilled about our new partnership with DART and we believe that this new direct transportation connection will offer timely and convenient bus services for not only our current associates, but also the new associates we’re currently hiring for jobs located in the Middletown and surrounding areas,” states Todd Bavol, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Delaware-based Integrity Staffing Solutions. “Integrity is proud to partner with DART and we are looking forward to continuing to generate opportunities throughout the state of Delaware.”
In addition to the stops listed in the Route 47 pocket schedule as timepoint references, there are approximately seven additional stops in each direction. The limited stops allow for a faster, more direct ride. A flag zone has been established on DE 896 - Boyds Corner Road between Cedar Lane Road and Jamison Corner Rd. where passengers can wave down the bus to stop.
The new route travels two fare zones with a cash fare of $1.75 per zone. When traveling the full route between Wilmington and Middletown, the cash fare is $3.50 per trip or $7.40 for a 2-Zone Daily Pass.
DART will continue to operate the Route 43 between the Odessa Park & Ride at DE 1 and DE 299 and the Amazon.com Fulfillment Center. Connections can be made at the Odessa Park & Ride with the Intercounty Route 301 operating between Dover and Wilmington, and Route 45 operating from Wilmington.
