PHASE 3 SERVICE UPDATES  starting Sunday, August 2nd, 2020.  DETAILS ON OUR ALERTS PAGE HERE.

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Phase 3 COVID-19 – Increase in service effective August 2, 2020

Jul 27, 2020

A message from our Executive Director – Tony Scavuzzo

Here is an update for you regarding our continued increase in service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

On Sunday, August 2, our Black and Orange, Blue and White and Portland Intercity Connector services will return to pre-COVID-19 service Monday through Saturday.  Schedules will be posted soon at BSOOBTransit.org.

Also, on Sunday, August 2, our new Sunday service hours will commence.  Our Black and Orange, Blue and White lines and Portland Intercity Connector will begin at 8:45am from Saco Transportation Center with the final run of the day leaving Saco Transportation Center at 4:15pm.

Please be on the lookout for more service increases in the coming weeks including our UNE Yellow Line run and enhanced Zoom Express service to Portland’s Peninsula.  Our Zoom Express will soon have runs not only continuing to leave from Maine Turnpike Exit 32 and Exit 36 Park and Rides, but also Saco Transportation Center to begin to service the downtown Biddeford/Saco mill district more effectively.

Phase 3 Service Changes as of Sunday August 2nd, 2020

Jul 23, 2020

Dear Customers,

On Sunday August 2nd, we will be expanding service on three of our runs.

Local service on Black & Orange and Blue & White will begin operating at 8:45 am on Sundays. The final run of the day will leave the Saco Transportation Center at 4:15 pm.

Weekdays, these two runs will be back to full service starting at 5:30 am with the final run leaving Saco Transportation Center at 9:15 pm.

Similar expansion of service will take place on the Green Line service to Portland.

Sunday service will start at 8:45 am and the final run will leave Saco Transportation Center at 4:15 pm.

Weekdays the Green Line will be back to full service starting at 6:15 am with the final run leaving the Saco Transportation Center at 9:15 pm.

Updated schedules can be found on our website BSOOBTransit.org.

Current safety rules will remain in effect. A Mask or face covering must be worn. No Mask-No Ride.

Our buses will continue to operate at 50% passenger capacity. Please practice social distancing whenever possible. Fares will remain FREE until further notice.

Thank you for riding with Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit.

The 2020 Trolley Season has Officially Arrived

Jun 19, 2020

The 2020 Trolley Season has officially arrived

The Trolleys will be running daily from 10 am to midnight June 19th to Labor Day

Here are the guidelines for riding this season:

 Mask/face covering must be worn while riding

 To the extent practicable, maintain social distancing while on board

 Enter / Exit through the rear door

 To the extent practicable, sit in designated seats

 Limit all contact with the driver  Free Fares until June 28th

Monday, June 28th

 Fares are $2 for all riders over the age of five (5)

 Exact fares are encouraged

 Riders will enter in through the front doors

 Riders will exit through the rear doors

 All safety measures remain in effect

If you enjoyed your trip, please feel free to tip

Stay safe and enjoy your visit to Old Orchard Beach. Thank you for riding with Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit

Phase 2 Reduced Service beginning June 1, 2020

May 26, 2020

On June 1, we will enter Phase 2 of our reduced service with plans to return to full service still at least several weeks away.  We continue to take all needed and recommended safety precautions for all of our staff, bus operators and passengers.  You have probably noticed by now we continue to board from the rear doors of our vehicles whenever possible.  Hand sanitizer dispensers are present on board for public use.  Social distancing will continue on board with seats designated for occupancy.  Transparent curtains have been installed to give our bus operators an extra layer of protection from potential germs.  Face coverings will continue to be required by all passengers to ride.  Fare collection will continue to be suspended as we trend toward the launch of our automated fare collection system.  Contactless and cashless fare collection will be mission critical to our future to control the spread of germs.  Please be on the lookout for more information on the Dirigo Touchpass system that will be used via smartphone application or stored value card to board.

Our Phase 2 reduced service starting June 1 will be as follows:

  • Our Zoom Express will continue to leave the Exit 32 Park and Ride in Biddeford at 6:00 and 7:08 am weekday mornings and 4:09 and 5:35pm weekday afternoons. We will be adding another afternoon run leaving the Exit 32 Park and Ride in Biddeford at 7:15pm arriving on Portland’s Peninsula between 7:45 and 8:00pm on weekdays.  Be on the lookout for Zoom Express service beginning and ending at Saco Transportation Center in addition to continued service from the Exit 32 and Exit 36 Park and Rides in the near future.

 

  • Our Portland Intercity Connector service will start again on June 1 with our first run leaving Saco Transportation Center at 6:15am and the final run of the day returning to Saco Transportation Center at 6:30pm Monday through Saturday.

 

  • Our local Black and Orange and Blue and White routes will return to our regular schedule cadence and will expand our service times to start at 5:30 am and end at 6:45pm Monday through Saturday to continue to accommodate local workforce transportation and essential trips.

 

  • We will continue to have an on call bus to service our local route passengers that cannot board due to capacity being met around social distancing requirements until we return to full service. This bus will be in service from 8:15am to 5:30pm Monday through Saturday and will continue to come directly to passengers to reduce their wait times around new safety and social distancing guidelines on board.

 

  • There will be no Maroon Line service, Sunday service or service into the evening hours until we return to full service.

Please know the safety of our Transit staff and our passengers is of the utmost importance.  We will continue to clean our buses each morning in preparation for service using our electrostatic disinfectant gun and cleaning fogger to eliminate germs on board.  Continued thanks for your support and for your patience during this difficult time for all of us, but the only way to the other side of this challenge is directly through it, mindfully and safely.

Old Orchard Beach Summer Trolley Announcement (expired, please see most current post for updated information)

May 12, 2020

Trolley Season Update: May 12, 2020

Dear Riders,

Due to the continued restrictions designed to control the spread of COVID-19 (Corona Virus), our trolley season is on hold. We continue to monitor the Maine CDC and the Governor’s office for the next set of state guidelines. We are working on if and when we will have a trolley season or not based on current societal conditions and town input as well.

Under the best of conditions, no service would start before Father’s Day weekend at this point. We have not made any decisions how our service would look and are waiting first on businesses, hotels, campgrounds and restaurants getting the green light to open. Social distancing will more than likely be in effect if we do open, so full trolleys will probably not be happening this season regardless.

We ask that you continue to check our website for new information. We will update you as we receive new information.

Please stay safe and we look forward to providing you with safe, fun and reliable trolley transportation as soon as possible.

Starting May 1, 2020 BSOOB will start Limited Essential Service(expired, please see most current post for updated information)

Apr 22, 2020

Dear Valued Customers,

BSOOB Transit ceased operations late in the evening on March 31. With confirmed cases of COVID-19 and other critical staff needing to be quarantined, we had no choice but to suspend service for the safety of our staff and our customers.

During this shutdown, we have cleaned and disinfected our buses and our two office locations. We have agreed upon and implemented new safety procedures in order to maintain recommended social distancing and protection for our passengers and our operators.

We feel confident that BSOOB Transit can safely return to limited operations. On May 1, we will operate one ZOOM Express bus and two local buses to service our customers who need access to essential services, such as medical appointments, employment and grocery shopping.

Our ZOOM Express service will operate two runs in the morning starting at Exit 32 Park & Ride (6:00 and 7:08 am). It will operate two afternoon runs at 4:09 and 5:35 pm. Monday through Friday. Fares will remain free until we expand to full service.

Local service will begin at the Saco Transportation Center with our Black & Orange and White & Blue lines running from 8:45 am to 4:15 pm daily, Monday through Saturday. No Sunday service. Because of social distancing, there will be marked seating where passengers will be allowed to sit. The area near the driver will be off limits. Because of these restrictions which will limit ridership to approximately 6-8 riders, we will have a “chase” or spare bus waiting to help. If one of the buses reaches the passenger limit, the operator will radio the chase bus and that bus will proceed to the last known stop and continue on with the route, while the first bus proceeds through the route dropping off passengers. This way we can continue to service our customers and not leave people waiting for too long.

Another necessary change will be that the local buses will not be laying over at the Saco Transportation Center. We will operate a more continuous schedule as the local buses attempt to cover the entire territory on the runs while still remaining safe. We encourage you to download our “Where’s the Bus” app so you will be able to see exactly where the bus is along the route. The app can be found at transit.unitegps.com/bsoob or on our website by clicking on the Bus Locator button on the home page. You can still refer to our schedule as a reference but please be advised that with the buses circulating as frequently as possible the times will not be accurate. Please give yourself additional time to get out to the stop. Thank you for being patient.

Maroon, Yellow and Green lines will remain out of service.

Until we get back to full service all fares will remain free.

We recognize that conditions require us to be as safety minded as possible. With that recognition, we ask that you obey the following new rules:

Stay six feet away from the bus operator

Enter and Exit through the rear doors

Sit in marked seating to maintain social distancing

Only ride BSOOB Transit for essential purposes which include medical appointments, employment and grocery shopping. There will be no joy riding. Our drivers will ask you to leave the bus if they feel you are violating this important policy.

To the greatest extent possible, BSOOB Transit strongly encourages passengers to wear a mask or some sort of face covering when riding the bus. The more we work together, the faster things will return to normal.

BSOOB Transit staff will continue to monitor the situation. We will listen to the Governor and the Maine CDC for guidance and make the best decisions possible.

Thank you for your support. We wish you the very best. Please stay healthy and safe.