Southeastern New Hampshire commuters will see mass transit improvements from newly announced Federal grants.
The grants, totaling over $3.5 million are intended to reduce highway congestion along busy Seacoast roads, especially at peak commuter times. Several hundred thousand dollars has gone into the newly established Coast Clipper Connection, express commuter buses from Somersworth to the Portsmouth Navy Yard. Yard worker John Joyal says he rides it daily.
"It reduces my time getting to and from work, because now I go from my house to the park and ride in Somersworth. It has cut down on the wear and tear on my vehicle.”
Other funds from the Federal transit grant will be applied to the purchase of new buses by the non profit Coast Bus System. Officials from the company, speaking at the Navy Yard, say that they will double the number of runs during peak commuter hours from hourly to every 30 minutes.