BRUNSWICK

Due to a lack of local funding, the Brunswick Explorer bus service will be abbreviating service in a move officials said is hopefully temporary.

Still running Monday through Friday on an hourly schedule, service will not begin until 9 a.m. and will end daily at about 3:45 p.m.

The Explorer operates as a public and private venture, and has been receiving the bulk of its funding from the Federal Transit Administration with the stipulation that money be raised locally to match those federal funds. With fares only accounting for 10 percent of operating the buses, the service relies on 65 percent of operating costs from the federal government and the rest raised locally.

With federal startup money depleted and a new funding formula put in place over the last several years, changing the Explorer matching funds from approximately $60,000 to $105,000, more pressure was placed on local revenue streams. For its first three years of service, the local contribution match was only 20 percent.

In a release, Brunswick Explorer recognized the efforts of local contributors, such as the town of Brunswick, Brunswick Housing Authority, Sweetser, Bowdoin College, Mid Coast Health and the United Way of Mid Coast Maine.

Over the last two years, other entities have contributed as well, however, Brunswick Explorer officials said it’s not enough to keep the buses running at their current level, necessitating cuts in service.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 29, the bus will run hourly eastbound from Mallard Pond to Sweetser starting at 9 a.m., with the last run leaving Mallard Pond at 2 p.m. The westbound bus will run hourly from Sweetser to Mallard Pond starting at 10 a.m., with the last bus leaving Sweetser at 3 p.m.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com

Bus boarding

• STILL RUNNING Monday through Friday on an hourly schedule, the Brunswick Explorer bus service will not begin until 9 a.m. and will end daily at about 3:45 p.m.

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