To partially offset rising operational expenses, the Seacoast’s nonprofit public transit system, the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST), is proposing fare increases for implementation later this calendar year.

As part of the proposal under consideration, COAST’s base cash fare would increase from $1.50 to $2.00 on all bus routes. This change would also impact fares paid by passengers using COAST’s advance reservation demand response services (ADA Paratransit, Newmarket-Exeter Connector, and Portsmouth Senior Transportation). Additionally, there would be impacts on the cash half-fare, ticket bundles, demand response (DR) punch tickets, and monthly passes.

Public hearings will be held throughout COAST’s service area to solicit input on the proposed fare increases.

The proposed increases would be consistent with similar adjustments made by public transit systems across the country in response to rising costs. If approved, COAST’s base cash fare would align with those currently charged by other New England public transit systems, including Manchester Transit Authority (MTA), Nashua Transit System (NTS), Portland Metro, Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach (Maine), Green Mountain Transit (Vermont), and RIPTA (Rhode Island).

Rad Nichols, COAST Executive Director, affirmed, “This is the first time since 2008 that COAST has proposed a systemwide fare increase. We have focused on keeping our fares very affordable to encourage maximum use. We continue to focus on this goal. However, we must reassess our fares to determine whether they are the most equitable to all parties involved (e.g., passengers, federal, state, and local governments), including the communities that help fund our services.”

COAST last changed its fare structure in 2008, when it increased base cash fares from $1.00 to $1.50.

Proposed Increase

The proposed fare increase would raise the one-way cash fare (base fare) on COAST buses to $2.00, a $0.50 increase from the current $1.50. Cash fares for older adults and individuals living with disabilities, set at half the base fare, would increase to $1.00.

Comparable fares for COAST’s one-way complementary ADA paratransit services would increase to start at $4.00, up from the current starting fare of $3.00.

Newmarket-Exeter Connector fares would increase to $4.00, from the current $3.00.

The highest fare charged for Portsmouth Senior Transportation—applicable to trips where a fare is required—would increase to $4.00. Non-emergency medical trips and trips to Seacoast Mental Health Center will remain free. Group shopping trips would increase to $3.00 each way, while all other eligible trips would carry a $4.00 fare.

Ticket bundles, currently sold as 15 tickets for $20.00, would change to 11 tickets for $20.00. This adjustment maintains the equivalent discount rate while continuing to support ease of purchase using typical ATM cash denominations.

Demand Response punch tickets, valid on any COAST demand response service (ADA, Newmarket-Exeter Connector, or Portsmouth Senior Transportation), would be sold for $40.00 and include forty $1.00 punches. Currently, they are sold for $30.00 and include thirty $1.00 punches.

Monthly passes, valid on all COAST and Wildcat Transit buses, would increase from $52.00 to $60.00. The monthly pass discount rate would improve from 17.5% to 28.5%, based on an assumed usage of 42 trips per month (two trips per day over 21 days).

Public Hearings

COAST staff and members of the Board of Directors will host a series of eight public hearings throughout the region to provide opportunities for residents to learn about and comment on the proposed changes. Details are as follows:

  • Wednesday, May 6 – Exeter Public Library, Large Meeting Room, 10:00–11:00 AM
  • Wednesday, May 6 – Portsmouth Public Library, Levinson Room, 5:30–6:30 PM
  • Thursday, May 7 – Rochester Public Library, Large Meeting Room, 9:30–10:30 AM
  • Thursday, May 7 – Dover CAPSC, Conference Room, 12:00–1:00 PM
  • Friday, May 8 – Somersworth City Hall, Council Chambers, 8:15–9:15 AM
  • Monday, May 18 – Farmington Town Hall, Auditorium, 4:30–5:30 PM
  • Wednesday, May 20 – Portsmouth Public Library, Levinson Room, 10:30–11:30 AM
  • Thursday, May 21 – Newmarket Town Hall, Council Chambers, 3:00–4:00 PM

Notices announcing the hearings will appear in area newspapers, be available on the COAST website (www.coastbus.org), and be posted on all COAST buses. Information on traveling to and from the hearings via the COAST bus system will also be available on the website.

For those unable to attend, COAST will accept written comments and testimony via email at info@coastbus.org or by mail at COAST, 42 Sumner Drive, Dover, NH 03820. All submissions received prior to May 29, 2026, will be included in the official hearing record.