Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation, more commonly known as COAST, is offering free rides on any of their regular routes and ADA paratransit services to adults on their way to, or returning from, voting on November 7, 2023, during polling hours.

In addition, on Veteran’s Day, Saturday, November 14, all United States military personnel who are currently active, or who have previously served, can board any COAST bus or service for free. This includes spouses and dependents boarding with military personnel.

“As a community resource whose mission is to connect people and places, there is no greater service we can provide than to help people exercise their democratic right to vote,” said Rad Nichols, COAST’s Executive Director. “In addition, we feel strongly about recognizing our active and retired military members each year. Nearly 15 percent of COAST’s workforce are currently active-duty military or have previously served our country in the military. Offering free rides on Veteran’s Day is just one small way we can honor their commitment and sacrifices.

COAST, a non-profit organization, has been providing public transportation to the Seacoast region for more than 40 years. In the last 15 years in particular, COAST has experienced its most significant growth. COAST serves the communities of Dover, Exeter, Farmington, Newington, Newmarket, Portsmouth, Rochester and Somersworth in New Hampshire and Berwick, Eliot, Kittery and South Berwick in Maine. COAST also operates Portsmouth Senior Transportation in partnership with the City of Portsmouth; ADA Complementary Paratransit; Route 7 On Demand in Exeter/Newmarket; and the TripLink regional transportation call center, which serves 38 towns between Newton and Wakefield, NH.

More information about COAST’s services can be found at www.coastbus.org.