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 A DART First State bus atChristiana Mall Park & Ride | |
| Parent | Delaware Department of Transportation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 (1994) |
| Headquarters | 900 Public Safety Boulevard Dover, Delaware 119 Lower Beech Street Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Locale | Delaware |
| Service area | Delaware |
| Service type | Local and intercity bus service |
| Routes | 54 bus 3 on-demand zones |
| Stops | 2,295 (April 2024)[1] |
| Fleet | 246 bus 286 paratransit[2] |
| Daily ridership | 32,400 (weekdays, Q3 2025)[3] |
| Annual ridership | 8,348,100 (2024)[4] |
| Chief executive | John Sisson |
| Website | dartfirststate |
TheDelaware Transit Corporation, operating asDART First State, is the onlypublic transportation system that operates throughout the U.S. state ofDelaware. DART First State provides local and inter-countybus service throughout the state and also fundscommuter rail service alongSEPTA Regional Rail'sWilmington/Newark Line serving the northern part of the state. The agency also operates statewideparatransit service for people with disabilities. DART First State is a subsidiary of theDelaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).
Although most of its bus routes run in and aroundWilmington andNewark inNew Castle County, DART operates bus route networks in theDover area ofKent County; seven year-round bus routes servingGeorgetown andSussex County; and additional seasonal routes connectingRehoboth Beach, otherbeach towns in Sussex County, andOcean City, Maryland. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 8,348,100, or about 32,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2025.
DART was awarded the prestigious Public Transportation System Outstanding Achievement Award by theAmerican Public Transportation Association in 2003.[5]
DART First State traces its origins back to June 30, 1864, when the Wilmington City Railroad Company begantrolley service powered by horses and mules along city streets inWilmington. The Wilmington City Railroad Company introduced electric trolley service in 1888, the first such service in Delaware. Motor buses were first introduced in 1925. The electric trolleys were replaced withtrackless electric trolleys in 1938. Bus service operated by Delaware Coach Company replaced the trackless electric trolleys in 1958 and would operate for over a decade. Delaware was also served by several private bus operators. Among these was Short Line, which provided seasonal service toRehoboth Beach along with service toOxford,Kennett Square, andWest Chester inPennsylvania. These private bus services were discontinued in the early 1960s.[6]
TheDelaware General Assembly created the Delaware Authority for Regional Transit (DART) in 1969 to take over bus service in the Wilmington area from the Delaware Coach Company. DART bus service originally operated under the Greater Wilmington Transportation Authority, but in 1971 theDelaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) became the governing agency of DART. The Delaware Transit Authority oversaw the Central Delaware Transit (CDT) bus service in theDover area and the Resort Transit bus service at theDelaware Beaches, which both began in 1990.[6]
In 1994, the Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) was created by the Delaware General Assembly to manage and operate DART, the Delaware Administration for Specialized Transportation, the Delaware Railroad Administration, and the Commuter Services Administration. DTC operates DART First State bus service throughout the state along with contracting withSEPTA Regional Rail to provide commuter rail service along theWilmington/Newark Line in New Castle County.[6]
DART First State was named "Most Outstanding Public Transportation System" in 2003 by theAmerican Public Transportation Association.[5]
In 2016, DART First State received a $2 million grant from theFederal Transit Administration (FTA) for sixbattery electric buses to be used in the Dover area. In 2017, the agency received a $1 million grant from the FTA for ten battery electric buses, eight of which would be used in New Castle County while the other two would be used in Sussex County.[7] The FTA gave DART First State a $2.6 million grant to purchase more electric buses in 2019.[8] DART First State's fleet of battery electric buses are manufactured byProterra andGillig.[9][10][2]
DART First State operates thirty fixed route bus routes throughoutNew Castle County, servingWilmington,Newark,New Castle, andMiddletown. The majority of the routes hub in downtown Wilmington, with many of those routes serving theWilmington Transit Center adjacent to theWilmington train station. Other major bus hubs in New Castle County includeNewark Transit Hub in Newark and theChristiana Mall Park & Ride at theChristiana Mall. Most routes operate Monday through Saturday with some Sunday service. These routes have 1- and 2-digit numbers.[11] All of these routes are directly operated by DART First State, with the exceptions of routes 61 and 62, operated byTransdev.
DART First State operates ten fixed route bus routes within theDover area inKent County serving points within Dover along with other communities in Kent County includingCamden,Wyoming,Felton,Harrington, andSmyrna. These bus routes operate Monday through Friday with some Saturday service out of theDover Transit Center in downtown Dover as ahub-and-spoke system. These routes are numbered in the 100-series.[11]
DART First State operates a total of nine bus routes withinSussex County. Seven of these routes offer year-round fixed route bus service within Sussex County, servingGeorgetown,Lewes,Rehoboth Beach,Millsboro,Bridgeville,Seaford,Laurel,Delmar, andMilford. These bus routes operate Monday through Friday with some Saturday service. These routes are numbered in the 200-series.[11] Bus service in Sussex County is operated under contract byTransdev.
During the summer months, DART operates expanded service on four of its year-round routes in addition to two summer-only routes, collectively branded as "Beach Bus" services. These buses hub at the Rehoboth Beach Park and Ride andLewes Transit Center park and ride lots, offering connecting service to coastal communities along theDelaware Beaches and toOcean City, Maryland daily from May to September.[11][12]
DART First State operates four intercounty bus routes which connect the three counties. These routes are numbered in the 300-series.[11] All year-round intercounty routes terminate at theDover Transit Center, running toWilmington,Middletown,Georgetown, and theLewes Transit Center.[11] During the summer months, an additional route connecting Wilmington withLewes via Christiana Mall, Odessa, and North Dover runs on weekends and holidays.[12] DART First State directly operates all these routes except Route 303, which is operated under contract byTransdev.
DART Connect is amicrotransit service operated by DART First State in the city ofNewark in New Castle County and theGeorgetown andMillsboro areas in Sussex County. The service operates similar to arideshare and provides on-demand service using minibuses, as opposed to a traditional bus service that follows a published schedule. Rides can be booked using the DART Connect app or over the phone. Fares are the same as traditional bus service. DART Connect service is offered Monday-Friday year-round. DART Connect service began in the Georgetown and Millsboro areas on April 12, 2021, replacing Flex Routes 901F and 902F.[13] In August 2023, DART Connect service began in Newark, replacing the UNICITY bus service that ended service on September 29, 2023.[14]
DART First State offersparatransit service for people with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route bus service in accordance with theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Paratransit trips that begin and end within3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) of fixed-route bus service when such service operates are considered ADA Paratransit trips while all other trips are considered non-ADA Demand Response trips.[15]
DART First State, through DelDOT, funds the segment of theWilmington/Newark Line ofSEPTA Regional Rail within the state of Delaware. SEPTA operates the service under contract with DART First State. Signage at the Delaware stations differs from that at other SEPTA Regional Rail stations, as the stations are owned by DART First State and not SEPTA. These trains originate inPhiladelphia and operate toWilmington station inWilmington, with an intermediate stop atClaymont station. Some weekday rush-hour trains continue on toNewark station inNewark, with an intermediate stop atChurchmans Crossing station, located near theDelaware Park horse racing track and casino.[16]
There are 37park and ride lots located throughout the state of Delaware, primarily in New Castle County, that allow motorists to park and transfer to DART First State buses or meet acarpool. There are also 12park and pool lots in the state where motorists can park and meet a carpool.[17]
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commuter benefits |
| Founded | 1997 (1997) |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | Delaware residents, employees, and students |
| Parent | DART First State |
| Website | delawarecommutesolutions |
Delaware Commute Solutions was formed by DART First State in 1997 in order to reduce traffic and encourage alternative transportation arrangements. It helps form carpools and vanpools and offers commuter programs, such as a Guaranteed Ride Home and arewards program. The program is supported by state and federal funds as part of Delaware's efforts to maintainair quality.[18]
Most DART First State bus routes have a base fare of $2 per zone. Routes 61 and 62 have a base fare of $1. Cash fares must be paid in exact change.[19] DART First State bus fares may also be paid with DART Pass, a smartphone app.[20] A reduced fare of $0.80 per zone is available for senior citizens,Medicare card holders, and disabled persons. Kids below 46" (limit two per adult) and the blind ride for free. A student fare of $1 per zone is available, with a student ID required for students age 17 and older. DART First State does not issue transfers. DART First State offers a Daily Pass for $4 per zone, a 7-Consecutive Day Pass for $16 per zone, a 30-Consecutive Day Pass for $60 per zone, and a 20-Ride Pass (DART Pass app only) for $26 per zone. DART First State has three fare zones which correspond with the three counties of Delaware.[19]
The fare for ADA Paratransit trips is $4 while the fare for non-ADA Demand Response Trips is $6. A County Connector fee of $4 is charged on paratransit trips that cross into another county. Paratransit fares must be paid in cash with exact change or with paratransit strip tickets. DART First State offers $2 paratransit strip tickets available as a strip of 6 tickets for $12.[19]
Until February 2021, DART First State offered a stored value card called DARTCard that could be used to pay for single-ride bus fares or a Daily Pass. DARTCards were available in six denominations (Gold, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, and Platinum) ranging from $9.60 to $65 for regular fares along with a $14 Red DARTCard for reduced fares for senior citizens and disabled persons. DARTCards provided a discount off the regular fare, with the discount increasing the more expensive the card is. For example, the Gold DARTCard cost $9.60 and had a value of $12 for a 20% discount; while the Platinum DARTCard cost $65 and had a value of $108 for a 40% discount. The reduced fare DARTCard cost $14 and had a value of $46 for a 70% discount. DARTCards were not rechargeable and a new one must be purchased once the value is used up. DARTCards were available from DART First State by purchasing over the phone, by mail, or online; they were also available at select retailers across the state.[21]
SEPTA Trail Passes on aSEPTA Key card were formerly allowed to be used on buses in northern New Castle County. On January 1, 2021, SEPTA Key cards were no longer accepted on DART First State buses, as the fareboxes cannot read the card to confirm the purchase of a TrailPass and due to widespread fraudulent use.[22]
DART First State's bus fleet consists of 246 fixed-route buses (shown in the table below) and 286 paratransit buses.[2] The fixed route bus fleet consists ofGillig Low Floor diesel, hybrid electric, and battery electric buses,Proterra Catalyst battery electric buses,[9][10] andMCI D4500CT diesel buses used exclusively for intercounty service.[2] The agency also owns four rail cars used by SEPTA:Silverliner V 735, 736, 871, and 872.[citation needed]
| Fleet number(s) | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Powertrain | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151-157 | 2012 | Gillig | Low Floor HEV 40' | Cummins ISL9 | Allison H 40 EP hybrid system |
| 168 | Low Floor HEV 35' | ||||
| 283–284, 286 | 2009 | Low Floor 29' | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | |
| 301–310, 312–322 | 2010 | Cummins ISL9 | |||
| 401–438, 440, 442–472 | 2014 | Low Floor 40' | |||
| 473–474 | 2015 | ||||
| 501–518, 520–522 | 2020 | ZF EcoLife 6AP1400B | |||
| 601–606 | 2016 | Low Floor 29' | Allison B400R | ||
| 607–610 | 2017 | Cummins L9 | |||
| 611–613 | 2019 | ZF EcoLife 6AP1400B | |||
| 614–626 | 2020 | ||||
| 707–714 | 2019 | Proterra | Catalyst BE35 | Electric drive | Eaton EEV-7202 |
| 715–716 | 2020 | Catalyst BE40 | |||
| 717–720 | 2021 | Gillig | Low Floor EV 40' | ||
| 721–732 | 2023 | Proterra | Catalyst BE35 | ||
| 914-919 | 2012 | MCI | D4500CT | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R |
| 920–923 | 2017 | Cummins ISX12 | |||
| 1776–1777 | 2017 | Ford | E450 | V10 Propane | 6spd Auto |
| 21001–21021 | 2021 | Gillig | Low Floor 40' | Cummins L9 | ZF EcoLife 6AP1400B |
| 22001–22014 | 2022 | Low Floor 29' | ZF EcoLife 6AP1420B | ||
| 22015–22030 | 2023 | Low Floor 40' | |||
| 23901–23904 | 2024 | Low Floor 40' suburban | |||
| 24001-24004 | 2025 | Low Floor 29' |
