Jackson Lab adds commuter route Shuttle to go between Ellsworth, MDI

ELLSWORTH – The Jackson Laboratory and Downeast Transportation are collaborating to help ease the number of private vehicles that roll back and forth along Route 3 between Bar Harbor and the largest municipality in Hancock County.

Starting Monday, Oct. 15, the organizations will offer four daily weekday commuter runs between Maine Coast Mall in Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.

Jackson Lab and Downeast Transportation already offer commuter bus service for lab employees to Bar Harbor from Bangor, Cherryfield and Franklin. Because of high housing costs on Mount Desert Island, many of the lab’s 1,300 employees commute from off island, even as far away as Penobscot and Washington counties.

Paul Murphy, general manager of Downeast Transportation, said Monday that approximately 60 people use the bus service’s three routes now. He said the lab is increasing its subsidy of the service, which has resulted in a decrease of the weekly subscription fares charged to lab employees.

The Bangor and Cherryfield runs now cost $27 per week and the Franklin run costs $23 a week, he said. The new fares will be $17.50 for Bangor and Cherryfield commuters and $14.50 for lab employees riding from Franklin and Ellsworth.

For $5, members of the public also can hop on the bus for a ride, according to Murphy. The public fare is the same for either a one-way or round-trip ticket, he said.

“In order to qualify for Federal Transit Administration funding, it must be open to the public,” Murphy said of the bus service. “We expect overall ridership to increase over time.”

Dr. Chuck Hewett, the lab’s chief operating officer, indicated in a press release that with the added shuttle service from Ellsworth, the lab’s employees should have an easier time getting to and from work.

“It also will make a real dent in the number of cars on the road between Ellsworth and Bar Harbor during the morning and afternoon rush,” Hewett said in the statement.

Lab employees who do not ride the bus are encouraged to reduce traffic congestion by car-pooling with co-workers, he wrote.

The buses will leave Monday through Friday from behind Marden’s at Maine Coast Mall at 6 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7:05 a.m. and 8:10 a.m., according to Murphy. Return runs will leave Jackson Lab at 3:05 p.m., 3:35 p.m., 4:05 p.m. and 5:05 p.m.

For information, call Downeast Transportation at 667-5796.