Manchester Transit Authority
| Company type | Public transit authority |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Manchester , United States |
Area served | Manchester, New Hampshire; Bedford; Goffstown; Hooksett; Londonderry; Concord; Nashua |
| Products | Bus service, paratransit, shuttle services |
| Website | www |
Manchester Transit Authority
Established in 1973, the Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) serves as the public transit system for Manchester, New Hampshire. It manages 13 standard bus routes, including the complimentary downtown circulator renamed the Green DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) in 2011. Generally, buses run on an hourly schedule, with increased frequency along corridors served by multiple lines and especially on the Green DASH route.
The MTA employs a hub-and-spoke model with Veterans Park as the central hub, while one route originates from the Canal Street Transportation Center. Although its primary service area is Manchester, select routes extend into neighboring communities such as Bedford, Goffstown, Hooksett, and Londonderry. Two express routes provide connections to Concord and Nashua. Since July 2013, weekday service has operated between Concord and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, stopping at the Center of NH hub from early morning until late evening. Bedford subsidized MTA service until 2010, after which service there was notably reduced. By 2009, approximately 97% of Manchester’s population resided within a quarter-mile of an MTA bus route.
The MTA was established to replace Manchester’s former private bus operator, which reached a peak ridership of 15.1 million in 1948, as well as succeeding the Manchester Street Railway that ceased operations in 1940. Created by municipal initiative following requests for financial support from the private company, the MTA recorded an average weekday ridership of 1,905 in 2005. Despite experiencing budget constraints and service reductions over time, ridership steadily increased—growing by 21% from 382,979 rides in 2004 to 462,109 in 2011. The highest ridership was recorded in 2009 with 531,961 trips before declining due to cutbacks but generally maintaining an upward trajectory. Recent additions such as the Green DASH and Concord Express are aimed at attracting commuters who might otherwise choose to drive.
In addition to fixed-route services, the MTA provides StepSaver paratransit options and operates two complimentary Shopper Shuttle routes three days per week.
Routes
The majority of MTA buses depart from Veterans Park located in downtown Manchester; this location appears on schedules under names like Veterans Park, Downtown Radisson, or Center of NH.
Routes are categorized into four zones: Zone 1 includes local routes numbered 1 through 12; Zone 2 consists of intercity routes (21 and 22) that require day or monthly passes; Zone 3 covers special excursion services; and Zone 4 encompasses free transit options.
| Route | Starting point | Terminus | Operates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
Dartmouth/VA Hospital |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Dartmouth Hitchcock Manchester | Monday-Saturday | Travels along Bridge Street between Elm Street and Interstate 93 |
| 2
Hanover St/E. Industrial Park |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | E. Industrial Park (Massabesic Circle on even hours) | Weekdays | Terminates at E. Industrial Park during odd hours; extends to Massabesic Circle on even hours |
| 2S
Hanover St/E. Industrial Park |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | East Side Plaza via Elliot Hospital | Saturday | |
| 3
Brown Ave/Airport |
Canal St Transportation Center | Manchester-Boston Regional Airport | Weekdays | Stops at Elliot at Rivers Edge upon request only |
| 4
Commerce Drive/Target |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | 8 Commerce Drive, Bedford | Weekdays | Also serves Target store |
| 5
SNHU/River Rd |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Southern New Hampshire University | Monday–Saturday | Evening service available until 9:35pm |
| 6
Bremer St/Mast Rd |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Shaw's Pinardville via St. Anselm College | Monday–Saturday | Operates a counter-clockwise loop through Manchester’s West Side |
| 7
Bedford Grove Plaza/Second Street |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Walmart Bedford | Monday-Saturday | Serves Bedford Hills Center upon request only |
| 8
South Willow St/Mall of NH |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Mall of NH | Monday–Saturday | |
| 9
Elliot Hospital/E. Side Plaza |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | East Side Plaza | Weekdays | Provides five daily trips |
| 10
Valley St/Mall of NH |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Mall of NH | Monday-Saturday | |
| 11
Front St/Hacket Hill Rd |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Walmart Hooksett | Monday-Saturday | Evening service until 9:25pm available |
| 12
So. Beech St/Mall of NH |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Mall of NH | Monday–Saturday | |
| 21
Concord Zipline |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | New Hampshire State House, Concord | Monday-Saturday | Previously known as Concord Express; requires day or monthly pass |
| 22
Nashua Zipline |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Nashua Mall | Monday-Saturday | Formerly Nashua Express; day or monthly pass needed |
| 41
Green DASH |
Veterans Park/Downtown Radisson | Downtown circulator | Weekdays | Complimentary service |
| '42, 43, 44, 45' | 'Shopper Shuttle' | 'Various' | 'Once weekly' | 'Complimentary service' |
Circulators and Shopper Shuttles
- The Green DASH downtown circulator provides complimentary weekday transit along a figure-eight route covering the Millyard and Downtown areas. Service frequency is every ten minutes during rush hours and every twenty minutes during off-peak times.
Originally adorned with historical imagery, the buses were updated in 2011 to a green livery to enhance visibility of the free service and encourage higher ridership. This route is financed through a combination of federal funding and parking fees, representing MTA’s second initiative offering free downtown transit following the cessation of a free-ride zone in 1974.
- Route 1 functions as a Healthcare Shuttle, linking Elliot Hospital, Doctors Park, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic, Veterans Administration Hospital, and Manchester Mental Health. This route receives financial support through an FTA grant.
- MTA also operates multiple Shopper Shuttles primarily designed for senior citizens on designated days. Funded by private retailers, these shuttles provide fare-free transportation.
Millyard People Mover
Interest in establishing a streetcar or light rail system throughout Downtown and the Millyard dates back to the early 1990s and was revitalized in 2012 by Dean Kamen. In 2018, Kamen’s company DEKA proposed forming a public-private partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to develop the Millyard People Mover, a light rail transit project. However, as of 2021, MTA has not dedicated any budget toward planning or conducting feasibility assessments for this initiative.