Starting April 24, Western Maine Transportation Services (WMTS), which runs buses in Androscoggin County, will expand Lewiston to Bath bus service.
Monday through Friday, the WMTS BlueLine Express will leave the Oak Street bus station in Lewiston at 5:45 a.m. arriving at BIW by 6:40 a.m. with a 5:53 a.m. stop at the park and ride at Lisbon Street in Lewiston and a 6:10 a.m. stop at the park and ride at 689 Lisbon St., in Lisbon Falls. The BlueLine Express leaves BIW South Gate at 3:35 p.m. picking up at West Gate and the Washington St. crosswalk near Union Hall.
With support from the recently awarded transportation grant from the state of Maine, BIW is contributing to the cost of operating the bus to enable WMTS to offer a fare of $5 each way. The cost of commuting on the bus is payable with pre-tax dollars using a Commuter Savings Account offered as a benefit to employees through BIW.
Contact WMTS at 800-393-9335 or info@westernmainetrans.org for more information about the BlueLine Express bus service.
The first 10 people signing up for the bus get $25 Employee Store gift certificates!
BlueLine Express Bus riders are encouraged to enroll in GO MAINE to be eligible for both the emergency ride home program as well as to earn rewards.
WMTS BlueLine Express Bus Schedule
Monday – Friday
MORNING
| Time | Departures | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 5:45 a.m. | Lewiston Oak Street Bus Station | Bus arrives at 5:35 a.m. and parks on Bates Street beyond parking garage. 5:45 is the departure time. |
| 5:53 a.m. | Lisbon Street Park & Ride | 1243 Lisbon Street, Lewiston |
| 6:10 a.m. | Lisbon Falls Park & Ride / Rusty Lantern | 689 Lisbon Street, Lisbon Falls (See FAQs below for more info on location) |
| 6:37 a.m. | South Gate (Stop 1) | Washington Street, Bath |
| 6:39 a.m. | West Gate (Stop 2) | Washington Street, Bath |
| 6:40 a.m. | Crosswalk by Union Hall (Stop 3) | Washington Street, Bath |
| 6:45 a.m. | Front Street | Front Street, Bath |
AFTERNOON
| Time | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 3:35 p.m. | BIW | South Gate (Stop 1) / West Gate (Stop 2) / Crosswalk by Union Hall (Stop 3) |
| 4:05 p.m. | Lisbon Falls Park & Ride / Rusty Lantern | 689 Lisbon Street, Lisbon Falls |
| 4:25 p.m. | Lisbon Street Park & Ride | 1243 Lisbon Street, Lewiston |
| 4:35 p.m. | Lewiston Oak Street Bus Station (arrival) | Goes to West Gate (Stop 2) and the Crosswalk by the Union Building (Stop 3) |
Afternoon return times are approximate.
To reserve a seat, call 800-393-9335 / 1, by 4 p.m., one business day ahead.
For more information on WMTS BlueLine Express and to print out the bus schedule, click the button below:
Frequently Asked Questions
When does it start? WMTS says it will start the route Monday, April 24.
Does BIW operate the bus? No. WMTS operates the bus. BIW is subsidizing the cost of operation to keep fares affordable to riders. All operational questions should be directed to WMTS.
Where will it stop? Route originates at Oak Street bus station, 44 Oak St. in Lewiston, stops at the park and ride at 1243 Lisbon St. in Lewiston then at the park and ride at 689 Lisbon St., Lisbon Falls before arriving at BIW to drop off at North, West and South gates. Ride home pickup is at Bath Information Center, with stops on the return trip being the reverse of the inbound route.
Where is the bus located at the Lisbon Falls stop? You can find the bus at the Rusty Lantern, by the gray shed in back of the Irving gas station.
Do I have to commit to riding the bus every day? No. Riders can ride a few days a week or very occasionally, such as when their car is being repaired.
How will I pay? Riders may purchase tickets in advance through the Token Transit cell phone app or by cash or check from the bus driver (exact change only) or the WMTS offices at 76 Merrow Road, Auburn.
How does the app work? The Token Transit app keeps a person’s tickets in a digital wallet on their phone and when boarding the bus, the person activates a ticket and shows it to the driver.
How do I get the app? Download the app, available for both Apple and Android phones, by clicking here.
Can I make payments with pre-tax dollars using a Commuter Savings Account? Yes. To learn more or to enroll, login to gdbenefits.com, scroll down on the homepage and click on the WageWorks link or call HealthEquity at 877-924-3967. Employees will need to sign up by the 10th of the month in order to start using the benefits the following month.
Do I have to pay to park? There is a fee for parking at the Oak Street parking garage in Lewiston but the park and rides on Lisbon Street in Lewiston and in Lisbon Falls are free.
Can I be sure there will be a seat and the bus won’t be full? WMTS encourages riders to notify them ahead of time, at least before 5 p.m. the day before, that the rider needs a seat. Regular riders can reserve a seat on an ongoing basis.
What happens if the bus is full? WMTS will evaluate ridership and strive to provide buses with capacity for everyone needing a ride; however, they are unable to change bus sizes on a daily basis so if there are more people than seats, those who did not reserve a seat in advance will be admitted first come, first served.
How do I know the bus is on time? WMTS plans to offer potential riders the chance to receive updates by text about operations.
What if the bus arrives at BIW late? Like van pools, car pools and other shared transportation, employees using the new WMTS bus service must meet all CBA requirements related to on-time arrival at the start of their shift.
Are there discounts for purchasing multiple tickets? Yes. WMTS offers a punch pass of 10 rides for the price of 9, so five-day a week riders save $5 each week. Unlimited ride monthly passes are $190 saving up to $40 a month.
How do I get more information? Contact WMTS at wmtsbus.org or at 800-784-9335, option #1 for more details.